Here we'll explore the biological process of death and also clear up some basic questions about the science of it all. Find out how the mind reacts to death and how people try to cope with it. Death is treated very differently all around the world. Here we'll discuss the various religious and cultural differences. Discover the social implications of death and how death affects society. Discuss death related topics with other surfers.

Anthropology Religions of the World: Judaism Death in Judaism is not considered a tragedy, but rather a part of the divine plan. There are few rituals for the dying, but many for the deceased. First, a vigil is kept over the body from death until burial. Embalming is not usually done, as it is at odds with Jewish law. The body must be buried as soon as possible, not cremated, and must be in some way touching the earth. Mourning consists of a number of stages. First is the shiva, lasting from burial until the seventh day afterwards. Friends and family sit together, pray, and traditionally abstain from work, pleasure, and grooming. Second is the shloshim, which lasts until thirty days after the burial. Mourners refrain from cutting their hair, attending celebrations, and listening to music. After the 30th day, all but the children of the deceased are finished with the religious mourning. The deceased's offspring continue to avoid celebrations and recite prayers for the dead for one year after the burial. These rituals are less to express grief than to show respect for the dead and, in the case of the shiva, to comfort the living. Copyright 2001. Created by a Thinkquest team. Feel free to email us at C0122781@thinkquest.org.