Death Across Cultures

Most countries in the West treat death as final and irrevocable while a majority of cultures in the East treats death as another step in the eternal cycle of life. Often, death is thought to lead to a new beginning or life, and a funeral may not even be observed as a somber and sad event. Explain how spirituality can contribute with assisting people cope with the concept of death and dying in a more productive manner. Discuss a specific religious belief or funeral ritual from a non-U.S. culture, and explain how that culture deals with death and how this belief/practice helps them cope with death and bereavement. Then, compare and contrast this with a practice/belief in the U.S. in terms of specifics. Explain how their practice, although different, is designed to achieve the goal of accepting the death of a loved one.