This thesis explores the contemporary management of death in an urban setting. It provides a long overdue empirical re-appraisal of the way in which groups within society process the dead and continue to surround death with rituals. In particular, it addresses itself to a totally neglected area within British sociology, since the last major work, Geoffrey Gorer's Death Grief and Mourning in Contemporary Britain, appeared in 1965. Researcher presence a few hours after death had occurred and participant observation and interviews throughout the subsequent actions of the bereaved, funeral directors, clergy and others within the death system, illuminated the production of ritual from a number of different standpoints. This has thrown into relief, the ordinary 'common' or 'folk religious' understandings by which actors make sense of the trauma, as well as the official interests and constraints. There was substantial recourse to secondary data in occupational journals to cross check themes and inferences. The work takes account of the main theoretical perspectives within the literature which concentrate upon a perception of death as a 'taboo' subject, suggesting that modern society 'fears' or 'denies' it and that it has became 'dirty', 'medicalised' and 'invisible'. The thesis concludes that groups within the death system promulgate a number of differing orientations towards death so that it has been 'decontextualised' rather than denied and that there is 'ignorance' rather than 'fear'. There was an increasing trend towards the personalisation of ritual by the bereaved. This study contributes to the sociological understanding of funeral directors and clergy as occupational groups. It also goes beyond the narrowly economic critiques and surveys to reveal the nature of the relationships and work routines underlying the production of funeral ritual in the city. The information has important implications for decision makers within many areas of death and bereavement, particularly in the light of the recent Office of Fair Trading Survey (1989) which suggests that government intervention may be necessary within the Funeral Industry in order to achieve a better standard of service for the bereaved.

The central premise of this dissertation is that a pastorally sympathetic assessment of cultural bereavement healing approaches in the light of a biblically informed understanding of death, bereavement and afterlife provide a basis for the bereaved to cope with the angst associated with bereavement through death and engenders pastoral care among the Abaluyia. It is noted that although many Abaluyia Christians consciously or otherwise lurch back to cultural approaches for consolation and healing during bereavement, there is a lack of meaningful engagement between the Abaluyia culture and the gospel. The result of this lack of engagement has not been syncretism as commonly assumed but rather parallelism whereby, on the one hand, the gospel is held as though it were alien and whimsical in contrast with traditional beliefs and practices which are perceived as practical and consequential. On the other hand, cultural approaches are dismissed as being part of ancestor worship or superstition and thus contrary to the gospel. In view of these extreme perceptions, Abaluyia Christians often feel guilty for either engaging in or shunning cultural approaches thus raising a pastoral concern in relation to caring for the bereaved. In response to the aforementioned pastoral concern, this dissertation firstly examines the role of cultural beliefs and practices in mediating healing for the bereaved among the Abaluyia. It is suggested that the persistence of cultural models is informed largely by their therapeutic value. Consequently, attention is put on the efficacious beliefs and practices employed by the Abaluyia which include community based approach to bereavement, rituals, systems of inheritance and care, conduct of the bereaved, procedures for forgiveness and reconciliation, hospitality, acts of benevolence and performances. Secondly, the identified cultural approaches are reflected upon in the light of the normative biblical teachings. The reflection is done in order to expose and isolate cultural beliefs and practices that are at odds with biblical teachings. The reflection follows a systematic analysis undertaken to establish the biblical understanding of death and the afterlife as well as a biblical hermeneutical analysis of pertinent biblical passages in order to draw paradigmatic biblical practices in bereavement. It is argued that the biblical ministry of healing in bereavement is rooted in the hope of resurrection and the conception of God as compassionate in his character. Lastly, an integrated pastoral care model, namely, Circle for Pastoral Concern, is proposed as a tool for bereavement healing among the Abaluyia. The proposed integrated model is cognisant of local cultural milieu in engaging in pastoral care for the bereaved. According to the Circle for Pastoral Concern model, the community of believers in their local setting, under the Triune God, form the context for healing. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The central premise of this dissertation is that a pastorally sympathetic assessment of cultural bereavement healing approaches in the light of a biblically informed understanding of death, bereavement and afterlife provide a basis for the bereaved to cope with the angst associated with bereavement through death and engenders pastoral care among the Abaluyia. It is noted that although many Abaluyia Christians consciously or otherwise lurch back to cultural approaches for consolation and healing during bereavement, there is a lack of meaningful engagement between the Abaluyia culture and the gospel. The result of this lack of engagement has not been syncretism as commonly assumed but rather parallelism whereby, on the one hand, the gospel is held as though it were alien and whimsical in contrast with traditional beliefs and practices which are perceived as practical and consequential. On the other hand, cultural approaches are dismissed as being part of ancestor worship or superstition and thus contrary to the gospel. In view of these extreme perceptions, Abaluyia Christians often feel guilty for either engaging in or shunning cultural approaches thus raising a pastoral concern in relation to caring for the bereaved. In response to the aforementioned pastoral concern, this dissertation firstly examines the role of cultural beliefs and practices in mediating healing for the bereaved among the Abaluyia. It is suggested that the persistence of cultural models is informed largely by their therapeutic value. Consequently, attention is put on the efficacious beliefs and practices employed by the Abaluyia which include community based approach to bereavement, rituals, systems of inheritance and care, conduct of the bereaved, procedures for forgiveness and reconciliation, hospitality, acts of benevolence and performances. Secondly, the identified cultural approaches are reflected upon in the light of the normative biblical teachings. The reflection is done in order to expose and isolate cultural beliefs and practices that are at odds with biblical teachings. The reflection follows a systematic analysis undertaken to establish the biblical understanding of death and the afterlife as well as a biblical hermeneutical analysis of pertinent biblical passages in order to draw paradigmatic biblical practices in bereavement. It is argued that the biblical ministry of healing in bereavement is rooted in the hope of resurrection and the conception of God as compassionate in his character. Lastly, an integrated pastoral care model, namely, Circle for Pastoral Concern, is proposed as a tool for bereavement healing among the Abaluyia. The proposed integrated model is cognisant of local cultural milieu in engaging in pastoral care for the bereaved. According to the Circle for Pastoral Concern model, the community of believers in their local setting, under the Triune God, form the context for healing. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Apesar de legado a segundo plano durante muito tempo, o encontro cultural proporcionado pelo contato jesuíta-indígena gera inúmeras controvérsias e dúvidas no meio acadêmico. O debate fica por conta da forma como esses contatos foram produzidos, na constante tentativa de evitar ao máximo uma análise sobre qual lado se saiu vitorioso, além de verificar qual o grau de importância da presença missionária nas relações servis e evitar a descontextualização dos rituais indígenas. Baseado na documentação jesuítica e arqueológica, buscam-se elementos que possam auxiliar a compreensão do hibridismo cultural presente nos rituais que nortearam essa disputa pelo simbólico. O cemitério do Engenho São Jorge dos Erasmos se oferece como um recorte específico na busca de incentivar futuros estudos que se dediquem a examinar a sociedade americana frente a esse marcante encontro histórico. / Despite to legate to the second plan for a long time, the meeting provided by a cultural contact Jesuit-Indian generates numerous controversies and doubts in academia. The debate is from how these contacts were made, in a continuous try to avoid the analysis about which side is the victorious, beyond to verify whats the degree of importance of the missionary presence in the servile relationships and avoid the decontextualization of Indian rituals. Based in a Jesuitical and archaeological documentation, we look for elements that can assist on a comprehension of the cultural hybridism that is present in the rituals that guides this dispute by the symbolic. The São Jorge dos Erasmos mill\'s cemetery offer itself as a specific clipping in search of encourage future studies that dedicates to examine the American society from this outstanding historic meeting.

Apesar de legado a segundo plano durante muito tempo, o encontro cultural proporcionado pelo contato jesuíta-indígena gera inúmeras controvérsias e dúvidas no meio acadêmico. O debate fica por conta da forma como esses contatos foram produzidos, na constante tentativa de evitar ao máximo uma análise sobre qual lado se saiu vitorioso, além de verificar qual o grau de importância da presença missionária nas relações servis e evitar a descontextualização dos rituais indígenas. Baseado na documentação jesuítica e arqueológica, buscam-se elementos que possam auxiliar a compreensão do hibridismo cultural presente nos rituais que nortearam essa disputa pelo simbólico. O cemitério do Engenho São Jorge dos Erasmos se oferece como um recorte específico na busca de incentivar futuros estudos que se dediquem a examinar a sociedade americana frente a esse marcante encontro histórico. / Despite to legate to the second plan for a long time, the meeting provided by a cultural contact Jesuit-Indian generates numerous controversies and doubts in academia. The debate is from how these contacts were made, in a continuous try to avoid the analysis about which side is the victorious, beyond to verify whats the degree of importance of the missionary presence in the servile relationships and avoid the decontextualization of Indian rituals. Based in a Jesuitical and archaeological documentation, we look for elements that can assist on a comprehension of the cultural hybridism that is present in the rituals that guides this dispute by the symbolic. The São Jorge dos Erasmos mill\'s cemetery offer itself as a specific clipping in search of encourage future studies that dedicates to examine the American society from this outstanding historic meeting.

Funerals are still considered as very important and well attended occasion in the black townships of South Africa. In the recent past, traditional African funerals practices have affected a number of powerful and complex systems that have been interaction in Africa. The three most important being traditional African cultures, modern Western culture and the environment. The study was conducted to establish factors that led to excessive funerals expenditures in some black townships communities of South Africa, in order to create a pastoral response to this phenomenon. The project was done in Ramatlabama village in the North West province and also in Soweto in the province of Gauteng. A qualitative methodological plan was followed allowing exclusive experiences to emerge. Families, adults and young church groups, clergy, Bishop, Social group and a Funeral undertaker , an in-depth qualitative analysis was employed in order to find the real reasons that led to excessive funeral expenditure. The data collected and analyzed revealed that factors such as impressing neighbors, meeting community and family expectation were the reasons for the phenomenon. There were other external factors that contributed indirectly to the practice and such as commercialization and politicization. In order to address this practice that is making the poor more vulnerable, the Shepherding Model of Gerkin’s and Pollard’s Theory of positive deconstruction was explored. It was found that the Clergy needed to be helped to be aware of the fact that excessive funeral expenditure requires a pastoral response with the right attitude and meaningful dialogues with those affected. The pastoral care-giver with adequate knowledge and exposure to life of pastoral care seeker will have a greater advantage to help most if not all families that usually find themselves in this predicament or dilemma. The best way for the church to help the poor families venture into the future, it’s by educating our communities on how not to spend beyond their means. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2013 / Practical Theology / unrestricted

This is an ethnographic study that focuses on Zahmanê Êzîdîa Li Dalarna, the Yezidi cemetery, in Borlänge. The Swedish town of Borlänge has one of the largest Yezidi diaspora communities in Western Europe; a majority emigrated from the Northern Iraqi region of Sheikhan during the 1990s and early 2000s. The overall aim of this project is to investigate how the Yezidi community in Borlänge puts Zahmanê Êzîdîa Li Dalarna into use, the meanings ascribed to the site by individual interviewees, and how these relate to ritual places and practices in Sheikhan. The empirical material stems from observations and interviews among members of three extended Yezidi families in Borlänge and in Sheikhan, and archival material from the Church of Sweden. Fieldwork in Sheikhan focused on the valley of Lalish and the cemetery sites in the Yezidi villages in Sheikhan. The empirical material is presented, analysed and discussed through a theoretical framework of place, creation and maintenance of social memory through ritual practice, and the concept of transfer of ritual. The empirical material reveals that salient ritual actions and elements from ceremonies in Lalish and the Yezidi villages in Sheikhan are transferred to Borlänge, and there put into use for ritual practices and for creating and maintaining a collective identity outside of Iraq.

The diploma thesis deals with the search for answering the question of people´s not saying goodbye to the deceased. The first chapter deals with the topic of dying and death in the past and compares it to the present situation. Another chapter emphasizes the significance of the ritual in human life, it deals with the early and current funeral rituals, their justified meaning from a psychological point of view. It also deals with the places of the last resting of our ancestors. The third chapter deals with the ethical aspect of this issue and, in particular, with the search for the answers, which are the cause of the current situation. The last chapter focuses on social work with survivors, deals with accompanying, mourning, and counseling help.