“It is not the end of the physical body that should worry us. Rather, our concern must be to live while we’re alive – to release our inner selves from the spiritual death that comes with living behind a facade designed to conform to external definitions of who and what we are.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Temple University Photo Seminar Copyright 2014
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Table of Contents A. Religions I. Judaism..............................................................................10 II. Byzantine Catholicism..........................................................18 III. Atheism...........................................................................26 IV. Taoism...............................................................................34
B. Cultures I. Netherlands..........................................................................42 II. Nicaragua.............................................................................44 III. Dominican Republic.............................................................48
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As we continue to breathe and pulse with life we will all share in the experience of life, and inevitably death, with one another. Human kind in it’s own right is unique for the knowledge and reflection it holds regarding the inevitable. We are not merely aware of these laws of existence, but we actively work to influence life within and beyond the confines of earthly being. Religion and spirituality are guiding forces through the lives of those who let it become so, and with that it also becomes part of death. Something larger than the confines of mortality, religious aspects regarding death address a willingness to accept higher power in ones life and death while finding spiritual truth. - Robert Kennedy
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Religions Religions
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Judaism
Judaism is an extremely open religion, making it appealing for those who do not want to be restricted by an overbearing and strict doctrine of beliefs. Rabbi Meyer Selekman, who is coming up on his 50th year as a Rabbi, currently holds the title as Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Sholom in Broomall, Pennsylvania. He identifies with the reform sector of Judaism, but knows much about the traditional rituals of funerals and the like.
The most well known tradition of Jewish funerals is Shiva, which comes from the Hebrew words for “to sit” and “seven,” because the mourners will typically sit Shiva for seven days. Of course this traditions has changed a bit over time— while the Orthodox Jews continue to sit for seven days, the more liberal Jews will sit three. In Judaism, there is a prayer called the Kaddish in which those who mourn will stand and recite during the weekly Sabbath service.
“There are a lot of traditions, many of which began as superstitions because when you experience death you feel like you have to do something. A lot of The Kaddish is recited by the mourners these present-day rituals that emerged for up to eleven months after the death out of superstitions are given additional of a loved one. Selekman noted that or new meaning. One superstition in one would not recite the Kaddish for particular is the covering a full year because that of mirrors that you won’t would be to say that the “May there be find in liberal Jewish homes deceased was a sinner. abundant peace from most of the time, but you’ll Every year on the day of Heaven, and life upon find in tradition Orthodox death, a Yahrzeit candle is us and upon all Israel.” or Conservative Jewish lit in honor of the dead as homes,” Selekman said. a vehicle for remembering “The notion is that the spirit -Mourner’s Kaddish their lives. disembodied doesn’t leave the house for a certain Selekman spoke of his period of time. And it’s unaware of the experience with officiating funerals and fact that it’s disembodied. So if it goes he had some interesting insight to the by the mirror and it doesn’t see itself- it mourning process. “There are three major freaks out. The traditional explanation emotional moments for people. When now is that when you are in mourning their loved one has died, when they see you are not to be concerned about your their loved one in the casket, and thirdly appearance, so you cover the mirrors so when they place dirt on or over the you don’t see that you have to shave, or casket,” Selekman explained. “Those are that you want to put on some makeup.” three wrenchingly emotional, mournful moments, but are really important in The covering of the mirrors is just one helping the person go through his or her of many traditions that surround Jewish mourning.” funerals. Another consists of tearing a garment, or “Kriyah,” which means, “to tear or rend” in Hebrew. Nowadays, more reformed Jews will wear a black ribbon and rip that instead. 12
Death: Religion and Culture
Mourner’s Kaddish Yit’gadal v’yit’kadash sh’mei raba b’al’ma di v’ra khir’utei v’yam’likh mal’khutei b’chayeikhon uv’yomeikhon uv’chayei d’khol beit yis’ra’eil ba’agala uviz’man kariv v’im’ru: Amein. Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varakh l’alam ul’al’mei al’maya Yit’barakh v’yish’tabach v’yit’pa’ar v’yit’romam v’yit’nasei v’yit’hadar v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kud’sha B’rikh hu. l’eila min kol bir’khata v’shirata toosh’b’chatah v’nechematah, da’ameeran b’al’mah, v’eemru: Amein Y’hei sh’lama raba min sh’maya v’chayim aleinu v’al kol yis’ra’eil v’im’ru Amein Oseh shalom bim’romav hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol Yis’ra’eil v’im’ru Amein
Judaism
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“I do not believe in an afterlife,” Rabbi Selekman stated. “I think the gift is this life, because when you think of the infinite possibilities for the sperm and egg that made me, me, not to come together—the chance occurrence of that. The gift is the life itself…When I’m gone I’m gone, and whatever molecules made up my body will go back into this vast reservoir from which new life will come.”
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“You have multiple beliefs in Judaism,” Selekman explained. “In the Jewish Bible, the closest you have is something that relates to a nether world, but nothing specific. Then you had a belief that if you did what God wanted you to do, your reward would be this worldly. Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, says that you will be reincarnated.”
Judaism
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Judaism
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Byzantine Catholic
The stained glass window, painting and ornamental architecture are all features found at SS. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church located in the old milltown of Braddock, Pennsylvania. This church building that was constructed in 1923 after the congregation continued to grow and negations were made to tear their prior building down, which originally was charted along with the parish organization itself in 1896. SS. Peter and Paul still stands as one of the most beautiful churches in the area modeling its design after Holy Cross Cathedral in Uzhorod, Transcarpathia. The building is truly unique to the area in both its interior and exterior architecture as well in its history. The over 100 year old parish, still has weekly liturgy, or service, where between 20 and 50 adults and seniors come to worship under pastor Father John Cuccaro’s guidance. He spoke about the Byzantine Catholic’s view on death, spirituality and after-life.
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Before Father Cuccaro dove into talking about death, he addressed spirituality, and how anointing of the sick is one of seven mysteries ,which the catholic church practices to represent your spiritual movement through life. He explains the mysteries are divided into three categories, Initiation into the church through Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Communion. Vocation includes vows of marriage or ordination and lastly forgiveness includes penance and anointing of the sick. He notes all of the sacraments are for the living, in the case of anointing the sick, it is prayer that the person be restored to physical health, but more importantly that their sins are forgiven and their given spiritual health. Because ultimately that is the thing that lasts forever - our relationship with God.
Death: Religion and Culture
St. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic parish began on George Street in May, August 29, 1896. The images of beautiful stained glass work, architecture, and religious art were part of the new parish building built in 1923. (ROBERT KENNEDY)
Byzantine Catholic
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So far as death, he says, we really don’t know a lot of details about things after our earthly life, but the lord makes very clear that there’s two things that will exist eternally, heaven and hell. That doesn’t depend on our personal opinions, but he says everybody will be raised, those who have led a life of faith will be raised to eternal glory in his kingdom those rejecting God will be raised to be damned, so everybody will be raised. The soul doesn’t cease to exist when the body wears off. Lastly Father Cuccaro shared St. John’s gospel chapters explaining that once we believe, we already possesses eternal life, so the church’s teaching is very clear. The soul does not cease to exist, it would go into a different, perhaps dimension if you want to say, of existence, and hopefully those lives pleasing to God would be restored into the kingdom of heaven to the Garden of Eden, the paradise we were created for... We believe the human soul urns for that, and Jesus is the only door, from which we can enter paradise. Upon that I visited the Monongahela Cemetery no more than a mile away where in the early 1900s a chapel was built in the Byzantine Catholic section, the final resting place of several priests who had served the parish. This is where many members of the church are buried as well as some of my own family members. There were a few visitors paying respects on a sunny winter day, playing role in something they knew to be much larger than themselves.
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In the early 1900s a chapel was built in the Byzantine Catholic section of the Monongahela Cemetery as the final resting place of several priests who had served the parish. (ROBERT KENNEDY)
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Byzantine Catholic
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Atheism
Atheism, in general, is specifically the condition without any deity. In atheists’ belief, death is simply the body losing the function. To some extents, the discovery of evolution, forward by Charles Darwin, promotes the birth of atheism. In the later half of the 19th century, the theory of evolution and other scientific discoveries undermined the value of religion. People believe that the scientific theories could better explain the nature of the world. Atheists believe that there is no existing God.
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Atheism
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“Everything is in the physical world and I don’t believe the soul.” -Elizabeth Lazarko
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“If it were afterlife, I feel it leads people not to treasure the life they have right now, and not to do everything they can in this life.� -David Muir
Atheism
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Atheism
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Taoism Atheism
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Taoism, a traditional Chinese philosophy and religion, emphasizes the transformation between the two poles in the universe to build the harmony. The origins of Taoism is in the middle part of China and it could day back to 2600 years ago. The term Tao means the “way” and the “principle”. It is also a part of traditional Chinese philosophy and religions. The principle is the soul of the whole universe. Everything in the universe could not stay in a state permanently and it would transform into other states with the time and space changing. Basically, the notion of Taoism is the School of Yin and Yang. “Yin” represents the death and “Yang ” represents the living. In the belief of Taoism, death is another way for life to exist in the universe. The belief of death in Taoism has 18 levels of hell and heaven (sometimes eleven depending on different branches). The dead could experience the highest level from the heaven to the hell, or the hell to the heaven, or the dead could change among all 36 levels. There is no absolute fixation in Taoism. And then, there is no absolutely “Yes” or “No”.
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Taoism also practices its belief in Martial Arts. The transition between offense and defense in Martial Arts fits the philosophy of Taoism. Phuoc Phan, a kongfu master, teaches Martial Arts on 723 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia. Phan is also a spreader of Taosim to his American students. (HUA ZONG)
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Taoism
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Cultures Cultures
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Netherlands
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aren Devires was born in Amsterdam and grew up in a small town in the Netherlands. Using the memories of her mother’s husband’s funeral, she tells the story of how a death is handled in small townships of Holland. When a death occurs, you call the funeral home and they come directly to your house to start the initial arrangements. Devires explains how helpful the funeral home is, “They take everything else out of your hands, you basically only have to make an address list of who you want at the funeral and the rest is done by them.” From there, often in small towns, the body stays in a separate room of the house for two days where the family can say their goodbyes to the deceased in their own time. On the day of the funeral, typically 3-5 days after the death in Holland, the body is brought to the funeral home in a casket. Devires thinks back to the funeral she attended, “ We went in rented cars very slowly through the city and the people attending the funeral either rode behind us or walked beside the cars.” She explains that this is typical to parade through the city until they arrive at the cemetery where the service will take place. Devires notes that in Holland it is important to visit the gravesite every week, or at least once a month with flowers and to talk to the deceased to “keep their spirit alive.”
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Cultures
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Dominican Republic
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igfrido Veras, born and raised in the Dominican Republic, considers the differences between our culture and his culture when looking into funerals and how death is treated on the small Caribbean island. Veras explained that since many Dominican’s have family outside of their city or even the country, funeral services are often held off for up to a week after a death, until all of the friends and family can arrive. If this takes two or three days they will bury the body, and just hold a service once everyone arrives. During this waiting period they usually keep the body in the funeral home. “In some of the poor areas, if they cannot afford to pay a funeral home they keep the body in the house,” he explains. “They put big block of ice under the body to keep the body from getting bad.” On the day of the funeral they family will pick a part of the city to meet in, and they will walk the funeral cart with the body down the street to the cemetery. The friends and family either ride in cars behind, or walk along-side wearing dark blues and blacks. With about 95% of the country being Catholic, they will usually hold a Mass Ceremony once at the cemetery. In their culture, they celebrate the seven days after the death. They do small gatherings each day, and then on the seventh day they have one final “celebration” of the person’s life.
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Cultures
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Nicaragua
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ulio Garcia was raised by his family in a small town of Nicaragua. Only a few years ago he returned to his home country to attend a funeral for his grandmother. He explained that this area of the small towns are often not the most well off, so their funeral traditions are not the same as they would be in the big cities, or the United States. The first thing step that is taken for a death in the small towns of Nicaragua is to call the medical examiner and have him figure out the cause of death. After the medical examiner is finished the body is brought back the home to prepare for the funeral service. The funeral service either will take place in the home or a small church in the township. “After the funeral, because we don’t have hearses, we put the body in the back of a pickup truck and the whole town, friends and family, walk to the cemetery where we give the burial,” Garcia explains. Most people wear black to attend the service, but since the people in the small towns do not have a lot of clothing, they wear their nicest church clothing. The most important thing in their culture in regards to death is “to bring respect to the deceased,” says Garcia.
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Cultures
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Nicaraguan Funeral “First thing that you do when a person dies is take it to a coroner and see the type of death they have. Then you take it back to the house to do the funeral and bring respect to the dead person, after that because we don’t have hearse we put it in the back of a pick up truck and the whole town, friends and family, walk to the cemetery where we give the burial. Most people wear black, but it’s a small town and people where whatever they have, their nicest church clothing,” explained Julio Garcia. Photographs courtesy of Julio Garcia.
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Sentiments Death is a mystery, perhaps greater than life itself. Being able to learn about how people deal with the inevitable event of death, and what effects it has on their life has been eye opening. It is a thing of beauty, the breath that we can muster against the most formidable and rigid of all cross winds. The pictures we paint, stories we tell, games we play, all now more telling than ever in a final moment. My personal favorite quote regarding life and in a sense death I feel is fitting here, as when you know something is final it makes that one attempt you had so much more genuine. That being said, “One breath, one meaning.� A song to sing in the meantime while you wait for your bus to arrive at the station with everyone else, or perhaps to depart for a journey that does not just end at death. Regardless of what happens before or after life we had the beautiful opportunity to breathe, and from that we had meaning.
-Robert Kennedy 50
Death is an oppressive topic for me. I am not an atheist, and I do not have religious specifics either. But sometimes, I do believe that “it is the written”, god writes it. In traditional Chinese culture, there is a god called the king of hell. He is responsible for the registration for those people who lose their lives. The king of hell has a roster of names. If the name is on his roster, it means that person is going to see the king of hell soon. At this point, death is calling you. Even though the king of hell is a character in Chinese myth, sometimes it is hard to say whether he exists or not. My uncle’s father in law contracted a sudden disease with ill fever and was in critical condition. But with doctor’s remarkable efforts, he recovered from the serious disease. Unfortunately, the first time he could walk out of his house by himself, my uncle’s father in law was in a car accident. It was a big shock for the family. My uncle and aunt couldn’t really accept it for a long time. “Maybe the king of hell was calling him”, said my uncle. He escaped from the disease, but he did not escape from the death. For me, the real experience of death was in my father’s hospital. My father is an Emergency Room doctor, so he has a lot experience with helping people away from near-death emergencies. I was with him one time; I was in third grade and went to my father’s hospital after school. Usually, I met with my mom after class, but that day my dad said he finished work early and would go home early with me. But when I arrived, an ambulance came in and a senior high school student who was suffering from a heart attack was sent to the Emergency Room. Due to the crucial condition, my dad had to return to work. He did not even put his white coat back on. I was waiting outside with the patient’s parents, classmates, and friends. I witnessed emotions outside the rescuing room. Hours later, these emotions were out of control. My dad was in silence that night. I still remember he said, “The salary of this rescuing for me is meaningless. He is still too young.” I was still young at that time. I respect death, just like I respect life.
-Hua Zong 51
Through this project, I found myself revisiting my old roots in Judaism and taking an interest in the religion again. I’ve never been big on religion, but I truly respect all of the tradition and culture of Judaism. Rabbi Mayer Selekman was the rabbi who married my parents in 1987, and they insisted I just had to talk to him for this assignment. And boy, were they right. Among many others, this was one quote that stuck out to me from Rabbi Selekman. “Funerals, like all life cycle events, are powerful emotional moments. Very often when people seem to be at their weakest, that’s usually when they are showing their greatest strengths.” I don’t think I’ve had enough experience with death to truly understand this, but it’s definitely an interesting thought. The only funeral I’ve ever attended was my grandmother’s, and I was just 9 years old. I remember being sad, and seeing my parents cry was the weirdest feeling ever when I was that young. At that age, I feel like we often do not see our parents as real people yet. So, the fact that they were crying made me upset and confused as to how real the situation was. Death is a strange thing. You know it’s going to happen to everyone eventually, but when you’re young, it’s not something that crosses your mind as an actual possibility. I don’t have a will. I hadn’t planned on getting one anytime soon. But now I think maybe I should. Just in case. This is for my mom-mom and Justin. I wish I had more time with the both of you. “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”
-Charlotte Jacobson 52
Death is not an easy thing to talk about for most people, and as an open person I don’t usually struggle talking about anything. But asking other people to talk about death, their view on it, and their way of handling it has not been easy. Growing up I have experienced many deaths of friends and family, caused by various reasons, and each time never got any easier. When a death happens, we don’t have the emotional capacity to look into the planning of the next steps, the faith, or even how someone else may be handling it. And when a death doesn’t happen, most of us aren’t thinking about it. Some of the hardest experiences in my own life have been watching my mother lose her best friend to cancer, and her father in a freak accident. Taking a step back for this project and viewing death from the outside has been very eye opening. Some people make their living off of death, ironic isn’t it? Other’s have almost experienced it and some outright fear it. But it is a part of life and I believe it is something we should be open to learning about.
-Kelsey Dubinsky 53
“After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” -Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Death is not scary. Death is kind. Death is quick and death is easy. Time, however, is terrifying. The time leading up to your death, the time during your death and the time after your death is where everything is white and warm and a girl you loved when you were 18 who left the earth before you did is telling you to wake up because you’re not done yet. Not by a long shot. I have never feared death. I have never feared the act of dying. I have always feared time though. Time is complicated and scary to me. You can run out of time and run out of the things you wanted to say. This project was incredibly difficult for me to do. I have a very hard time talking about death and dying. However, the world does not always fit to your needs and sometimes you have to suck it up and do what you need to do. One day, I will die. But as I learned in the last month from talking to a Hindu Priest and an Iman, who both told me what happens in their respective religions what happens when one passes on, I hope I don’t run out of time. I learned about the reincarnation, the idea of paying for the wrongs you’ve done and the people you’ve hurt. I learned of a place where you are free. Where there in a kindness and you are reunited with those you love. Respectively, I learned of place not as pleasant, where you will suffer. I hope I have the time to find peace within and figure out where I will end up one day. I hope I have the time to make sure I don’t run out of time and leave the words I need behind. As someone who has experienced dying first hand, I hated this project. I hated this topic. But, I am walking out of this less afraid of time. I walking out of this with a comfort that perhaps, with the time I have left, I could end up in a warm place with people I love. After all, as Peter Pan once said “To die would be an awfully big adventure.”
-Kathryn Stellato 54
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