Death & The After Life

Presented by Stephanie Cruz Angelita Cook

Catholicism

Funerals

Services Disposal of the Body Requirements for Burial

Heaven or Hell?
Resurrection Salvation

Baptism Reconciliation Communion Annointing of the Sick

Purgatory & Limbo Afterlife

Buddhism
For Buddhists the awareness of death is an important concept. Being aware of death gives them a chance to live a better life. In Buddhism when you die you can either be one of two things:

1) You will be reborn into another body which is called reincarnation 2) You will enter a state called Nirvana

In Buddhism one has to try to escape the cycle of death and rebirth. Reincarnation keeps the person in that cycle because they let desire in. In order to escape the cycle of death and rebirth one has to let go of desire and reach a state of Nirvana. Nirvana is known as extinction of all desire.

Funeral Rites-Buddhism
At the time of the persons death, that person should make the effort of saying one of Buddhas many names as a sign that Buddha is on that persons mind. Cremation of the body doesnt happen soon after the death so that relatives from other parts can come and visit the body. Once the person is dead family members pour water over the hand of that person that died. Once that is done then they place the person in the coffin and decorate it with candles sticks of incense and wreaths.

Funeral Rites-Buddhism

Monks come to the Also food offering is home of the deceased given to the deceased many times during a day called the Matakabhatta to pray from the (one who is dead). Adhidharma. Website of a Buddhist When the monks are funeral: there the family makes http://www.thaiworldvie food offerings to the w.com/bouddha/ceremo monks as a sign of n6.htm thanks.

Judaism

Funerals
Care for the Dead Mourning Kaddish Shiva

Tombstone Symbols

Afterlife?

Islamic Beliefs

Muslims believe that the way they live their lives now is the test for where they go in the afterlife (receiving the gift of paradise or not). Muslims believe that if you follow Allahs (God) teachings that they will be able to enter paradise. When a person dies, they are faced with Allah where he decides what your fate is in the afterlife.

Rules for Paradise

He judges you in three areas: 1) What each persons beliefs or actions were during their life, 2) What each persons action and beliefs towards others, and 3) How each person lived their life according to the Quran the best they could. For those who did not follow any of the rules will live for all eternity in hellfire because there is no second chance for another life.

Belief in Life After Death

Muslims believe that believing in life after death helps the world gain peace and also helps them be more responsible for their actions during their lives. By denying that there is no life after death could bring destruction of society like violence and all sorts of evils.

Islamic Funerals

Basic rules for how a Islamic funeral should be carried out. Consult doctor to make sure the deceased is really dead, not in coma. Someone close to the deceased should close the deceaseds eyelids. Allowed to cry for three days. Not allowed to yell or weep. Women are allowed to mourn for three days. Recommended to prepare food for family of deceased.

Islamic Funerals

The deceased should be bathed before burial: men by men, women by women or spouse by spouse. When it comes to carrying the coffin they should walking quickly. People who have come to the funeral should either walk in front, behind, to the right or left of coffin.

Grave should be deep enough to conceal odor and protect it from wild animals. Body in grave should be facing the right side of Qiblah Not allowed to put cement in grave, build on top of grave or build mosque around it.

Rules for Visiting Grave

The following are things that should not be done when visiting a grave. 1) Wiping hands on grave 2) Kissing around grave 3) Sacrificing animals for deceased 4) Walking or sitting on grave 5) Praying toward grave 6) Putting pictures or flowers on grave.

Hinduism
Care of the Body Service Offerings

Reincarnation

Mind, body,& soul Peacefulness & oneness You are born from it, you be born again. Let this be for heaven, Svaha.

Hindu Hero Stone

Mahasati stone Honor a brave man or woman Rows signify different stories

Questions for Reflection

If your religion didnt enforce any of its teachings to get into heaven or hell (10 commandments, Quran, etc.) would you still live by them? Why or Why not? Do you know where youre going when you die? How do you view death? Celebration of life or mourning? Do you fear death? Do you fear what awaits you in the afterlife?

Sources

http://www.shamash.org/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/features/death/
http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/artifact/veergal.htm http://www.jewfaq.org/death.htm

http://catholicism.about.com/od/funerals/a/cathfunguide04.htm
Bache, Christopher. Life Cycles Reincarnation and the Web of Life. New York: Paragon House, 1990. Bowker, John. The Meanings of Death. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991. Miller, Adriane, Personal interview. 15 Nov., 2005.

Sources

Baskin-Jones, Michele. Islams Views of Death and the Afterlife. About. 26 Nov. 2005 <http://dying.about.com/cs/islammuslim/a/views_Islam_2.htm>. Buddhist Afterlife Beliefs. Near-Death. 20 Nov. 2005 <http://near-death.com/experiences/buddhism04.html>. Buddhist Beliefs About the Afterlife. Religion Facts. 20 Nov. 2005 <http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/afterlife.htm>. Buddhist Funeral Rites in Thailand & Other South East Asian Countries. BuddhaNet. 26 Nov. 2005 <http://www.buddhanet.net/bfuneral.htm>. Strong, Laura. Awareness is Everything: Buddhist Views on Death and the Afterlife. Mythic Arts. 20 Nov. 2005 <http://www.mythicarts.com/writing/Buddhist_Awareness.htm>. The Basic Rules of Islamic Funerals. Islamic Center of Raleigh. 21 Nov. 2005 <http://www.islam1.org/iar/imam/archives/2004/12/30/the_basic_rules_of _islamic_funeral.php>. World Assembly of Muslim Youth. Life After Death. Islam Guide. 26 Nov. 2005 <http://www.islam-guide.com/life-after-death-by-wamy.htm>.