Things that you wish
you had done… but
did not.
HUMAN PERSONS AS
ORIENTED TOWARD THEIR
IMPENDING DEATH
UNIT IX
OBJECTIVES
Recognize the meaning of life
Enumerate the things that one wants
to achieve in life and define projects
that one intends to pursue
Explain the meaning of life.
Reflect on the meaning of life.
LIFE
It pertains to the significance of living or existence
in general.
The meaning of life as we perceive it is derived
from philosophical and religious contemplation of,
and scientific inquiries about existence, social ties,
consciousness, and happiness.
ORIGIN OF LIFE
CREATIONISTS EVOLUTIONISTS
Believe that life was Believe that everything is
brought by a supreme in the cosmos, including
being or a god. life, can be explained in
terms of the interaction of
matter.
HAPPINESS
State of mind
He or she is happy or “is in a good
mood”
Having a satisfying life that goes well for
the person living it
Eudemonia (good spirit) - person’s state
of well-being or happiness.
DEATH
DEATH
Is the cessation of all biological functions that
sustain a living organism.
Phenomena which is commonly bring about death
include biological aging, predation, malnutrition,
disease, suicide, homicide, starvation, dehydration
and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury.
Bodies begin to decompose shortly after death.
SENESCENCE
Refers to a scenario when a
living being is able to survive all
calamities, but eventually dies
due to causes relating to old
age.
SIGNS
Respiratory arrest
Cardiac arrest
Pallor mortis - paleness which happens
in 15-20 minutes after death.
Livor Mortis - a setting of the blood in the
lower (dependent) portion of the body.
SIGNS
Algor Mortis- the reduction in body temperature
following death.
Rigor mortis- the limbs of the corpse become
stiff (Latin rigor) and difficult to move or
manipulate.
Decomposition- the reduction into simpler forms
of matter, accompanied by a strong, unpleasant
odor.
LESSON 2
DIFFERENT
VIEWS ON
DEATH
ANCIENT VIEW
Most of the ancient people attributed
death to the agency of gods, elves,
demons or evil spirits who are jealous of
human achievements and beautiful
human features, or who are offended by
mans sins.
VIEWS OF GREEKS TO DEATH
Ideas about the afterlife were never uniform
amongst the Greeks
• Some common beliefs included
– At the moment of death the psuche (soul) left
the
body through the mouth
– The corpse which remains is not important
– All souls go to Hades
EGYPTIAN VIEW
OF DEATH
Egyptians believed that the body will be used in the
afterlife even if your innards were removed and
stored in canopic jar
When you died your soul or ba would fly out of your body
and spark your double (ka), which would then travel to the
other world.
However, it would need to return to your body, since
without the physical body, the ka would die. Since your
body had to be preserved for the re-entry, the Egyptians
developed embalming.
Pharaohs who were destined to
join the other gods– not only
would need a body, but all the
other accouterments of status,
from gold to slaves.
Pyramids served to house
this paraphernalia of
eternity.
CHINESE VIEW
OF DEATH
Death Rites and Filial Piety
Ancestor worship is strongly linked to filial
piety
One of the most important aspects of
expressing filial piety was to perform
the correct death rites.
Aimed at moving ancestor/
deceased to ancestral realm and
negotiating courts of hell
Gods, Ghosts and Humans:
A Permeable Border
At death, the dead person joins the
ranks of dead:
1) If correct rituals are performed they
become an ancestor
2) Especially meritorious people join divine
bureaucracy – become a God
Also possible for other reasons
3) Incorrect rituals means the person
becomes a hungry ghost, vampire, etc.
Heavens and Hells
Another popular belief was that the
dead must pass through the 10
(numbers vary) Courts of Hell.
One must pass through for
judgement and be tried and
punished according to misdeeds,
after this one can become an
ancestor
Such hells are also found in Buddhist
tradition – someone passes through
them before rebirth
Funerary rituals can help reduce
time spent here and reduce
punishments
ISLAMIC VIEW OF
LIFE AFTER DEATH
LIFE AFTER DEATH
It is called “akhirah”
For a Muslim not to believe this would make life
meaningless
Everything that happens in our lives is a test – not
accidental
On Yawmuddin (day of judgement) everyone will
be judged (not just Muslims)
We are judged on:
our character
our reactions to good and bad events in
life
our way of life
We do not know why things happen, the
point is reacting to them in the right way
Non-believers go to hell and so do bad
Muslims Sometimes Allah is merciful to
certain sinners
LIFE AFTER DEATH
Human beings are Allah’s greatest physical
creations
Muslims consider themselves from animals as we
know will die
Every soul (ruh) is unique with free will (although
Allah teaches us we cannot do everything we
want as he is in control)
The body is thought to be “vehicle for the soul.”
The soul will be judged as it is our consciousness.
BUDDHIST VIEW
OF DEATH AND
REBIRTH
NIRVANA The supreme aim of the
Buddhism is to obtain Nirvana
or Enlightenment.
A state of liberation or
illumination from the
limitation of existence,
It is obtained through the
extinction of desire.
Those who have obtained the
https://m.facebook.com/BuddhismPathToNirvanah/photos/pcb.3
151034521623709/3151034414957053/?type=3&source=48 state of Nirvana are called
Buddhas.
DEATH AND THE IMPERMANENCE
OF LIFE
To Buddhism death is not the end of life, it is merely
the end of the body we inhabit in this life, but our
spirit will still remain and seek out trough the need of
the attachment, attachment to a new body or a new
life.
THE SIX
REALMS OF
EXISTENCE
https://www.tibetanbuddhistaltar.org/six-realms-of-
cyclic-existence/
HEAVEN
In Buddhism there are 37
different levels of heaven where
beings experience peace and
long lasting happiness without
suffering in heavenly
environment.
ASURA
A spiritual state of Demi-Gods but
not happy state experienced by the
gods in the heaven above the state.
They are consumed with jealousy.
HUMAN LIFE
In Buddhism we can be reborn into
human life over and over.
Anything can happen, as if found in
human life and society all around us as
we are familiar with the day to day
human world in myriad of possibilities.
HUNGRY GHOST
This spiritual realm of those who
committed excessive amount of evil
deeds and who are obsessed with finding
food and drink which they cannot
experience and thus remain unsatisfied
and tortured by the experience,
ANIMALS
This realm is visible to humans
and it is where the spirits of
humans are reborn if they killed
animals or have committed a lot
of other evil acts.
HELL
This realm is not visible to humans.
It is a place where beings born there
experience a constant state of searing
pain and the various types of hell
realms read like a variety of horrific
torture chambers.
JUDAISM: JEWISH VIEW OF
DEATH
VIEW OF JUDAISM
In Judaism life is valued above almost all else.
Death is viewed as a tragedy, even when it occurs early
in life or through unfortunate circumstances.
Death is seen as a natural process.
Death is like life, has meaning and is part of divine plan.
Jews have a firm belief in an afterlife where who has
lived a worthy life will be rewarded
Death
Mourning practices in Judaism are extensive but
they are not an expression of fear or distaste of
death.
Jewish 2 purposes of mourning: to show respect
for the dead (kavod ha-met) and to comfort the
living (nihum avelim)
Care for the Dead
The body is never left alone until after burial, as a sign of
respect.
Shomerim - the people who sit with the dead body, from
the root Shin-Mem-Resh, meaning “guards of keeper”
Chevra Kaddisha - an organization to care for the dead
(the holy society)
The presence of the dead body is considered a source of
ritual impurity.
Care for the Dead
In preparation for the burial, the body is thoroughly
cleaned and wrapped in a simple, plain linen shroud.
The body must not be cremated.
The body is never displayed in funerals
Jewish law requires that a tombstone be prepared, so
that the deceased will not be forgotten and the grave
will not be desecrated.
Mourning Practices
Jewish mourning practices can be broken into several
periods of decreasing intensity.
Keriyah - the tearing of clothing.
Aninut – the period when the mourners sole
responsibility is caring for the deceased and preparing
for the burial. The family should be left alone and
allowed the full expression of grief.
Mourning Practices
Se’udat havra’ah - meal of condolence. First meal of
the mourners. The meal traditionally consist of egg (a
symbol of life) and bread.
Shiva - the next period of mourning (seven because it
last for seven days.). It begins on the day of the burial
and continues until the morning of the seventh day
after the burial.
KADDISH
It is commonly known as the mourner’s
prayer
It is routinely recited at many times, and the
prayer itself has nothing to do with the
death or mourning.
CHRISTIAN VIEW OF
DEATH AND REBIRTH
THE SLEEP OF DEATH
Death is a sleep.
The New Testament speaks of the “that are fallen
asleep in Jesus” (1 Thes. 4:14)
The term “sleep” is used in the scriptures to describe
the state of the body in death.
Only the body of man sleeps in Death. This is revealed
in Daniel 12:2 “sleep in the dust of the earth.”
BACK TO DUST
The Bible also realistically speaks of the
decomposition of the body. When Adam
and Eve sinned they were deprive of the
tree of life hence of physical immortality
(Gen. 3:22; Rom. 5:12). It is therefore, man’s
lot to return to the dust of the ground
(Gen.3:19 ; Eccl. 12:7)
THE SENTIMENTAL
JOURNEY
Death is a departure. It occurs
when the spirit leaves the body
(Jas. 2:26).
Paul thought of death as a
departure (Phil. 1:23)
BLISSFUL REUNION
Death is a reunion of righteous
loved ones. It is written of the
patriarch Abraham,
“ Abraham gave up the ghost, and
died… and was gathered to his
people” (Gen. 25:8)
Face to Face with Christ
For those who die in Christ, death is the
union with the Lord. Jesus informed the
dying thief, “Today you shall be with me
in paradise” (Lk. 23:43). And as
previously observed, Paul longed to
depart to be “with Christ”
The Agony of Defeat
For the wicked, death begins at the eternity of
suffering.
Though it is not a popular theme in contemporary
society, the doctrine of hell is still a vital part of
the Bible.
At death, all who lived in rebellion to God will
enter a spirit state characterized by pains, trouble
and sorrow. (Psa. 116:3)
FILIPINOS VIEW ON DEATH
Filipinos traditions that surround death and dying are a blend
of indigenous, Spanish, and American influence that makes
the Filipino tradition unique.
One of this tradition is called “atang” it is a feast prepared by
the bereaved family.
A novena - is a catholic prayer session that consist of the
reciting of the original prayer ad the use of rosary prayer
beads .
