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Death and Dying
Death is indeed a universal human experience. Several beliefs and rituals or practices are associated with dying and/or death (faxed material, date, p. 390). But is it not the case that many of us shun the idea of dying? It is in this regard that I believe a thoughtful reflection on death and dying practices is worth undertaking.
My personal cultural belief on dying is resounded in the work of author of faxed material (date). Dying alone is an idea not adapted by our cultural standards because our culture values solidarity in the family, especially in the times of tragedy. Here, I see death and dying as a social cohesive force which bounds people together. Death serves as a tool for reinforcing social bonds among families and other social support systems. The "reunited" family during death, on the other hand, serves a particular purpose on every family member, i.e. It gives him/her a sense of belongingness and group identification. his/her sense of family is consequently defined and strengthened.
We would also rather that health professionals do not disclose the prognosis to the dying family member so as not to cause any pain or worry to the person. The last days of the dying person should be spent in the most peaceful manner possible.
Dying in one's home is also preferred in our culture because it gives the dying person a sense of warmth and familial bond. Reflecting on this, I believe that dying in one's home is also a sign that the eventual death of a family member has already been accepted by the family. It gives the dying person some sense of assurance that everything is going to be well.
Understanding one's belief and practices about death and dying allows us to see the value not only of life but of our immediate social environment. Different practices emerge because of different beliefs regarding this subject-matter but at the end of the day, it all boils down to the objective of having a peaceful death and a better coping state for his/her grieving family.
Reference
Author, Initials. (Date). Title of the Book. Location: Publisher.
Death Rituals of Different Cultures and Countries Death Rituals of different Cultures/Countries As the globe is full of numerous civilizations and cultures in a very diverse manner, similarly, their rituals, traditions and ceremonies related to life and death are also different from one another. The people belonging to these cultures have their own sets of beliefs that are witnessed through the ways they celebrate their occasions, festivals and even the death rituals
While various types of medical/religious practice had long attempted to prolong life, the emphasis of these efforts beginning during this period was placed on forestalling death. Views of Death in the Modern Era The trends that began in the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods continued into the modern era, and though the increased rationalism and emphasis on the scientific method and imperial fact served society well in many ways, this has not
Death and Dying 'My new body was weightless and extremely mobile, and I was fascinated by my new state of being. Although I had felt pain from the surgery only moments before, I now felt no discomfort at all. I was whole in every way -- perfect," (Eadie "Embraced" 30). In her groundbreaking book Embraced by the Light, Betty J. Eadie writes about her own near-death experience to help dispel the
Field, Marilyn Jane & Cassel, Christine K. (1997). Approaching Death: Improving Care at the End of the Life. National Academic Press. This work emphasizes the necessity to improve end of life care as a way to help ease fears about death and reduce anxiety which would create a more negative death experience within the nursing home. Additionally, this work shows the negative impact of over treating symptoms that are relating to
Another example would be the various religious views which stress reincarnation as a central part of the death and this again invalidates the first four of Kubler-Ross's stages and focuses more on the acceptance stage. The Kubler-Ross stages have been extended by some theorists to include other aspect that are more in line with thinking where death is not seen in a negative light: for example, the view of death
…there was light-heartedness, friendship, and hope…they were the memories of a love for a woman. Then all became confused and there was still less of what was good; later on again there was still less that was good, and the further he went the less there was. His marriage, a mere accident, then the disenchantment that followed it... (Tolstoy, 1886, 29-30). He realizes that all the while he thought he was