What to say in the face of death? Religions have offered hopes, consolations, and systems of meaning. They have provided spiritual guidance and ethical insight for the dying, their families, and those who care and mourn for them. Here in North America, they continue to do so, even as the conditions and situations for dying, death, and bereavement change dramatically from the traditions of the past.
Lucy Bregman, PhD, is professor of religion at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
"In order to reflect the diversity of American society, the anthology begins with human meanings and implications of medicalized death, then explores responses to death in particular religious traditions and practices. Among the topics are hospice and spiritual needs of the dying, Jewish perspectives on death and dying, and cultural revitalization and de-medicalized death among the Eastern Band of Cherokee. The second volume considers bereavement and death rituals within different traditions, such as Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians, Islam in the US, American Buddhism, and civic ritual and public remembrance. The final volume looks at special issues, among them the death of a child, AIDS, suicide, ethical and religious understandings of warfare deaths in the American context, and evidence for life and death. The contributors are scholars mostly of religion and specific religions, but also of health sciences and other fields. Each volume is paged and indexed separately." - Reference & Research Book News
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