Death

1
Death

• Is it the end of life?

2
Immanency

• Everyone has or will experience death.
• Many do not want to talk about it.
• Religion helps people to handle it.
• There are rituals and rites for it.
• Some religions include it as transition from one
  state to another.

3
Stages of Death

• Denial
• No, Not me. Here the person denies that he or
  she is dying.
• Rage and anger
• Why me? The person is angry at others because
  others will live and this person will die.
  Sometimes the person is angry at God.
• Bargaining
• Yes me, but . . . The person accepts death but
  tries to bargain for more time.

• Depression
• Yes, me. The person mourns the loss of
  relationships, of things left undone
• Acceptance
• My time is close right now and its all right.
  It is not a happy stage, but neither is it
  unhappy. Its devoid of feelings but its not
  resignation, its really a victory.

4
Death and the Afterlife

• Cultural Perspectives

5

• Judaism
• All have God-given souls. That which is after
  death is determined by God. The souls of those
  who have faith will experience closeness of Gods
  glory.
• Judaism does not devote much discussion to this
  part of life.
• However, many modern Jews reject the idea of the
  Messiah and of the afterlife.

6

• Christianity
• All have souls. All await the judgment of God at
  some future time.
• Jesuss death paid the penalty for sin (eternal
  separation from God).
• Believers are ushered into the presence of God.
• Unbelievers await the final judgment of God in a
  place of torment.

7

• Hinduism
• For Hindus the law of karma is in effect. The
  present life is affected by past actions.
• One awaits moksha from samsara, the endless cycle
  of birth, growth, decay, and death.
• For those who believe in reincarnation death is
  but another part of the endless cycle.

• Death is the separation of the soul Atman from
  the physical body it become the starting point
  for a new life with fresh opportunities. It
  opens the door for higher forms of life, it is a
  gateway to fuller life.

8

• Taoism
• Death is part of the eternal movement of nature.
  It is part of the Tao.
• One is but changing to a new aspect.
• As the seasons change and as the bird chips and
  as the rivers flow so death comes.

9

• Shintoism
• Ones kami or spirit will survive death.
• One desires to be of worthy remembrance by
  descendents.
• One dies therefore, honorably.
• Kamikaze pilots acted on this principle. It
  demonstrated the persons loyalty to the nation.