Liturgy and death : an examination of the pastoral and theological issues relating to funerals, with special reference to selected funerary rites
An abundance of anecdotal evidence suggests criticism of funeral services. In a society where religious pluralism, agnosticism and non-belief are increasing, funerals are probably the most common occasions upon which people without formal (or informal) religious belief meet the services of the Christian Church. There is a growing call for alternative funeral provision. This thesis offers a theological and ritual analysis of Christian funeral rites. It suggests that Christian funerals should be at least consistent with a theological anthropology, should relate the dead person to the death, descent and resurrection of Jesus, and should attend to the pastoral needs arising from the circumstance of each particular case. From such considerations it examines contemporary discussions about death, bereavement, and human existence. In response both to the current debate and to traditional Christian understandings, it proposes its own unitary theological anthropology using a language of zoetics. From such a view the life, death and resurrection of Jesus are presented as representative of all personhood. A review of social anthropology draws upon the work of van Gennep and describes how funerals act as rites of passage.
Sheppy, Paul P. J.
Philosophy
Liturgy and death : an examination of the pastoral and theological issues relating to funerals, with special reference to selected funerary rites. An abundance of anecdotal evidence suggests criticism of funeral services. In a society where religious pluralism, agnosticism and non-belief are increasing, funerals are probably the most common occasions upon which people without formal (or informal) religious belief meet the services of the Christian Church. There is a growing call for alternative funeral provision. This thesis offers a theological and ritual analysis of Christian funeral rites. It suggests that Christian funerals should be at least consistent with a theological anthropology, should relate the dead person to the death, descent and resurrection of Jesus, and should attend to the pastoral needs arising from the circumstance of each particular case. From such considerations it examines contemporary discussions about death, bereavement, and human existence. In response both to the current debate and to traditional Christian understandings, it proposes its own unitary theological anthropology using a language of zoetics. From such a view the life, death and resurrection of Jesus are presented as representative of all personhood. A review of social anthropology draws upon the work of van Gennep and describes how funerals act as rites of passage.
liturgy death examination pastoral theological_issue relate funeral special_reference select funerary_rite abundance anecdotal evidence_suggest criticism funeral service society religious_pluralism non belief increasing funeral probably common occasion upon people without formal_informal religious_belief meet service christian_church grow call alternative funeral provision offer theological ritual analysis christian funeral rite suggests christian funeral least consistent theological_anthropology relate dead person death descent resurrection_jesus attend pastoral need arise circumstance particular_case consideration examine contemporary_discussion death bereavement human_existence response current_debate traditional christian understanding propose unitary theological_anthropology use language view life_death resurrection_jesus present representative personhood review social_anthropology draw_upon work describe funeral act rites passage