As far as we know, humans are the only species that do anything when a loved one dies. Most animals just leave their fellows where they lay or have fallen. But in all societies, people have funerals: the rite held to mark the disposal or a corpse.
Christianity holds the belief that when we die our souls are resurrected into eternal life. They believe that when someone dies, they are judged by God: the righteous go to Heaven and the sinners go to Hell. Christians believe that Hell is the separation from the love of God. However they are not actual places, just a higher realm of existence and state of mind. God supposedly decides one’s fait however this is questionable, for Christianity also teaches of the loving God, who forgives our sins.
If someone is on their deathbed, a minister will prepare them for death. This is most likely after a long period of illness, this is called the Last Rite. When a Christian dies they are given to an undertaker, who will wash, cloth and prepare the body using cosmetics, for the funeral. The funeral is held about a week after death and it can either take place in a church or at a crematorium.
The burial is very important as Jesus rose from the dead, and Jesus’ death and resurrection are seen as a victory over death and sin. The two types of funerals in the Christian faith are burials and cremations. The body is place in a chosen coffin and is disposed of with the chosen service. If cremated the ashes are put into an urn and given to the family, who may choose to keep them or scatter them in a place that was meaningful to the deceased. Or if buried the location of the grave is usually marked by a chosen engraved head stone.
When a Jew dies, they shouldn’t be alone. If possible their last moments should be spent confessing or reciting the Shema. Upon the death of a Jew, the eyes are closed, the body is covered and laid on the floor, and candles are lit next to it. The body is never left alone as a sign of respect. A mourner called an Onan or Shomerim (guard) will stay with the body at all times. Eating and drinking are prohibited near the body, as such actions would mock the person who is no longer able to do such things. Most Jewish communities have a special group of volunteers, Chevra Kaddisha (“holy society”) whose job is to care for the dead. They wash the body in a bath called a Mikvah, cloth the body and present it at an arranged funeral. The deceased may not be cremated, and burial takes place as soon as possible after death. The Body is buried wearing a simple linen shroud inside a very plain wooden coffin, so that the poor will not receive less honour than the rich. The body is also wrapped in a Tallit.
The family of the deceased will spend seven days in complete mourning and isolation. They will make a tear in their clothing to symbolize a broken heart, and they will not wear leather shoes. During the seven days they will neither buy or prepare food, only accepting supplies from visitors and friends is allowed. All the mirrors in the house will be covered up. Only acts of basic hygiene are carried out, those in mourning will not wash their hair, cut their nails, or wear make up. No form of entertainment is prohibited, including sex. The family of the deceased will sit on special small chairs reading the Torah. It is a time to reflect.
Hindus believe in reincarnation and view death as the soul moving from one body to the next on its path to fulfilling a certain task or duty called Dharma. The result of this is called Kharma and it affects what level in the class of life forms a person will take next. Death is a sad occasion, but Hindu priests emphasise the route ahead for the departed soul and a funeral is a celebration and remembrance service.
After a person dies, the funeral is held within hours. Hindus cremate their dead, believing that the burning of a dead body signifies the release of the spirit, and that the flames represent Brahma, The Creator. The burning represents purification of their soul, the Atman.
The body is prepared by the chief mourner: the deceased’s eldest son. It is washed, clothed wearing a few flowers and garlands and sandal wood oil is rubbed onto the corpse to make it fragrant, and easy to burn. It is placed upon a Pyre where the eldest son will light some kindling and circle the burning body reading Scriptures from the Vedas or Bhagavad Gita, and praying for the wellbeing of the departing soul.
To make sure the soul has fully left its physical form the son will crack it using a hammer, this makes sure there if no where for the spirit to get stuck.
Afterwards the cremated ashes are sprinkled on water. Many people take the ashes to India to put on the waters of the Ganges, others may take them to the sea near to where they live.
