What's death to you, PennState?

Survey on people's perception of death

Over the last week, I tried to find out the view of PennStaters and how they perceive the idea of death. Over my past few blogs, I spoke about different ways people died, different theories for the afterlife, the art in death (gravestones) and the different cultural traditions involved all over the world. It made me curious towards the end to know how people around me view the 'concept' of death.

This survey, conducted using the help of Survey Monkey, had 2 simple questions:
1. List 2 reason why you wouldn't want to die
2. Are you scared of death? (Feel free to explain)

I received 60 responses for this survey, some expected answers, some silly mischief and some sentimental responses.

For the first question, the popular reasons followed the following order:
1. Family & Friends (30 people)
2. Wanting more out of life (13 people)
3. Fear of the Afterlife/Unknown (4)
4. Curious about the future (3)

There were some scattered responses such as food, kids, "waiting for my iPhone X", specific names and the best: memes.

Quickmeme Images

As their second reason, people listed a varied variety of responses, much more interesting then the first one. They followed the following order:

1. Wanting to see the future
2. Wanting to be a parent
3. Fearing the pain involved in dying
4. Love life
5. Love my pets
6. Missing people and moments

Again, there were some random answers, related to personal aspirations, specific names of people, ambitious plans and food

askideas.com

.

The order of these answers shows how most people thought first about the pain their death would inflict on others, than the pain it would cause themselves. Their first thought/response was about fears and regrets they might have, followed by the fact that they actually like the life they are living and wouldn't want it to end. It was interesting to note how people think first about others; showing how empathetic people can be - Except this one person who gave the following answer:

The second question was more straightforward; "Are you scared of death?" The participant had to simply choose between a Yes or a No, and could add a comment to explain their answer.

Astonishingly, there was not a big difference in these responses:

It was my initial expectation to find most people fearing death, with a ration of about 7:3. While most people did accept that they feared death, quite a few claimed to not fear it at all.

Most reasons for people to fear death, as I expected, was the fear of what was to follow. They thought it would hurt to die, hurt to leave everything that you have worked for all your life, and to leave all close to you behind.

The reasons most people did not fear death, was due to its inevitability. Most answers looked something like this:

Some students were evidently fooloing around, with a concerning reply as this:

While some students had responses influenced by their religious views, like this one:

I was happy with the results of this survey. Quite a few students participated, and their responses seemed genuine. Most answers were as expected, which shows how much people, even students in their teenage years, are concerned by the uncertainty of afterlife, and the regret of not having done. It is a reminder of the famous saying, "Seize the day!"

With this last blog, if you are reading this, I'd like to remind you to tell yourself this everyday, "Forgive and give as if it were your last opportunity; Love like there's no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again." - Max Lucado. Then again, don't fear the inevitable, let it motivate you till the very end.

A Menu full of Funerals!

What happens between the before and after?

We frequently talk about the afterlife, and overhear the various ways people around the world have died/ are dying. Not only have I spoken about these two things in my past blogs, but they are also widely spoken conversations (as common as they can get without making one appear 'creepy). We barely hear about how people deal with the dead - not emotionally, but literally. Perhaps because it may be a gruesome, or slightly insensitive topic to discuss. However, it is interesting to note how people across the globe have mostly similar, yet certain varying forms of dealing with the dead, for religious, practical or other prevalent traditions.

Iran

Fox6now

 Being a Muslim dominant region, the kind of burial service is elaborate. Following strict procedure, the deceased must be buried within twenty-four hours, after being washed 9 times! People often gather around the coffin, while it is being transferred to the cemetery. It is considered holy to have either helped to carry or touched the coffin while it is being moved. While the crowd chants verses from the Qu'ran, the coffins are all buried facing the Mecca, the holiest place on Earth according to Islamist beliefs.

  

The mourning too is well defined, with strict steps and procedures set for the next few days: a memorial service on the 3rd day, a visit to the grave on the 7th, resuming to wear normal clothes and placing a gravestone after the 14th.

Mongolia

Encyclopedia, Brittanica

Mongolians are widely Buddhist, and therefore follow the Buddhist concept of dealing with their deceased. While some monks are given a cremation, the Mongols in general are left out in the open, on a high plateau, to be devoured by nature and its elements. It is a form of respecting the deceased after the unfortunate event.

It is said, that accessories that the individual often retained with himself/herself when alive, would perhaps be retained by the soul. The family needs to therefore seek that item, and get rid of it (via destruction, or by handing it over to someone else), to avoid any bad luck,

South Africa

SA, Funeral Supplies

Burial and mourning style of this continent are a blend of modern and traditional practices. The body is cremated after being deceased, the ashes are applied to the windows, bed sheets are changed, and at times, following ritual, an animal is sacrificed. 

What follows is an 'After Tears' party, where the mourners get drunk and joke, to comfort relatives of the deceased, and to remember the deceased with fondness.

Sweden

Funeral Candies

Swedish burials are very personal, with only immediate &close relatives present (if at all). The burial happens between one and three weeks, with songs being sung next to the grave, and white ties worn by men. For years together, 'Funeral Candies' were an important idea too, where candies were handed out, in the shape of a coffin (with it changing in look after being for a younger/older person). They would even be slightly ornamented with silver or gold paper. However, these candies are today phased out.

South Korea

SevenPondsBlog

 In South Korea, the deceased are changed to a piece of ornamentation after their unfortunate death. Their bodies are compressed, the pressure changes them to small gem-like beads of varying color, usable as decoration/ and remembrance, as these beautiful gem-like beads can be used to decorate parts of houses.

Philippines

Caviteno Tree Burials (SevenPondsBlog)

The people of modern Philippines have several different burial customs that they follow. 

The Tiguanian people particularly make the dead look alive, with hats and cigaretters.The Caviteño buried their deceased in hollowed out tree trunks!The Benguet of Northwestern Philippines blindfold the face of the deceased before they are buried.The Apayo would bury their deceased underneath their kitchens!

Zoroastrians

Symbol of Zoroastrianism (CiteLighter)

Followers of this faith have a peculiar and specific method of dealing with the corpse. It is first washed with bull urine. After that, it is made to be visited by a Sagdid, a funeral dog (metaphorically), that scared the evil spirits away. Finally, the corpse is placed in a tower of silence, to be preyed upon by the vultures. This completes a 'food chain' for the people of this section,

These were some of the very different forms of 'tending to' the dead, other than the commonly known cemetery burials and cremations practiced by most of the world. Traditions have no limits!

 Works cited

JR Thorpe, Jul 14, 2015, Bustle, Interesting-death-and-funeral-rituals-around-the-world-from-mongolia-to-sweden

March 4, 2017.,"Mongolian practice of burial". www.welcome2mongolia.com.

Funeral. (2017, October 28). Retrieved November 02, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funeral