Death, Dying, and Grief
Death, Dying, and Grief Essay Paper
Death, Dying, and Grief Essay Paper
Introduction
Death and dying are a bitter part of the reality of life, in general, and a particularly common experience for those called to health care. The nature and meaning of death is not simply biological or scientific, but rather involves deep philosophical and religious questions. Once again, medical technology has changed the scope, quality, and experience of death (or at least the dying process). It has even prompted a changing of the very definition of death.
Death in the 21st Century
One of the incredible benefits of modern science and its application in medical technology has been the ability to extend physiological life. In the 1960s, the development of CPR, ventilators, and the like allowed never-before-seen intervention in the process of dying, such that a “millennia-old general understanding of what it meant to be dead” was transformed (Veatch, Haddad, & English, 2010, pp. 390-391). In the field of biomedical ethics, the very definition of what it means to be dead is a controversial topic. In continuing with a fundamental theme running throughout this course, it should be noted that while the pathophysiological and scientifically detectable signs of death are crucial in this debate, they should not be taken to be determinative or comprehensive. This debate still crucially depends on the philosophical background of one’s anthropology (i.e., view of personhood) and in the resulting interpretation of these scientific and physiological signs. The medical definition of death is not a purely or irreducibly scientific question.
Worldview and the Meaning of Death
Two of the more controversial issues in bioethics are euthanasia and physician- assisted suicide. As you read and research the ethics surrounding these issues, consider how the Christian worldview would analyze the ethics of such actions. On a worldview level, the question of the medical definition of death is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the broader significance and ultimate meaning of death. Whether or not there is any meaning to death and what it might be is a question of one’s worldview. Questions regarding whether or not there will be ultimate moral accountability for the way one lived life and whether there is an afterlife are key questions in this regard. The very phenomenon of the loss of (at the very least) physiological and perhaps conscious integrity and activity is a fact of life that calls for explanation.
Once again, an accurate understanding of religion and worldview is required. Furthermore, the distinctions among each religion must be appreciated and not collapsed into one another. The way in which both technology and religious background color the experience and meaning of death (both in dying and grieving) must also be appreciated. Whatever rituals or practices a religious or cultural group engages in are informed by a view regarding the nature and meaning of death that fits within an overarching worldview narrative.
Death in the Christian Worldview
Death takes on a particular meaning when seen within the Christian narrative. It is, in fact, not the greatest evil that could befall a human being and is furthermore transformed in the light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Christian teaching that “God died” essentially transforms the way in which death is seen and experienced (Sanders, 2007, pp. 6-8). Death is certainly a tragedy and an evil, but it is now a conquered enemy. It is a conquered enemy because in the Christian biblical narrative, death is a perversion of God’s original design plan. And yet, the Christian God constantly redeems that which is broken.
Loss and Grief
Death is a particularly traumatic and difficult experience for both family and caregivers. Understanding the process and stages of grieving is immensely beneficial for caregivers to assess the well-being of patients and families. There are numerous resources that can be of tremendous benefit for both caregivers and family. One of the most influential is the work of American psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Perhaps the most influential insight of her work was to notice certain patterns or stages in the human experience of grief, especially after the loss of a loved one in death. She called these the five stages of grief. Briefly, they include the following: (a) denial, (b) anger, (c) bargaining, (d) depression, and (e) acceptance (as cited in HealGrief, 2016).
Expectations regarding an afterlife will in large part determine the manner in which patients and families welcome or spurn the prospect of death. Furthermore, the way in which a person experiences the stages of grief will be in the context of his or her worldview. Christian theologian Nicholas Wolterstorff’s (1987) memoir, Lament for a Son, is a personal reflection of his own personal grief after losing his 25-year-old son in a mountain climbing accident. As he engages with his own grief and experience, it becomes clear that everything is ultimately seen in the light of God’s loving control and the ultimate hope found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Why Did God Become Man? Incarnation, Atonement, andResurrection
Jesus was the Son of God before he was born into our world. The event of God taking on flesh and dwelling among us–the incarnation–is amazing and is celebrated all over the world at Christmas. The incarnation is proclaimed clearly throughout the New Testament (Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Phil. 2:5-7).
So why did God become man? The most famous verse in the Bible clearly tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). And Jesus knew what this would require of him. He stated in Matthew 20:28, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
God is both holy and just, so although he created humanity to be immortal, he could not accept them into his holy kingdom in their sinful state. So from the beginning God enacted and unfolded his plan for humanity, to redeem a people for himself (Titus 2:11-14), requiring that justice be upheld and sin punished. Therefore, a sacrificial lamb was needed–one that could atone for the sins of the world. Only the perfect and sinless Lamb of God would be sufficient. Yes, God himself would have to be the sacrifice somehow.
So the incarnation led inexorably to the cross, the torturous experience that had been prophesied nearly a thousand years earlier by David in Psalm 22. All four Gospels give vivid accounts of the crucifixion of Jesus, the most unjust execution ever to be carried out, as testified by the centurion there who said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Luke 23:47). But as unjust as the crucifixion was, Jesus willingly accepted it, for as the Son of God he could easily have been rescued (Matt. 26:53). Instead, Jesus bore the sins of the world on the cross. This is called the atonement–the reconciliation of humanity with God through the sufferings and sacrificial death of Christ.
It is interesting that the clearest account of the atonement is found in the prophecy of Isaiah 53: 5-12 (NKJV) where the atonement is specifically stated seven times:
He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities…and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all…stricken for the transgression of my people…when his soul makes an offering for sin…and he shall bear their iniquities…yet he bore the sin of many.
God went out of his way to make the extent he would go to bring about reconciliation clear.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is by far the climax of his life. .All four Gospels provide vivid accounts of this amazing miracle that conquered death. There have been many who looked at the history of the times, read the many accounts of what happened both in the Bible and in other sources, and came to the inevitable conclusion that there is no other explanation for what happened except that Jesus surely rose from the dead. After the crucifixion, the disciples gave up and went back to fishing–the 3 years of exhilarating ministry were over. But then the resurrection changed everything. It was not long before the disciples were accused of turning “the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). This world-changing event was not just a historical miracle, it was a sign of the promise that God gave to those who put their faith in him. Death is a conquered enemy because Jesus’s resurrection from the dead made a way of salvation, and also was a sign of the future that God has for those that have died “in Christ.”
The phrase “in Christ” is very common in the New Testament and crucial to understanding the gospel. To be “in Christ” means to place your “hope in Christ” (Eph. 1:12), or in other words, making Christ the object of your faith. Paul expresses the gospel message most succinctly in Galatians 2:16 where he says, “a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.”
Conclusion
Christianity is unlike virtually every other religion in the world. Other religions show you what they believe is a way to God by living in a certain manner, praying certain prayers, and many other religious customs. Christianity teaches that people are not capable of being good enough, which is precisely why God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Other religions offer good advice, whereas Christ offers good news, the gospel–which is that by trusting in what he has already done for you, you are restored.
Other religions offer possible salvation (eternal life in heaven) through trusting in one’s own good works, while Christianity offers certain salvation through trusting in Christ’s good works. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (ESV). The final chapter in the biblical narrative will involve a restoration of all creation, and those that died in Christ will be resurrected and receive imperishable bodies.
Death, Dying, and Grief Essay Paper
References
HealGrief. (2016). Understanding grief and loss: An overview. Retrieved from http:// http://healgrief.org/understanding-grief/
Sanders, F. (2007). Chalcedonian categories for the gospel narrative. In F. Sanders & K. Issler (Eds.), Jesus in trinitarian perspective (pp. 1-41). Nashville, TN: B&H Academic.
Veatch, R. M., Haddad, A., & English, D. (2010). Case studies in biomedical ethics. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Verhey, A. (2011). The Christian art of dying: Learning from Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Wolterstorff, N. (1987). Lament for a son. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
MORE INFO
Death, Dying, and Grief
Introduction
Grief is a normal and healthy part of life. It happens when someone you love dies, and it’s how we deal with that loss. Grief can vary from person to person, but there are some universal feelings that most people experience when they’re grieving: shock, sadness, loneliness and emptiness. These emotions are normal—and in fact necessary—as we learn how to cope with our loss. It’s also important to remember that grief does not last forever; over time it will fade away until all that remains is a memory of what once was.”
How does grief affect our lives?
Grief is a normal part of life, and it’s different for everyone. Grief is a process that involves many different emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It can be intense at times but also quite calm and peaceful at other times.
Grieving is an important part of life because it helps us to heal from losses such as death or divorce; however, some people do not feel comfortable talking about their feelings with others (or even themselves). This can make grieving difficult because you may not know how to express how you’re feeling without sounding foolish or weak in front of others.
Grieving does not end when someone dies; instead it continues throughout your entire lifetime until you learn how to live again after losing someone close to you
What do people who are grieving need?
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Understanding. Understanding is key to any healing process, and it’s a common theme in the grieving process. When you’re facing loss, you need to understand what happened, why it happened and how it will affect your life now.
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Time and space: The longer you can wait before talking about your loss with others or making decisions about how to move forward (like moving out) will help alleviate some of the pain associated with grief before moving forward with life again as best as possible.
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Empathy from others who have experienced similar losses: Being able to talk openly about their own experiences may help lessen some feelings of isolation during this difficult time for those who are still mourning their loved ones or dealing with guilt over not being able or willing yet again after an attempt at resurrection failed earlier on down the road.;
How do we grieve differently during a pandemic?
How do we grieve differently during a pandemic?
The answer is: it depends on who died and how close you were to them. It also depends on how much you expected the person to die and whether or not they had any major health issues. A person who suddenly dies from heart disease might be more likely to experience grief than one whose death was caused by cancer or other chronic condition that was already in progress before their illness took hold of them.
So if someone close to you has passed away due to pandemic-related causes, here’s what we recommend:
What does a support system look like during a pandemic?
As you’re going through the grieving process and trying to cope with a pandemic, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. It’s also helpful to ask for help from friends, family members, and co-workers. You can also talk about your feelings with them—as long as they don’t make light of what happened or try to tell you something has gotten better when it hasn’t yet (that would be insensitive).
Whether or not someone has been infected by the virus that causes pandemics like this one, they will likely experience some level of grief based on having lost loved ones or being unable to care for themselves due to illness or injury. If someone close has died during an epidemic such as this one then there will likely be many difficult moments ahead as well; however there are ways each person can cope with these emotions in a healthy way:
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Recognize that everyone grieves differently; no two deaths are alike so don’t give up hope just because yours feels harder than others’.
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Talk about how much time has passed since their death occurred – talk about how often we’ll see them again (if ever) etcetera.. This helps us feel less alone when thinking back on all those memories together!
How can I help my grandchild or grandparent during this time?
You can help by being a good listener. As your grandchild or grandparent struggles with their loss, you might find that talking about it isn’t easy for them. They may be afraid to say too much, or they may not want to burden you with their feelings. But even if they don’t want to talk about it directly, your presence as a supportive listener is essential in helping them feel validated and understood during this time of transition (and beyond).
Be sure to offer opportunities where possible: If your grandchild has expressed an interest in learning something new but hasn’t yet found the time or motivation, consider offering some support yourself by taking him out on trips around town so he can learn new things while enjoying himself at the same time! This will also help provide another distraction from his grief—something which could ultimately be just as helpful during these trying moments as any other method would be.”
If you are grieving, it’s important to recognize that you are not alone.
If you are grieving, it’s important to recognize that you are not alone. Grieving is a normal process, and although the way we grieve may look different from person to person, our feelings are universal: sadness, loneliness and loss of hope can all be part of grieving.
To help others who are grieving during this time of crisis:
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Remember that everyone experiences grief differently; there is no one right way for everyone else to react or cope with their grief. If someone says something hurtful about how they’re handling their grief (e.g., “I think this would help me”), try not take offense at what was said but rather ask them why they feel so strongly about it being helpful or harmful for others’ situations?
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Understand that everyone has different ways of dealing with emotions like anger or sadness so don’t judge yourself harshly if another person seems happier than yours during these moments; chances are good that those feelings will pass soon enough anyway!
Conclusion
If you are grieving, it’s important to recognize that you are not alone. There is a lot of support out there for those who need it most. Join a local grief support group or talk to someone about your feelings. You’re not alone!
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