Death: The End or a New Beginning

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Recommended: Attitude toward death

What is death? Looking up the meaning in the dictionary would probably read “the loss of life” or “ceasing of all vital functions”. As human beings the word could mean one of many things depending on what you believe in. To most of humanity throughout history it meant the end of a life, to others a shortcut to avoid the inevitable, or even what might be the beginning of something new.

Unfortunately, today in our modern time our conception of death has changed drastically throughout history. Many like you and me will never truly understand death’s true meaning unless experienced firsthand. “The subject of death is shrouded in mystery, folklore, and different meanings from every culture on this planet”. Although death should not be something to be feared, for it’s a natural part of life. Nevertheless it shouldn’t be taken lightly; it could happen to any of us at any moment, but it shouldn’t stop you from living your life to the fullest and making every last second count.

“Throughout history, specific cultural contexts have always played a crucial role in how people perceived death. Different societies have held widely diverging views on the “breath of life” and on “how the soul left the body” at the time of death.”

In the past, death was embraced and was believed to be caused by some sort of divine intervention. In ancient Egypt, Egyptians believed that preparing for their death will allow them to cross into the afterlife. It was popular amongst the people even the Pharos of Egypt would undergo a mummification process and be buried with their belongings to ensure their place in the afterlife. Many other cultures would perform similar or other rituals to hold on to their belief that death wasn’t the end. If they had a strong eno...

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...ays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson. New York: Doubleday, 1997. Print.

Bryan, Susan Montoya. "NM Ruling Will Allow Doctors to Help Patients Die." Santa Fe New Mexican. 14 Jan. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. http://sks.sirs.com.

Wood, Daniel B. "When Does Life End? Two Emotional Cases Probe the Complexities." Christian Science Monitor. 19 Jan. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. http://sks.sirs.com

"Death." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. .

"Death Rite." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. .

"Capital Punishment." Britannica School.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. .

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