Ministering to Mourners: Funeral Rituals & Christian Witness in East Asian Contexts - Paperback

by Gregory Whitsett (Editor), Amy Whitsett (Author), Maryann Conrad (Author)

This book looks at death and grieving rituals within the Buddhist context as examined from a Christian worldview. When a death occurs, immediate family members suspend their normal routines and gather from far and wide to grieve the loss and plan the funeral. As word spreads that a relation has died, people-friends, foes, and those who were forgotten-come together to mark the passing of a life. There are no boundaries between religious and secular, Christian and Buddhist, rich or poor. All come with one focus-to grieve. But underlying the emotions and decisions for the funeral are beliefs and assumptions that are widely divergent and conflict often arises. Christians want the funeral at the church. Buddhists want monks to bless the deceased. For some, singing is preferred while for others chanting the suttras is best. But all desire to do what little they can to pay honor to their parent, their leader, their child, their friend.