Philosophy
Different cultures around the world vary in their perception of death. In some cultures death is welcomed with open arms for example Jains in India who even go to extents of starving themselves to death. In other cultures however death is dreaded and feared. One factor is however common in all cultures of the world as far as death is related, mourning. This is a common practice throughout the world. It is a physical expression of the pain felt at the loss of a loved one. A mourning period is very significant in dealing with the emotional and psychological pain experienced at the loss of a loved one. It is a period of grieving in which loved ones are free to express their emotions and frustrations. The absence of this period would lead to a situation where people are in a state of grieving for extensive periods of time long after the burial of their loved one. The mourning period helps to reduce the emotional strain and psychological pain which results from the loss of a loved one.
Attendance of the burial is also very significant in dealing with the emotional and psychological issues and complications that arise from death. It symbolizes an avenue where friends and family can officially bid goodbye to their departed loved one. This helps to lessen the psychological tension that arises as a result of death. Communities where death rituals involve bidding goodbye to their loved one for example burial or cremation tend to recover faster emotionally from the loss of their loved one. These avenues of bidding farewell bring forth closure and emotional consolation to those who are left behind. These funeral services are also a sign of love and respect for the departed. The loved ones left behind take advantage of such occasions to express their love and appreciation for their departed and receive consolation from the congregation.
When death occurs almost all cultures engage in sessions of intercession for their deceased member to a deity that they believe in. This intercession is aimed at seeking mercy for the deceased for any transgressions committed and ensuring that the spirit of the deceased fond peace and goes to a better place. This helps to deal with the theodicy problem and is aimed at ensuring that no evil befalls the spirit of the deceased. The fact that most cultures intercede for their deceased means that there is a common belief of life after death and also belief in a higher power much more different from the regular human beings. It also alludes to the existence of good and evil and that the living desire that their dead not encounter evil but good.
In Christianity there is usually a church service held for the departed before they are buried.in Islam there is also a prayer in the mosque for the departed before their burial. These services are aimed at cleansing the body of the deceased and also interceding for their spirit as well as interceding for the loved ones left behind that they may have strength to deal with their loss. The cleansing of the body is a form of purification.it symbolizes the removal of sin from the body of the deceased. This removal of sin is aimed at ensuring that the departed are in their purest form so as to ensure that they do not encounter evil. This also helps deal with the theodicy problem. People believe that purifying their departed makes them more presentable to a higher power that they believe in. It also ensures that the departed are more appealing to this higher power thus are more prone to gain the favor of this higher power as opposed to being relegated to evil and suffering.
References
Sherbok, D. (2003). Theodicy. Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press.
York, S. (2005). Remembering well: rituals for celebrating life and mourning death. San Francisco, Calif.: Jossey-Bass.
