Funeral Planning
Funeral Planning
Introduction
Mankind’s history of burial practices and funeral customs are as old as civilization itself. There is no specific way to planning a funeral. Every civilization and culture has provided for their dead in different ways. Religion and personal beliefs play an important role in the burial practices and funeral customs of a given culture or civilization. Furthermore, each civilization and cultured ever studied have three things in common: some type of funeral rites, rituals, and ceremonies; A sacred place for the dead; and memorialization of the dead. As far back as the time of Christ, burials have been noted to take place. In time burial and funeral customs have become very distinct, interesting and expensive. In post-industrial America, along with the rest of the western societies, grave burials are the most common method of disposal. However, cremation, although popular in many countries, is still very unpopular in western societies. As I found in my research, funerals can be expensive. Planning a funeral is no easy thing, though we know is the only part of life that is certain, many individuals are far from thinking about what casket to choose. This was truly an experience I will never forget. Before defining death, we must know what life is. Life is defined as the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally. On the other hand, legal death, which deals with a human life, is when an individual suffers irreversible cessation of all circulatory and respiratory functions, or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem is dead. The legal definition of death is adopted under the Uniformed Death and Determination Act (UDDA). The UDDA is a draft state law that was approved for the US in 1980 by the
Introduction
Mankind’s history of burial practices and funeral customs are as old as civilization itself. There is no specific way to planning a funeral. Every civilization and culture has provided for their dead in different ways. Religion and personal beliefs play an important role in the burial practices and funeral customs of a given culture or civilization. Furthermore, each civilization and cultured ever studied have three things in common: some type of funeral rites, rituals, and ceremonies; A sacred place for the dead; and memorialization of the dead. As far back as the time of Christ, burials have been noted to take place. In time burial and funeral customs have become very distinct, interesting and expensive. In post-industrial America, along with the rest of the western societies, grave burials are the most common method of disposal. However, cremation, although popular in many countries, is still very unpopular in western societies. As I found in my research, funerals can be expensive. Planning a funeral is no easy thing, though we know is the only part of life that is certain, many individuals are far from thinking about what casket to choose. This was truly an experience I will never forget. Before defining death, we must know what life is. Life is defined as the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally. On the other hand, legal death, which deals with a human life, is when an individual suffers irreversible cessation of all circulatory and respiratory functions, or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem is dead. The legal definition of death is adopted under the Uniformed Death and Determination Act (UDDA). The UDDA is a draft state law that was approved for the US in 1980 by the
References: Macionis, J. (2005). Sociology 11th ed. Aging and the Elderly (pp398-401). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Bernardin, M. (2005). Choosing Your Path: How Massachusetts Residents Can Take Control of Their Medical Care, Estate Plans, and Funeral Arrangements. Klug, L. A. (2007). Saying Goodbye to a Loved One: Jewish Funeral Customs. Retrived November, 30, 2007, Web site: http://www.associated.org/page.html?ArticleID=66847. Ascension Health. (2007). Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA). Retrived November, 30, 2007, Web site: http://www.ascensionhealth.org/ethics/public/issues/udda.asp.