Christian Duty to Bury the Dead and its Contemporary Challenges

2020 ◽  
pp. 233-248
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Zadorożny
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Original Sin ◽  
Christian Anthropology ◽  
Christian Teaching ◽  
Imitation Of Christ ◽  
Christian Culture ◽  
The Dead ◽  
The Church

The custom of burying the dead is not merely commonly accepted by Christianity the way of disposal of the human body after the death. It is most deeply rooted and perfectly expressing Christian anthropology, revealed in the Holy Scriptures as a consequence of original sin, sign of hope in the Resurrection, and imitation of Christ, who was buried in the tomb. In Catholic view the burial is a corporal work of mercy, act of care for the dead and their loved ones. Gaining popularity the practice of cremation is accepted by the Church for the sake of hygiene, economy, or community. Human remains, also in the form of ashes, always must be buried or placed in the columbarium. Church does not allow the human body to be disposed via resomation or promession. Alternative forms of memorializing the deceased, though attractive esthetically and sentimentally, are not only outlandish in Christian culture, but also contrary to the Christian teaching on origins, nature, and destination of the human person.

Bodies Transformed: Negotiations of Identity in Chalcolithic Cyprus

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsi O. Lorentz
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Social Processes ◽  
Dead Body ◽  
Social Categories ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Dead Bodies ◽  
The Dead ◽  
The Individual

This paper focuses on how the human body, and the dead body in particular, was used to create social categories and identities in prehistoric Cyprus. Specifically, it explores how a particular condition, such as death, was integrated into social processes, and how the treatment of dead bodies both created and reinforced social categories and identities. The material the paper focuses on is the mortuary evidence from Chalcolithic Cyprus (3800–2300 BC). In particular, it argues that the extensive, intentional manipulation of dead bodies and human remains visible in Cypriot Chalcolithic cemeteries was aimed at integrating the individual to communal, collective wholes on the occasion of death and during the time period that followed.

Museums and the Return of Human Remains: An Equitable Solution?

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Dead

AbstractDisputes over the retention of human remains in museum and other collections are further exacerbated by the common law's limited recognition of the human body and its parts as property. Equity has long recognised the rights of the personal representatives of the dead to possession of the corpse or its remains for decent disposal. This essay considers the possible application of equitable principles to applications for the return of human remains from museum and other collections.

scholarly journals CHRISTIAN-ANTHROPOLOGY IDEA OF EDUCATION IN MODERN RESEARCHES

2021 ◽  
pp. 167-176
Author(s):  
Юлия Сергеевна Близнецова
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Christian Anthropology ◽  
Christian Teaching ◽  
Anthropological Approach ◽  
A Priority ◽  
Pedagogical Culture

Обоснована христианско-антропологическая идея воспитания как приоритетная научно-педагогическая проблема. Фундаментальные положения христианского учения о человеке в современных исследованиях выполняют миссию антропологического основания православной педагогики. Православная антропология в научной литературе рассматривается в качестве методологической и аксиологической основы православной педагогической культуры. Представлены взаимосвязи христианской антропологии и гуманитарно-антропологического подхода в образовании, православной антропологии и педагогической антропологии. The Christian-anthropological idea of education is substantiated as a priority scientific and pedagogical problem. In modern researches the fundamental ideas of the Christian teaching on the human person fulfill the mission the anthropological foundation of Orthodox pedagogy. Orthodox anthropology is considered as the methodological and axiological basis of Orthodox pedagogical culture in scientific literature. The connections are presented: between Christian anthropology and the humanitarian-anthropological approach in education and between Orthodox anthropology and pedagogical anthropology.

Sic vivere est devote vivere

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 13-39
Author(s):  
Tom Gaens
Keyword(s):  
Religious Orders ◽  
Imitation Of Christ ◽  
The World ◽  
The Church

This essay outlines the theology of “modern-day” devotion, as it can be found in the works of the Carthusian monk Henry of Coesfeld (d. 1410). This theology consists of a classical Thomist framework, infused with ideas from Brabantine and Rhineland mysticism (e.g., Ruusbroec, Suso) and Carthusian spirituality, in which contempt for the world, purity of the heart, progression in the virtues, repentance and inner renewal, Eucharistic piety, meditation on Christ’s humanity and passion, “Christiformity,” and the imitation of Christ, play a central role. While pointing at the “present-day” moral decline in the religious orders and the church, Henry’s idea of devotion relates to personal reform, a process of becoming congruent with the “ancient” examples of Christ and the saints. His theology is not anti-mystical and anti-intellectual in nature, but at the same time it warns against the pitfalls of curiosity (curiositas) and the excesses of mysticism.

Eschatology and Religiosity of the People in Russia in the 17th Century

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 23-33
Author(s):  
Natalya S. Gurianova
Keyword(s):  
17Th Century ◽  
Church Reform ◽  
Christian Teaching ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
Spiritual Crisis ◽  
Time Of Troubles ◽  
Early Modern Era ◽  
Modern Era ◽  
The Church

The article studies the religiosity of Russian population in the 17th century in order to find out the type of this state of public mind. Special attention is drawn to the acuteness of eschatological expectations in society, which intensified during periods of crises. After the Time of Troubles (Smuta), the Church, trying to bring society out of the spiritual crisis, had been exploiting the “end of the world” topic through publishing relevant texts. This trend was especially noticeable during the time of Patriarch Joseph. The decision of the Moscow Printing House (Pechatnyi Dvor) to extend the amount of eschatological publications was determined not only by the direction of church policy, but also by the request in society, the desire of the population to get a more complete picture of the Christian teaching about the ultimate destinies of the world and man, since the spiritual crisis had presupposed an increase of apocalyptic moods. This desire indicates that the population was characterized by the religiosity of the medieval type. The article scrutinizes in particular the 2nd half of the 17th century, which modern researchers rightly designate as the early Modern era. In a society with such a keen perception of the time, the church reform, initiated in the middle of the century by Patriarch Nikon, was naturally not supported by a part of the population. In the interpretation of the defenders of the Old Belief, the actions of the reformers turned into clear signs of the advent of the kingdom of Antichrist, as it was prophesied in Christian teaching. It was not some peculiarity of the worldview of the opponents of church reform, their behavior adjusted the religiosity of the epoch. To justify these thoughts the position of Patriarch Nikon could be mentioned. Nikon found himself in a situation of disapproval and, arguing to be wrongfully convicted and misunderstood, he also used the eschatological doctrine. Based on the analysis of such facts, the article concludes that the 2nd half of the 17th century was characterized by religiosity of the medieval type.

The Materiality of the Text and Manuscript Culture

2021 ◽  
pp. 48-62
Author(s):  
Martin Eisner
Keyword(s):  
Human Person ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
The Body ◽  
Manuscript Culture ◽  
Christian Anthropology ◽  
Body And Soul ◽  
Christian Thought ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Materiality Of The Text ◽  
The Relationship

This article investigates the significance of the manuscripts of Virgil and other classical poets that Dante might have read. Calling attention to the presence of musical notation (neumes) in copies that share the particular Virgilian readings Dante quotes, this essay explores the resonance of one of those passages (Aeneas’ dream of Hector) in Dante’s poem. It shows how Dante uses this Virgilian episode to craft his encounter with Manfred where he considers the relationship of body and soul that constitutes one of the major differences between classical and Christian thought, as Augustine frequently noted. Just as Christian anthropology maintains that the body constitutes an essential element of the human person, this essay argues that the materiality of the texts Dante read constitutes a crucial source for understanding how Dante interpreted these texts.

scholarly journals Making the Invisible Visible: Inviting Persons with Disabilities into the Life of the Church

Horizons ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-73
Author(s):  
Mary Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Liberation Theology ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Communion Of Saints ◽  
Christian Anthropology ◽  
Psychological Disabilities ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Invisible

Christianity espouses the dignity of all humanity and professes welcome for all to the communion of saints. Yet people with disabilities, especially those with more severe or profound physical or psychological disabilities, are largely invisible inside our houses of worship. This article examines the meaning of dignity and inclusion through the lenses of Christian anthropology, disabilities liberation theology, and the lived experience of persons with disabilities. It concludes with some suggestions on how to begin inclusion.

scholarly journals Finding the dead: bodies, bones and burials from the 1845 Franklin northwest passage Expedition

Polar Record ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas R. Stenton
Keyword(s):  
Human Remains ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Northwest Coast ◽  
Northwest Passage ◽  
Dead Bodies ◽  
Failed Attempt ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Back River

AbstractOn 22 April 1848, after three years in the Arctic, and 19 months spent ice-bound in northern Victoria Strait, the 105 surviving officers and crew of the Franklin Northwest Passage expedition deserted HMSErebusand HMSTerroras the first step of their escape plan. They assembled at a camp south of Victory Point on the northwest coast of King William Island and made the final preparations for the next step, a 400 km trek along the frozen seashores of King William Island and Adelaide Peninsula to the Back River. All of the men died before reaching their destination, and their remains have been found at 35 locations along the route of the retreat. These discoveries have played a central role in reenactments of events thought to have occurred during the failed attempt to reach the Back River and to the disastrous outcome of the expedition. This paper presents a summary of these findings and examines the criteria used to attribute them to the Franklin expedition. It is suggested that approximately one-third of the identifications have been based on information that is inadequate to confidently assign the human remains as those of Franklin expedition personnel.

scholarly journals Christian Personalism versus Utilitarianism: An Analysis of Their Approaches to Love and Suffering*

2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-437
Author(s):  
Peter J. Colosi
Keyword(s):  
Historical Context ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Human Suffering ◽  
Christian Anthropology ◽  
Christian Perspective ◽  
Utilitarian Approach ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Polar Opposite

Although Christian ethics and contemporary utilitarian ethics both employ terms such as “love” and “compassion” in their efforts to deal with human suffering, they are in fact polar opposite ethical views. This fact is not at all easy to discern. One key to perceiving the radical opposition between them lies in clarifying their respective concepts of love and suffering and the relation between the two. In Christian personalism, suffering is always understood as the suffering of individual persons, while in utilitarianism, suffering is primarily understood as a quantifiable entity detached from the individuals who experience it. This detachment of suffering from individuals leads to the depersonalizing and commodifying recommendations of utilitarianism. The dignity of persons as understood in Christian anthropology serves as the foundation of Christian ethics and is the only basis on which ethics can avoid commodifying people. The article begins with an explanation of the utilitarian approach to suffering and its concept of love. It then proceeds to express the view of love and suffering that flows from the Christian perspective. The article concludes by exposing the inherently self-defeating structure of utilitarian ethics and offers the hope-filled, if challenging, approach of Christian personalism. Although Christian anthropology and ethics developed within the historical context of Christianity, and in fact could only have developed there, the arguments here are primarily philosophical elucidations of the differences between the two opposing schools of thought discussed, while here and there including occasional theological points. Summary: The article examines the difference between Christian ethics and utilitarian ethics, bringing out their stark opposition on the topics of love, suffering and the human person.

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