Life and death plays a crucial factor in many cultures and religions, many choose to commemorate death with pain and sorrow, feeling the sorrow and loss for their loved ones. For many years death has been practiced as a sentimental form of ceremony and commemorated through the forms of artifacts, burial sites and flowers to preserve our living memory. Yet what lies behind the grave is something that differs amongst cultures, although a common factor lies in the fact that all living souls shall taste death, life after death is often a complex issue. I shall be exploring the concept of death in relation to the religious beliefs of islam.
Firstly I must clarify the word “Islam” is derived from the Arabic words “peace” and “submission”. Despite the true meaning has been lost within the western society, due to media transforming Islam into a terrorist driven society. Islam teaches nobility, peace and the path to lead a morally correct lifestyle. So what is our aim in society? For some the aim of life in general is to be financially successful, own or home or maybe accomplish a goal. For many this is described as the “perfect” lifestyle, yet don’t you stop to wonder what you may leave behind after you have perished? If our real aim is to be socially successful , then what is the true morals behind life and existence?. Would it matter if someone was a good person or bad person if there was no consequence? Now when you consider this in a religious aspect, if there was no such thing as punishment after death nor was there no such things as rewards, then what makes up the human morals? What are we living for and what are we really achieving? If towards the end of our lives we just rot in our graves and become recycled nutrients for ...
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...ishments “in scorching winds and scalding water and shadows of black smoke, neither cool nor refreshing (but extremely painful) (Al- Waqiah, 42-44). (description of jahnam).
The fire of jahannan is the most feirce of all fires, no human being can comprehend the severity of it. Described as being “eager to roast the skin, it will call forth the one who turned and fled (from the truth in this world!) (Al- Ma'aarji 15-17).
Surely you may enjoy the illusive world we live In now, but how much have you planned for your real destiny? Has it ever cross your mind that death is nearer than we except?. That you will be questioned on every deed you do on this earth?. The truth is not far away, you must open you search and witness the clues they are closer than you think... it is never to late to repent from our sins and face reality: we are all going to be victims of death.
In the ancient Egyptian culture, the belief was that there was a life force and spirit inside of the body, known as the ‘Ka’. Therefore, mummification was performed as a ritual to preserve the physical features of the body as well as to protect its inner spirit, mainly to ensure that the ‘Ka’ could recognize the body where it may dwell in the eternal life. Thus, the funerary psychology of ancient Egyptians was that death did not bring an end to living, but instead was only an escape from the physical human life and a gateway to immortal being. Due to the fact that a being’s life span was short in ancient times, people’s main hopes rested in their afterlives, where they would be with the gods (Stockstad 121).
The grandeur with which Egyptians regarded their funerary customs does not come without explanation. They delighted in tying the occurrences of the natural world with supernatural dogma, and their burial practices exemplified this deluge of religion. A special deity was even attributed to cemeteries and embalmers: Anubis (Fiero, 46). Due to this deep sense of religion, a fixation with the afterlife developed within their culture. The Egyptian afterlife, however, is not synonymous of heave, but, rather, of The Field of Reeds, a continuation of one’s life in Egypt meant “to secure and perpetuate in the afterlife the ‘good life’ enjoyed on earth” (Mark 1; “Life in Ancient Egypt” 1). The pursuit of this sacred rest-place prompted the arousal of intricate Egyptian funeral rituals.
As a natural phenomena that occurs frequently yet is still not completely understood, death has confounded and, to a certain degree, fascinated all of humanity. Since the dawn of our species, people have tried rationalize death by means of creating various religions and even attempted to conquer death, leading to great works of literature such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Cannibal Spell For King Unis.
I would like to begin this essay by giving a brief summary of the meaning the Asabano bestow upon death. Secondly, I will go into detail on the three main methods the Asabano had engaged in before converting to Christianity – which I will discuss separately in paragraphs of their own. Lastly I would like to touch on the way in which they – the Asabano – now have been educated and taught to deal with death, and how to approach the deceased.
“In most human society's death is an extremely important cultural and social phenomenon, sometimes more important than birth” (Ohnuki-Tierney, Angrosino, & Daar et al. 1994). In the United States of America, when a body dies it is cherished, mourned over, and given respect by the ones that knew the person. It is sent to the morgue and from there the family decides how the body should be buried or cremated based on...
The five Eastern religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto have some similarities when it comes to the their beliefs on death. Hinduism and Buddhism both believe in karma and reincarnation, while Daoism and Shintoism revolve their beliefs around nature. Confucianism chooses not to focus on things we do not know, so their beliefs on death are limited. In deciphering the different beliefs on death associated with each religion, it is important to understand the different belief systems and their origins. While some religions merged the views of the other religions, some came from the views of an originating founder. Each religion has their own view on life after death and whether or not their followers should be concerned
Deaths were a form of social event, when families and loved ones would gather around the bed of the dying, offering emotional support and comfort. Myth, religion, and tradition would combine to give the event deeper meaning and ease the transition for all involved. The one who was dying was confident in knowing what lay behind the veil of death, thanks to religious faith or tradition. His or her community held fast to the sense of community, drawing strength from social ties and beliefs. (“Taboos and Social Stigma - Rituals, Body, Life, History, Time, Person, Human, Traditional Views of Death Give Way to New Perceptions" 1)
Sogyal Rinpoche stated “When you start preparing for death you soon realize that you must look into your life now.and come to face the truth of yourself. Death is like a mirror in which the true meaning of life is reflected.” Death is imminent. Many people today fear death for various reasons. Some people are able to accept it, while others deny its existence.
This is the inevitable truth which some contemplate every day. Death for many is something they
Although fire is linked to human life, as it is essential for survival, not only its use for food, security and warmth, particularly in the extreme cold weather but also it could harm and smolder entirely. In Mary Shelley 's novel, “Frankenstein,” fire exists
There are numerous cultures in this planet today; however the Jewish view of death makes this culture unique from the rest. Jewish death and mourning rites have two basic principles: kevod ha-met, respectful treatment of the dead, and kevod he-chai, consideration for the feelings of the living. These two principles are highly regarded by the Jewish community (Kolatch 7-8).
One thing that we often hear is that “death is just a part of life.” So often in our day and age do we hear people utter these words. However, death is far more significant and impactful than some would allege. True death is not merely a time when we cease to exist; it is an entombment, a mindset in which we are dead to this world. Throughout our lives, it is true that we can all be dead in one way or another, but it does not have to be that way. When we have our eyes opened to what death actually is, it is far easier to grasp what the true meaning of life is, and to embrace it. Often, we will come across individuals who are enveloped in death and others who are immersed in true life. The shadow of death and entombment lies upon some, encompassing
The concept of human mortality and how it is dealt with is dependent upon one’s society or culture. For it is the society that has great impact on the individual’s beliefs. Hence, it is also possible for other cultures to influence the people of a different culture on such comprehensions. The primary and traditional way men and women have made dying a less depressing and disturbing idea is though religion. Various religions offer the comforting conception of death as a begining for another life or perhaps a continuation for the former.
According to Islamic worldviews, in the beginning, “Allah created seven heavens, one above another” (Noble Quran 67:3), and one made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a glorious lamp (http://islam.about.com/). Muslims believe that human life began with Adam and Hawwa (Eve), (http://islam.about.com/). It is also explained in the Quran that Allah created all the humans and animals from water. The bible tells a similar story about how life began. According to biblical worldviews, God created the Heavens and the Earth in six days, and on the seventh day he rested. Muslims do not believe this. Christians believe that human life started with Adam and Eve, which is a shared belief between Muslims and Christians. Biblical worldviews also carry the belief that humans were created from dust, which also differs from Islamic worldviews.
Death is inevitable. As mortal souls, we know that we will be condemned to death. Although, we will never know when it approaches. Death is devious, agonizing, fearful, and inescapable, it is the very thing that can send chills down our spine that makes us cringe. Many of us fear death, because of the things we hear of it or the mental images associated with someone on their death bed suffering in pain. But someone of us has acknowledged that there is no escaping it, and we go into the game knowing what to expect. Over the course of the semester, we’ve read different literary works, in them, we were confronted with characters who had to deal with death, some of whom took their own lives, some who faced their death without fear, and some who have wished for death but did not die. These characters include; Antigone and Haimon, in the play Antigone by Sophocles, Socrates in the Apology by Plato, and Julius Caesar and Brutus in the play Julius Caesar by Shakespeare.