RELIGION, AGING AND DEATH

Presented by : Sumayya Khan

MPhil Psychology
University of Peshawar
◦"Aging reminds us that life is
fragile.
◦ Religion reminds us that life is
meaningful.
And death, though inevitable,
becomes not an end—but a new
beginning, shaped by the beliefs
we hold dear.
Today, let’s explore how faith,
aging, and death are deeply
intertwined, offering wisdom,
hope, and dignity across every
stage of life."
OBJECTIVES

 Explore how religion supports emotional and

spiritual well-being in aging.
 Understand different religious views on death and
the afterlife.
 Discuss how faith influences end-of-life
experiences and coping with loss.
 Challenge stereotypes and highlight the strengths
of older adults.
What is religion, aging and death

◦Religion
◦"Religion is a system of beliefs, practices, and
experiences through which individuals seek meaning,
structure, emotional regulation, and a sense of
connection to a higher power or ultimate reality.“
◦( Pargament, 1997, Psychology of Religion and
Coping)
What is religion, aging and death

◦Aging
◦"Aging is a complex, multidimensional process
involving progressive biological, cognitive, emotional,
and social changes over the lifespan, which influence
adaptation, identity, and functioning.“
◦( Birren & Schaie, Handbook of the Psychology of
Aging)
What is religion, aging and death

◦Death
◦"Death is recognized as the cessation of biological
functions necessary for life, and psychologically, it
involves processes of acceptance, grief, coping, and
meaning-making for both the individual and
survivors.“
◦( Kübler-Ross, 1969, On Death and Dying)
Statistics
 Theories
◦1. Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial
Stages of Development (Integrity vs.
Despair) by Erik erikson
◦ In Erikson's final stage of
development, individuals reflect on
their lives as they age. This stage,
occurring typically in late adulthood,
revolves around the question of
integrity versus despair.
 Theories
◦2. The Terror Management Theory (TMT) by Jeff
Greenberg, Sheldon Solomon, and Tom Pyszczynski
◦ This theory suggests that humans are driven by an
underlying fear of death. To manage this fear, people
cling to cultural beliefs, values, and religious worldviews
that promise immortality or an afterlife.
 Theories
◦3. Death Anxiety and Religious Coping by Various
researchers, including Kenneth I. Pargament
(known for his work on religious coping)
Aging often leads to an increased awareness of death,
resulting in heightened anxiety for some individuals.
Religion can serve as a coping mechanism, offering
practices, beliefs, and rituals that reduce anxiety about
death.
 Theories
◦4. The Role of Religious Social Support in
Coping with Aging and Death by Brennan M.
S. Johnson and George S. Yancey.
◦Social support is crucial for older adults, and
religious communities often provide a strong
network of emotional, social, and spiritual
support.
◦Relation to aging: Religion can offer elderly
individuals a sense of belonging and social
connectedness, which can reduce feelings of
loneliness, isolation, and depression during
aging and after the loss of loved ones.
 THEORIES
◦5. The Meaning-Making Model byRuth Chang (and
other theorists in meaning-making and coping
research) :
◦ The Meaning-Making Model posits that individuals cope
with death and aging by making sense of their
experiences and finding meaning in them.
◦Relation to religion: Religion often provides a framework
for meaning-making, offering a narrative about life,
suffering, death, and the afterlife. Through religion,
individuals may reinterpret the challenges of aging and
death as part of a larger, meaningful spiritual journey.
 Pakistani Researches
◦1. Title: Religiosity and Subjective Well-Being amongst
Institutionalized Elderly in Pakistan
◦Researchers: Fouzia Gull & Saima Dawood
◦Journal: Health Promotion Perspectives (2013) explored
the relationship between religiosity and subjective well-being
among institutionalized elderly individuals in
Pakistan.Findings indicated that higher levels of religiosity
were associated with better subjective well-being, especially
in older individuals living in institutions .
Continued
◦Religious practices, such as prayer and attendance
at religious services, contributed to a greater sense of
peace and life satisfaction . The researchers noted
that elderly individuals in institutions tend to report
higher levels of spiritual well-being and use religious
coping strategies to deal with aging and death-related
anxiety.
 Pakistani Researches
◦ 2. Title: Exploring Relationship Between Spiritual Intelligence, Religiosity,
and Life Satisfaction Among Elderly Pakistani Muslims
◦ Researchers: Khadeeja Munawar & Omama Tariq
◦ Journal: Journal of Religion and Health (2017)This study focused on the impact
of spiritual intelligence and religiosity on life satisfaction in elderly Pakistani
Muslims . It found that both spiritual intelligence and religiosity were positively
correlated with life satisfaction . Elderly individuals who reported higher spiritual
intelligence (the ability to navigate life challenges with spiritual understanding) also
experienced better life satisfaction . Religiosity, especially the intrinsic orientation
toward faith, played a significant role in improving psychological well-being and
coping with aging and death anxiety . The study emphasized that fostering spiritual
intelligence in elderly individuals could enhance their coping mechanisms and life
satisfaction, particularly in the face of age-related challenges.
 Pakistani Researches
◦Title: Religious Orientation and Death Anxiety
among Elderly Pakistani Muslims:
Mediational Role of Afterlife Belief and Ego
Integrity
◦Researchers: Saba Ghayas & Syeda Shahida
Batool
◦Journal: Journal of Behavioural Sciences,
examined the
Vol. 31, No. 1 (April 2021)
relationship between religious
orientation and death anxiety among
elderly Pakistani Muslims . The
researchers found that elderly
 Continued
◦The researchers found that elderly individuals with a
strong religious orientation (including belief in an
afterlife) experienced lower levels of death anxiety .
Afterlife belief and ego integrity were identified as
mediating factors.
Continued
◦Elderly individuals who had a stronger belief in life
after death and a sense of integrity (i.e., a sense of
fulfillment in life) experienced less anxiety about their
own mortality. The study highlighted the importance of
religious beliefs and a positive life review (ego
integrity) in reducing death anxiety among the
elderly.It suggested that religious faith could serve as
a psychological buffer against the existential fears
related to aging and death.
How to treat your elders according to Quran

◦Surah Al-Isra (17:23)“And your Lord has decreed

that you not worship except Him, and to parents,
good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach
old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much
as], ‘uff,’ and do not repel them but speak to them a
noble word.”
Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬
1.“He is not of us who does not have mercy on
young children, nor honor the elderly.”
— Sunan At-Tirmidhi
2.“If a young man honors an elderly on account of
his age, Allah appoints someone to honor him in
his old age.”
— Sunan At-Tirmidhi
Different religious perspective on death and
afterlife and its impact on aging.
1. Christianity
2. Perspective on Death: Christians generally view death as a transition from earthly
life to eternal life with God. It is often seen as a natural part of God's plan for
humanity, and while it may be feared, there is comfort in the belief in salvation
through Jesus Christ.
3. Afterlife: Christians believe in the resurrection of the dead, where the soul lives on
in heaven or hell based on one’s faith and actions during their lifetime. The elderly
may find comfort in this belief, especially during the later stages of life, as it offers
hope for a peaceful afterlife in heaven.
4. Impact on Aging: Christianity teaches that aging is part of God's design, and elderly
individuals are encouraged to live out their final years with faith, knowing that death
is not the end but a new beginning in eternal life. The elderly may also feel
supported by their church communities, which play an important role in offering
spiritual guidance and comfort.
Different religious perspective on death and
afterlife and its impact on aging.
◦ 2. Islam
◦ Perspective on Death: In Islam, death is seen as a natural event that is
predetermined by Allah. It is considered a transition from this life to the next, where
every individual will be judged based on their deeds.
◦ Afterlife: Muslims believe in an afterlife where the soul is either rewarded with eternal
paradise or punished in hell based on one's actions, faith, and obedience to Allah.
There is also the belief in resurrection and the Day of Judgment, where individuals will
be judged for their deeds.
◦ Impact on Aging: As Muslims age, they are encouraged to maintain their faith, seek
forgiveness, and make amends for their past actions. The elderly are often viewed
with great respect, and the belief in a rewarding afterlife can provide comfort and
hope. In times of aging and physical decline, the elderly may feel reassured by the
idea of eternal peace in paradise.
Different religious perspective on death and
afterlife and its impact on aging.
3 .Hinduism
• Perspective on Death: In Hinduism, death is seen as a part of the cycle of samsara (the
cycle of birth, death, and rebirth). Death is not the end but a transition to the next life. The
soul is believed to be eternal, and the body is merely a vessel for the soul during a particular
lifetime.
• Afterlife: Hindus believe in reincarnation, where the soul is reborn into a new body. The
actions (karma) accumulated during one's life influence the next incarnation. Moksha
(liberation from the cycle of rebirth) is the ultimate goal, achieved through spiritual practice,
self-realization, and devotion.
• Impact on Aging: Aging is viewed as a natural part of the cycle of life, and elderly
individuals may focus on spiritual practices like meditation, prayer, and devotion to prepare
for the afterlife or the possibility of achieving moksha. The elderly are often respected, and
there is a belief in the value of their wisdom and spiritual insight.
Different religious perspective on death and
afterlife and its impact on aging.
4. Buddhism
• Perspective on Death: In Buddhism, death is understood as an impermanent state, part
of the cycle of samsara. Death is not the end but another step in the continuous cycle of
rebirth (reincarnation), driven by karma.
• Afterlife: Buddhists believe in the concept of rebirth, where the consciousness passes
into a new body based on the karma accumulated in previous lives. The ultimate goal is
to achieve nirvana, which is liberation from the cycle of rebirth and the end of suffering.
• Impact on Aging: Elderly individuals in Buddhism may focus on detaching from material
concerns and striving to attain enlightenment through meditation, mindfulness, and
ethical living. The concept of impermanence encourages them to approach death with
acceptance and peace. Aging is seen as an opportunity for spiritual growth and
detachment from worldly attachments.
Different religious perspective on death and
afterlife and its impact on aging.
5. Judaism
• Perspective on Death: In Judaism, death is considered a natural and inevitable part of life, but
it is often accompanied by a sense of loss and mourning. Death is seen as a return to God, and
there is a strong emphasis on honoring the deceased through mourning rituals and
remembrance.
• Afterlife: The afterlife in Judaism is not as explicitly defined as in other religions. Some Jews
believe in the resurrection of the dead in the messianic age, while others focus on the concept
of the "World to Come" (Olam Ha-Ba), which is a state of spiritual closeness to God. However,
the focus is often more on living a righteous life rather than speculating about the afterlife.
• Impact on Aging: For elderly Jews, the emphasis on community, memory, and honoring one's
ancestors provides a source of comfort in aging. They may find meaning in passing down
traditions and teachings to future generations, as well as in the hope of being remembered and
respected within their communities.
Different religious perspective on death and
afterlife and its impact on aging.
6. Sikhism
• Perspective on Death: In Sikhism, death is seen as a natural transition from the
physical world. It is viewed as an opportunity to unite with God, and it is believed that
one’s actions during life determine the soul's next stage.
• Afterlife: Sikhs believe in reincarnation, where the soul undergoes cycles of rebirth.
The goal is to achieve liberation (Mukti) through devotion to God, selfless service, and
the practice of meditation on God's name.
• Impact on Aging: Sikhism teaches that elderly individuals should focus on spiritual
practices and meditation to connect with God. Aging is seen as an opportunity to
reflect on one’s life, reduce attachments to the material world, and prepare for the
eventual transition to the next life.
 Conclusion
◦ In conclusion, religion plays a pivotal role in the lives of elderly individuals, shaping
their experiences of aging, coping with loss, and making sense of the inevitable reality
of death. For many older adults, faith provides not only a source of comfort and peace
but also a framework for finding meaning in their later years. Through rituals, prayer,
and belief in an afterlife, religion offers profound emotional and social support, helping
the elderly navigate grief and loss with resilience. Moreover, faith communities
provide a sense of belonging and purpose, contributing to better mental and physical
well-being. As individuals confront the challenges of aging, religion often serves as a
guiding light, fostering hope, spiritual growth, and acceptance during life’s most
vulnerable moments. Thus, the importance of faith in elderly life cannot be
understated, as it significantly influences their emotional and psychological resilience,
enriching their final years with peace and a sense of purpose.
 References
◦ Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and society (2nd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company . Greenberg, J.,
Pyszczynski, T., & Solomon, S. (1986). The causes and consequences of a need for self‐esteem: A terror
management theory. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 19, pp. 59–
120). Academic Press . Kübler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying. Macmillan.Park, C. L. (2010). Making
sense of the meaning‐making model: Integrating coping and meaning‐making. Psychological Inquiry,
21(4), 303–315.
◦ Pargament, K. I. (1997). The psychology of religion and coping: Theory, research, practice. Guilford
Press.Pargament, K. I., Smith, B. W., Koenig, H. G., & Perez, L. (1998). Patterns of positive and negative
religious coping with major life stressors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37(4), 710–724.
◦ Johnson, B. R., & Yancey, G. S. (2008). Rediscovering community: Social support functions of religion
among older adults. Journal of Aging Studies, 22(2), 163–178. jaging.2007.10.001
◦ Krause, N. (2006). Social relationships in late life religion: Self‐rated health, depressive symptoms, and
volunteering. In J. A. Hall, H. G. Koenig, & K. G. Meador (Eds.), Handbook of religion and health (pp. 199–
217). Oxford University Press . Stroebe, M., & Schut, H. (1999). The dual process model of coping with
bereavement: Rationale and description. Death Studies, 23(3), 197–224.
◦ Worthington, E. L., Jr., & Scherer, M. (2004). Forgiveness is an emotion‐focused coping strategy that can
reduce health risks and promote health resilience: Theory, review, and hypotheses. Psychology & Health,
19(3),
Thank you for your patience