Like everything in our lives dealing with death is subjective. Is it traumatic? Devastating? Just one of those things that happen? Depending on who you ask, the answer will change from person to person. One thing that is not subjective is that death is so much a part of life. From the moment we are conceived we begin the process that will lead us eventually to the grave. Some die of natural causes and others are taken in many different ways before the normal life cycle is complete. Aside from the way one dies the attitude towards death can be as different as night and day.
Although death can be a mournful situation some believe it is a time of celebration. The attitude of celebrating death is not about that person's passing but of how much they were loved when they were alive. Remembering how much the deceased changed everyone’s life. How they impacted others and gave of themselves. It is natural to feel sadness when someone close to you dies. You will never be able to sit and talk to them or hold them close but you'll always have those wonderful memories that made them special. Another attitude people have about death is humor. Usually, however, it is the person that is dying that uses humor to alleviate the pain those around them are feeling. It seems odd to me that the person that is dying tries to comfort the living. What does that say about us? If a dying person has accepted their fate and uses humor then we should be honored to glimpse a little of what made them great all their lives.
Throughout history the meaning of death has changed from society to society and region to region. Ancient Egyptians loved life and did the best they could to follow a righteous and harmonious way of existence. Why? Because they believed in the afterlife and, surprisingly, not all would be allowed to return. This is why they chose to live good lives so that they would be chosen to return and live amongst the Gods. Practicing mummification, body preservation, was an art form that allowed an Egyptian to return whole.
The Mayan culture celebrated and respected their dead but the fear of death weighed heavy on them. Women who died at childbirth were thought to ascend into heaven immediately. Sacrifice as well as death by your own hand was also greatly respected and a key into the hereafter. During battle, death was viewed as a noble and sought-after way into immortality. On the other hand those who were evil and created trouble for its society were destined to pain and suffering in the netherworld.
The American Indian believed that only the soul would cross into the Spirit World and the body of the fallen would return to the earth. Some tribes ascribed to long rituals to help the soul along the right path so that it wouldn’t return to the earth and torment loved ones. Other tribes showed respect by washing the body and dressing them in crisp, clean clothes for the long journey. Yet again other tribes believed living to old age was a sure sign of rebirth. American Indians also subscribed to the belief that a troubled life and death would lead you to a haunted existence, roaming the world as a ghost.
The Japanese follow a tradition of repaying a debt inherited at birth. Payment of this debt, which can never be repaid, was gained because of the love family and friends shared from birth to death. Because of this belief the elderly are cherished and respected especially when death arrives. Throughout history the Japanese people believed that living a respectable life would pay this insurmountable debt. If a person died abruptly, family members knowing that the debt existed perform rites of passage and offered a humble apology for nonpayment. The Japanese like the American Indians believed that living outside the acceptable parameters of respect would doom the offender to a fake life as a ghost until proper amends was made.
The Jewish community believes that death should not be rushed and steps should be taken when needed to prolong life but if death is near it is not uncommon for family members to refuse resuscitation. It is also believed that to die is only natural but should not be hidden behind beauty such as flowers. Like many other societies Jews aspire to a life after death and those who have lived a good life will be rewarded. Dying alone is one thing the Jewish people will not allow one to do. Cleansing of the body like other cultures is required and a wood coffin is used to show all people are equal in death. Preservation of the body is forbidden so no artificial chemicals can be used.
Muslims believe in a life after death and washing of the body is practiced for rebirth. Unlike most societies, Muslims believe that God will compensate or chastise according to the life you've lead. Like the Japanese, Muslim families believed debts need to be paid and assume all debts until paid in full. Respecting the dead by visiting the grave site plays into ones own “good deed” looking forward to judgment day.
As time passed and civilizations grew, attitudes towards death changed. Due to disease and pestilence death was common among the young and old. It was not uncommon to have family and friends die frequently. The middle ages brought about weariness with regards to death. So many were dying that it was hard to show any emotions other than sadness and despair. Because of the way people were dying of disease burial rituals were set aside and replaced with mass graves and cremation.
Grieving when a loved one departs has caused many to react in erratic ways. As recently as the 1980’s a practice called Suttee was abolished in India. This event would force the widow of a deceased man to lay with him as they were consumed in fire. Sky burial practiced by Buddhist was a rite of necessity. Because of the rugged terrain and lack of trees traditional underground burials and cremation were ill advised. The Sky burial was born. A body was taken to the highest mountain that could be found and cut into pieces so that the birds could feast. History has shown that many viewed the body as simply a vessel that was to be disposed of when death arrived.
Religion has often befuddled the mind and how one views and accepts death. Fear of heaven and hell looming over ones head caused attitudes to vary and mourners to seek redemption for the dearly departed. As fear of the unknown gripped the world many saw death as a passage into a greater existence thereby bypassing oblivion. Others however do believe that this is the only chance we get and nothing comes after death. They view death as an end of everything so there's not much left to worry about.
Sometimes death is viewed as a glorious status symbol. Many cultures believe that taking your own life and those of others will bring you everlasting existence. This does not mean that they view life as insignificant or meaningless. On the contrary; they believe they exist only to serve their God and though misguided in their religious beliefs as they may be they sacrifice themselves in an attempt to reach God faster. Although many believe their own God is right and everyone else’s religion is false, one thing remains the same: death comes to all no matter what you believe in.
Do you fear not knowing if your belief in God and everlasting life at his side is false? Does it matter? The attitude one has of his own mortality and passing can be mind numbingly ridiculous. We learn from a young age by our ancestors how we should feel about death and as we grow older we outgrow these supercilious concepts. Sometimes we don't. Many mourn for selfish reasons and go beyond what many people think is adequate. Perhaps they feel, being still alive, that they failed to make amends for some past wrong. Attitudes vary and we will never fully understand why some feel nothing and others feel the world is collapsing. It comes down to a matter of perspective. It seems a waste of time to wonder what will happen when death knocks on the door. It seems a waste of time to wonder if God exists at all. It seems a waste of time worrying if there is life after death. If you’ve lived a good life and are kind to others then perhaps knowing this will cover your butt if there is a judgment day.