Philosophies and Belifefs on Death (Essay Sample)

PHILOSOPHIES AND BELIEFS ON DEATH AND THE DISPOSITION OF THE HUMAN BODY
Introduction
Religion is a wide spread doctrine that exits in the whole world. On the same, religion is characterized by different doctrines that are influenced by several factors. These factors are what differentiates one religion from the other ranging from traditional beliefs to set down laws that govern each religion. The disposition of human body and the beliefs on death vary from religion to religion. The way Christianity deals with the disposition of the body is not the same way Islam or Hinduism as religious denominations deals with it. Categorically it is the varying philosophy in these respective religions that brings about different beliefs on death and disposition of the human body.
Research
Hinduism
Hinduism is part and parcel of a religion practiced in the Indian nation (Peterson and Walhof, 10). Indians are the ones who dominate in this religion as much of its widespread belief and tradition originates from there. The Hindu religion consequently believes in the reincarnation of the dead and soul to new life. This on the other hand means that the soul is eternal. This is to say that the soul is immortal and part of a greater being; jiva. Jiva is a being who is attached to a greater soul and one who dismisses death as a calamity (Dalal, 147). Similarly Jiva takes many forms and this is one of the primary reasons why the Hindus believe in the reincarnation of the dead. It is important to note that within the Hindu religion they belief in one God called Branham. This notion brings to the precise knowledge of the existence of many gods and goddesses who take many forms. It is in the light of this that reincarnation of the dead within the Hindu community is marveled by Karma (Geisler and Amamo, 31). Nevertheless, the Hindu religion practice funeral procedure almost immediately after death has struck. Similarly the Hindu tradition and its sacred rituals, allow a male family member (such as a husband, father or son) to perform the last rites. The deceased is washed immediately by family members and while sacred ash that is applied with the control of a holy priest who speaks words of the holy Mantra (Hilton and O’Neil, 124). Finally the disposition of the body is through cremation which entirely is conducted by the family members. In respect to the given to the deceased, no cooking is done until the whole cremation process is over (Ostigad, 19).
ChristianityChristianity and its belief vary due to the difference in denominations as each denomination has its own laws that govern their mode of operation. However the difference in denomination is not any hindrance to the belief that there exists a paradise named heaven after the earthly world. Believers in this case associate themselves with a heavenly supreme being known as God. Based on the same, Christians also belief in hell. Where by when non-believers died will go to. On the onset of Christianity the deceased would be buried as it was with the son of the Supreme Being Jesus. However, nowadays Christian practices cremation of the dead and loved ones. The rituals that come with the disposition of the dead is orchestrated and determined by the kind of denomination the deceased or the family of the deceased attends. Essentially, this means that
Buddhism
Buddhism as a religion is majored on philosophies and teachings of living the Dharma through the principles of Siddhartha Gautama (Warms et al, 453). Buddhism notes death as an avoidable situation to who a person who has been living the worldly ways and full of attitude that do not reflect the way of the Budddha lord. The Buddhist religion and the people themselves view death as an awakening rather than the continuation of a new life. It is however important to note that they believe in reincarnation of the soul (McClelland, 251). During death scripture are recited and finally the deceased laid to rest. On the contrary, Tibetan tradition within the Buddhism practice involves acquiring the deceased body parts such as the nails or ashes and later on engraving them on pottery artifacts (Lee, 228). Buddhism doctrines do not allow family members to touch the corpse of the deceased. Cremation is done as a way of disposing the body.
Islam
It is logic to say that most of these religions believe in life after death. The same case applies to the Islam religions as it also believes that the present life is only but a preparation to the next form of life after death. Their philosophy dictates that life is a journey into a sphere of variations in existence. Washing of the deceased body and covering it in a piece of white clothing is part of the ritual ceremony carried out by the Islam religion (Jones, 10). The disposition of the body happens almost immediately. This is similar with the Hinduism religion. The rituals at the time of the funeral involve prayers which are conducted by all who are present. It is important to note that the dead within the Islam fraternity are buried facing the direction of Mecca (Sheikh and Gatrad, 105). Most religion as explained share the common belief of life after death and reincarnation into another being. However the new being will be born either into a more powerful state or less depending on the life lived and practices one did while on the material world. The disposition of the body is mostly conducted by family members of the deceased at the time of burial with rituals being conducted in accordance to philosophies and teachings of one’s religion.
ANALYSIS
The disposition of the body is influenced by philosophies that circulate and that are determined by the environment we live in. The modern society has transformed and the philosophies that exist now are not in contrast to the teachings that different religions offer. For instance Gordon Grice in his book the Slice of Life notes how anatomy was brought forth into the digital age (Grice, 36). Several scientists however came up with different techniques of preserving the body and this is contrast to the beliefs of the religions earlier discussed. Plastination is a method of preserving the dead through replacement of water and fats in the body with specifics plastics so as to avoid decay or smell (Blake et al, 272). This method originated from Guther Von Hagens (Kutzbach and Mueller, 271). This method would be offensive to most of the religions discussed above as their philosophies and teachings on the disposition of the body do not concur. This is so because most of the religions belief in the reincarnation of the body to another world. Plastination would allow the deceased to be in the same world as part of the body organs would still be preserved. However, the Tibetan tradition within the Buddhism religion would allow this as part of the body organs of the deceased were retained and engraved in artifacts.
Spitzer is also a renowned scientist who used an inmate’s corpse to be a basis where others would learn and see the human body as it is (Kirksey, 14). Spitzer and Guther Van Hagens projects are differe...