Visions Most common method for disposing of body
HEALING Traditions ■ 151
Religious Group
Is There a Heaven?
What Is Heaven Like?
Belief in Resurrection?
Recognition of Friends and Relatives
Is Cremation Allowed?
Jews Place where anxiety and travail are ended
Quiet, peaceful intellectual activity takes place
Yes, some only in soul
Yes Not practiced
Lutherans Believe in heaven
Nature unknown
Physical Yes Yes
Mormons There are 3 “degrees of glory”
Places of continuing growth and progress
Yes Yes Yes, but not encouraged
Muslims Several layers, usually 7
A garden Describe afterlife as physical pains and pleasures
Some believe families are reunited
Not practiced
Roman Catholics
A condition: eternal full- ness of life
Supreme happiness flowing from intimacy with God
Physical Entire community together
Disposal of body does not affect afterlife
Seventh-day Adventists
A being in the presence of God
Will be located in the renewed earth
Glorified body will be resurrected for life to come
Yes No objection
United Methodists
Heaven exists
Being in the presence of God
Body and spirit
Yes
Yes
Source: Adapted from Johnson, C. J., & McGee, M. G. (Eds.). (1991) . How different religions view death and afterlife. Philadelphia: The Charles Press.
Table 6–7 continued
Table 6–8 Cultural Traditions in Mourning and After-Death Rituals
Religion of Your Patient/Family
Rituals You May Observe When Death Occurs
American-Indian religions
Beliefs and practices vary widely Seeing an owl is omen of death
Buddhism Believe in impermanence Last-rite chanting at bedside Cremation common Pregnant women should avoid funerals to prevent bad luck for baby
(continued)
152 ■ Chapter 6