How Different Societies Perform The Mourning Rites

There are several religions and cultures all over the world. Each society has its own way of practicing different rites for the events such as birth, death, marriage and all other important events in a human beings life. It is important to know these rites especially if it involves friends and neighbors living around you. It allows you to participate in the important events of another religious group and show respect for their beliefs. Therefore, we shall look at Mourning Rites from different societies like:

Even within each religious group; you will find many sub-sects and divisions that practice mourning rites slightly differently. However, having an overall view of what mourning rites some main religions practice will help us understand and respect their beliefs a bit better. The Christian view on death is that a person will be resurrected and have a life after death. This is based on the belief that Jesus Christ rose again on the third day after his death and went to heaven.

So, all those who believe in Jesus know that after death, they will be taken to heaven to live a life of harmony, free from pain with Christ and fellow believers.  They also have a clear belief that there is a place called hell where sinners and unbelievers will go.  Roman Catholics believe in an intermediate state that is known as purgatory.  Here souls are sent to be purified and they remain waiting for the day of resurrection when all believers will be gathered to heaven. 

Christians believe in one physical life.  After death, a person is prepared for burial by being placed in a coffin.  After a visitation or wake, a funeral service takes place at a church after which the body is taken to the burial site.  Flowers are placed around the coffin to symbolize eternity and continuity.  Jews also believe in one physical life.  The body is washed and dressed in a white cloth – shroud – and put in a coffin.  Jews do not allow the body to be embalmed and will bury it within 24 hours of death.  The mourners will slit their outer clothing as a symbol of grief. 

This is followed by seven days of mourning and Kaddish is offered every day for eleven months. Every year on the death anniversary, Kaddish is said and a candle left burning for 24 hours. Hindus believe in reincarnation and that the deceased reappears in another form – this form need not necessarily be a human form. This cycle of birth and re-birth will take place until the body reaches God.  Hindus only believe in cremation and this takes place within 24 hours. The body is wrapped in cloth and placed on a funeral pyre – comprising firewood.

Modern Hindus make use of a crematorium.  The eldest son has to perform the funeral rites.  If there is no son, then a senior male relative must take charge of the funeral rites.  A ceremony is held on the ninth, eleventh or thirteenth day when prayers are offered and food served.  When public mourning ends, a huge feast is held.  Every year, special pujas or prayers are held on the death anniversary.  Muslims too like Christians believe in only one life and that after death, there will be a day of atonement when every soul will be judged based on his or her deeds performed on earth. 

Muslim mourning rites are simple and readings are offered from the Koran, the Holy book of Islam. The body is washed and dressed simply in a shroud or white cotton sheet and placed in a coffin. Burial must take place before noon and without any delay. The body is always buried facing Mecca – the holy land for all Muslims.  Every Eid, family prayers are held at the gravesite. 

Buddhists believe in a cycle of birth, death and re-birth until the soul achieves enlightenment.  Hence, all mourning rites focus on smoothing the deceased’s passage to another existence.  Humanists are those who do not believe in God and hence think that death is an end to life, as it is known.  There are no specific mourning rites and they maybe cremated or buried depending on the wishes of the deceased.  Before attending the funeral of someone who belongs to another religious sect, it is important to know the mourning rites so that you can honor them in the proper way.

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