discuss two world religions view on death and dying
Discuss two world religion’s veiws on death and dying. This essay will examine the views of death and dying of two vastly different religions; these religions will be Judaism and Hinduism. Firstly, the Jewish views on death and dying will be discussed. ... After the death, the eyes are closed, the body laid on the floor, covered and candles are lit. ... The burial takes place as soon as possible, usually the same day as the death, since it is held to be disrespectful to keep a loved one unburied for any length of time. ... It is tradition for the family to avoid any event or celebration with music for thirty days after the death. ... It is important to note that the prayer itself has nothing to do with death, but is a reaffirmation of ones faith in God. ... To mark the death of and celebrate the life of the deceased individual, the Yahritz (anniversary) takes place. ... This means that Euthanasia and assisted suicide are forbidden, even someone who is dying may not have their death accelerated in order to end suffering. On the other hand, someone whose death is inevitable can be denied treatment if it is considered the treatment was merely a means of prolonging life. ... You gain enlightenment through building up Karma and escaping samsara (the cycle of birth and death), thus attaining mukti. ... An example of an offering is when offerings are made to the local holy or ascetic man after his death, in order to gain merit. ... Therefore the Gita teaches us how to gain liberation from samsara (the cycle of birth and death) and attain mukti (liberation). If a Hindu follows the above then they will escape the potentially finite cycle of samsara (cycle of birth and death). ... Any contact with death confers ritual impurity upon Brahmins who are prohibited from reciting the Vedic scripture for periods of one to three days. ... The corpses of those who have renounced the everyday world are buried upright in special tombs or are placed on sacred rivers. Given the climate in India, cremation occurs as soon as possible after death and the attendant ritual, in which offerings are brought to the ancestors of the deceased, involves three priests who must be paid for their services. ... Yama is the God of death in the earliest hymns of the Rig Veda (sacred Hindu text). ... Yama recommends contemplation of the immortals innermost principle of man as the means of escaping samsara (cycle of birth and death). ... Hinduism is complex and vastly different from monotheistic religions such as Judaism. The notion of death and dying within the Jewish tradition focuses on those left behind, helps the family to deal with their loss and there is a belief that the deceased will move onto a better place. ... It expresses their refusal to capitulate to death, to give up in the face of frustration, to allow hostility to tear apart in the face of frustration, to allow hostility to tear apart their human aspirations.