HW 54 - Independent Research B

When the gospel Matthew talks about adultery,  he says that if you look at a woman lustfully, you must gouge out your eye, because losing 1 part of your body is better than  going to hell. John says that a person can only receive what is given to them from heaven. Luke doesn't talk much about the kingdom of God, or eternal life. Matthew and John are the ones who talk about how to stay away from hell, and closer to God, and the gifts that you receive from heaven. Luke talked a lot about what you should be doing on earth to make yourself seem like a better person to others.

I interviewed a family friend(he did not want to be named), and asked him three questions. The first question that I asked him, was if he believed in afterlife. He answered "yes, because I believe in God." After that I automatically thought that everyone who believed in God apparently believed in afterlife. So I went farther into the questions to find more answers. I then asked him what he thought happened when you are dead, or "in the afterlife?" He answered: "You either go to heaven or hell based on if you were "good" or "bad" in you time on earth." The final question that I asked him, was if he actually believed in heaven. He said yes, because you need to be judged for your actions on earth, there has to be a place where you are judged.

For my independent research, I quickly looked up what is afterlife, to find a bit more information about it, and if it is really real? I found some valuable pieces of information from this first paragraph. "The afterlife is an area of human consciousness we all enter upon leaving the physical world at physical death. It is also the area we enter when unconscious, as in sleep. Physically alive human beings can learn to consciously enter and return at will to explore. Perhaps a better way to say this is that we can learn to focus our attention beyond the physical world. Physically alive humans don't really leave the physical world to explore, they just learn to focus their attention beyond it."(Bruce,2010) I learned a lot just by reading one paragraph of this. I now realize that to go to afterlife, you don't have to be dead, you just have to be unconscious, and let you mind explore. 

HW 53 - Independent Research A

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/books/ian-thomsons-dead-yard-a-story-of-modern-jamaica-review.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=different%20funeral%20religions&st=cse&scp=2

Precis: Jamaica has it's on way of showing the care of the dead. There way of caring for the dead is very different than other countries. If you were a member of their family, would wait outside there home for up to nine days. The country is still one of the most violent countries in the world, but even the most dangerous places/people have there own way to express there feelings for their loved one's.

I feel like there are some parts of Jamaica that are more dangerous than others. Everywhere is like that. No matter where you are, or who you are everyone has their own practice to deal with their dead.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/23/world/asia/23tombs.html?scp=6&sq=%20funeral%20practices%20in%20different%20countries&st=cse

Precis: In China, there aren't allowed to be fancy tombstones anymore. People that have died, that are rich cannot show how wealthy they are even at their tombs. This is because the "poor" get irked by the fact that there are dead people still gloating their wealth.

Even though people in China were prohibited to show themselves in a way to anger others of lower class when passing, they still have a way to honor themselves. Showing how great they were.

HW 51 - Second Third of COTD Book

Precis:
During this part of the book, I wanted to continue telling the great stories I got a chance to experience, and my thoughts and feelings about each. Telling these stories helped me understand others perspectives on death, analyze my perspectives, and impact the reader's perspective of death. Just like the rest of the book, I address the issue that many people could possibly have (first), and the address the issue that the specific person is struggling with (second). Caring for the people going through these events also gives me a better understanding of ho they are, and how they got into their predicament.

Quotes:
"As tragic and terrifying as this funeral was, I still remember it with some appreciation. In particular, it was refreshing to see the way the two churches came together with fairness, compassion, and respect for each other and for the mother."(p.48)

"Unresolved grief or anger can create behavioral, mental, and health problems over time. When I learned that the memorial service was held but Phillip demanded that the ceremony be brief."(p.69)

Paragraph:
I thought that this part of the book was really interesting. It's funny, because the whole style of the book never changes. She is always talking about the people she is helping, and how their problems become her problems once she gets to know them a little more. That is what I like about the book. She always has a certain way to show her feelings to help and address other's problems. Her doing this makes the book more interesting to read every page.

HW 50 - First Third of Care-of-the-Dead Book Post

Mortician Diaries


Precis: There are multiple stories about my encounters as a Mortician. All off them include others perspective of death, and how each person deals with the tragedies within themselves, there families, and the people around them. I explain how I dealt with their problems, and helped them along the way, to help them understand that death is a part of living, and when grieving over someone's death, you also have to think about the ones you are forgetting about, that are still alive.

Quotes: "I decided to write this book to help readers get started with their own dialogue on death. Which can ultimately have great impact on how we choose to live our lives."(p.3)

              "I dreaded mother/baby scenes, but I also wanted to help."(p.19)
            
              "I related to that. If our family were to lose Tiger, our little brown dachshund, my girls would be devastated. She continued...."(p.27)

I think that the book is really good, and the stories that were being told, brought June's personality out. I really liked how well she was  able to talk to people who were going through a lot. She made them feel comfortable even in the dirtiest situations. She was always trying to help others, and tried to feel their pain so that she could have a better understanding of what they were going through. Trying to compare their problems with the same problems she went through.

HW 48 - Family Perspectives on the Care of the Dead

Summary: I interviewed my mother and my father about the topic caring for the dead. I asked them both one question: "What do you think when you hear the term care of the dead. At first, my parents didn't know what I meant by that term, and I had to explain it to them. When the understood, they couldn't stop talking about their thoughts on the care of the dead. one thing that my mom said was "you have to move on, and focus on the living. When your dead, your dead. So you have to move on."

Analysis: My parents agreed with everything each other said during this interview. What my mother had said earlier, about letting the people who died go, and focusing on the living made a lot of sense. I thought about it, and I thought about the term "moving on". They also said that people who dwell on family loses, could possibly cause a perfectly good family to fall apart. The way I interpreted what they said, was by picturing a young boy who could never forget the death of his father. His father was the boy's only role model left, and he felt he had lost everything. keeping this much anger and sadness bottled up inside can cause someone to explode, and a sudden change in attitude and personality. Becoming a "different person" may not "click" with other people, and when something doesn't click, there is bound to be trouble. That is how I helped myself understand the point that my parents were trying to make, and how the scenario plays out as a possible real world tragedy. Families falling apart. That is why letting someone go is a hard thing to do, but it is respectable in a way. You aren't forgetting the one you loved, and at the same time relieving yourself from the stress.

HW 46 - Initial Thoughts on the Care of the Dead

The care of the dead. When I think of that term, I usually think of respect. Ever since I was young, I was always taught to respect my elders, and respect the dead. At that time I really didn't know how to interpret those directions, but now that I have gotten older, and have had more experience, and understanding of dead people, I understand what I was taught growing up.

 My family has told me to respect the dead. I have grown up to believe that even if people do horrible things in their life, it doesn't mean they are evil, because no one can sin all their life. There is always some good in the "worst " person, and death is a usually thought of as a horrible tragedy. So even if someone dies, and you didn't enjoy their presence on earth, you should still show your condolences.

Do not disturb the dead. That is why R.I.P. (Rest In Peace) is on every tombstone. That is a common one. Everyone uses that term, so I can consider that a social norm.

Questions I have:
1. What other social norms does our society have in terms of "the care of the dead"?
2. Are there people out there that don't follow the "respect the dead" idea?
3. Are there different ways to care for the dead, in different cultures?
4. If so, what are they?

HW 45 - Reply to Other Peoples' Comments

To Chris and David
Thanks for reading and writing about my blog. I am a bit surprised that I got at least some information I needed, to learn more about home/hospital birth. I wasn't expecting to be able to talk to a nurse, but I was lucky enough to be able to. This unit was a good experience, and hope to continue exploring birth.