Christian Approaches to Death

Abstract

This chapter covers aspects of four large Christian groups (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican) arguing that Christianity as represented in these four ecclesial communities reveals both commonalities and differences in understandings about death and eternal life and how that theology is expressed and created by ritual practices. Establishing the historical shape of Christian death rituals first, each expression of Christianity then uses those historical patterns, embracing or rejecting various aspects as well as negotiating the influences of cultural patterns and changes in theological understandings. Some of these Christian traditions are heavily dependent on the written word, including scripture, historical theology, and liturgical texts. Other expressions of Christianity have discernable ritual patterns, but they are shaped less by a conscious adherence to historical texts and tradition and more by contemporary culture or necessary adaptations to place and circumstances of participants. While none of the four Christian groups are homogenous, the brief case studies found in each consciously try to give expression to emerging or minority groups within each of the larger ecclesial families, often creatively engaging with both the longer Christian tradition and contemporary cultural practices.