Thanatology exam 1 content

sociology

the study of examining human social interactions and social groups; the study of society

funeral service sociology

the science of social groups and its effects on funeral practices and disposition.

contemporary

happening in the same time period; belonging to the present. Every social group has some element of tradition that has lived on to today.

social stratification

categorization by class, money, power, prestige, power, economics, education level

class

social grouping with similar attributes

Neo-localism

new location; when a family moves somewhere else

demographics

vital statistics of a social group; births/deaths, religion, education level, ethnicity

social function

event that allows individuals to gather as a community for sharing a common purpose

Funeralization

the process (planning and executing) of the funeral rite

funeral

the ceremonies for a decedent

funeral rites

any funeral event performed in a prescribed manner

order

prescribed manner

religion

a culturally entrenched pattern of behavior made up of sacred beliefs, emotional feelings accompanying the beliefs, overt conduct; tied to ceremonies and rites

ceremony/ritual

an established or prescribed procedure for a religious or other rite; actions that have an important meaning

symbol

object/act that represents a belief or an idea

culture

shared rules, ideas, beliefs by society on living and dying

Enculturation (socialization)

the lifelong method by which social values are internalized and learned

direct learning

deliberate instruction and formal learning; ex: CCD

indirect learning

observation and informal learning

innovation

process of introducing a new idea or object to a culture through discovery or invention

customs

social behaviors as dictates by traditions of the people

ofrenda

another name for offering

norms

groups held belief about how members should behave in a context

mores

must-behavior; basic important patterns of ideas and acts; strong reaction from the society if violated

taboos

social prohibitions of certain actions

folkways

not a strong reaction from the society if violated; less compulsive than mores

laws

rules of action prescribed by an authority to enforce its will

rules

specified methods of procedure

ethnicity

cultural heritage or identity of a group baed on factors such as language or country of origin

subculture

smaller identifiable culture; unique traits to itself

cultural universal

common traits or patterns found in all cultures

cultural relativism

the emotional attitude that al cultures are equal and pertinent

culture shock

feelings of disorientation, uncertainty, and even feat that people experience when they encounter unfamiliar cultural practices

ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.

Immediate Burial

a disposition of human remains by burial without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the body present, except for a graveside service; minimal/no services

immediate cremation

a disposition of human remains which includes the reduction of the remains by a heating process and which does not involve formal viewing or a prior funeral ceremony with the body present; minimal/no services

Traditional Burial

Common practice providing a physical place for visitation; deceased is interred in a cemetery plot, usually in a casket; visitation then disposition

Traditional Cremation

the body is present at the funeral ceremony and cremation takes place afterward; visitation then disposition

funeral service

rites with the body present

Memorial Service

funeral rites with the body not present

direct disposition

any method of disposition of the human remains without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the body present.

humanistic funeral rite

a funeral rite that is devoid of any religious connotation; secular

Cremation

The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber.

Adaptive Funeral Rite

Adjusted to the needs and wants of those directly involved; altered to trends.

pagan

follows a polytheistic religion

polytheistic

a belief in many gods

monotheistic

religion that worships one god

Ancient Egyptians

ancient civilization that was most influential to modern funeral customs; 3100BC-332BC

Ancient Egyptian death beliefs

the soul was judged by up to 42 gods, and depending on if your soul was deemed good or bad, you would enter eternal salvation in the field of reeds or eternal misery and punishment

Field of Reeds

The heavenly paradise where Osiris ruled after displacing Anubis

How ancient Egyptian gods were depicted

skin of gold, bones of silver, hair of limestone

Osiris

Egyptian god of the underworld and judge of the dead; gave directions to the dead; book of the dead

circle of necessity

Egyptian soul journey that lasted one year around the sun through the underworld; would reunite with bodily elements and live with the gods after journey was over; CREATED THE NEED FOR EMBALMING

Ra

Egyptian god of the sun; believed to be the center of the universe

Egyptian coffins

left instructions/prayers on these for the decedent to tell them how to go on their journey to the underworld

anubis

god of embalming; priests modeled after the gods

Ker-heb

Priest who supervised embalming and funeral arrangements; embalming was a family matter in the Egyptian culture

Upper class Egyptian mummification

body was bathed, brain removed, incision made and evisceration. organs treated and heart stays with the body. Cavities washed and body covered with spices and resins; wrapped in linen

canopic jars

Jars in which the ancient Egyptians preserved the internal organs of a deceased person usually for burial with the mummy.

Natron

A type of salt used to dry out the body

Middle class Egyptian embalming

Injection of cedar oil into the body cavities without prior evisceration; oil dissolved organs. Body was placed in natron (saline) solution. Cedar oil was removed along with dissolved organs leaving only skin and bones.

Lower Class Egyptian embalming

Intestines were purged. The body was soaked in natron solution for 70 days. Later bitumen or pitch was used resulting in a hard black mummy lasting indefinitely.

sarcophagus

early Egyptian coffin that was cut from a single mass

anthropoid

human shaped

Hieroglyphics

An ancient Egyptian writing system in which pictures were used to represent ideas and sounds

Ancient Greek Civilization

This civilization had the greatest influence on accepting cremation as a method of disposition

Ancient Greek Death Beliefs

early belief entailed a bodily existence under the world ; underworlds. Later belief was a shadowy existence of disembodied souls

River Styx

river that flows around the underworld

Charon

Ferryman of the underworld

Cerberus

3-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades

Elysian Fields

in Greek mythology, the Greek version of heaven.

Dionysius

God of wine and fertility; bacchus

Greek hell

Land of Hades

Ancient Greek preparation practices

female family members mostly got the body ready for viewing; infrequent embalming; only set features, bathes, dressed, reposed, and anointed in oils perfumes and spices

Ancient Greek ceremonial practices

deceased wore white, mourners in black; flowers woven into wreathes and the length of visitation was based on social status of the deceased; ETERNAL MEMORY to not be forgotten; will serve the dead and hades if name is forgotten

Professional mourners

due to fear that the dead might be jealous, the ancient Romans and Greeks hired persons (often women) to shriek, tear their hair and rend garments, etc. in order to insure adequate display of emotion.

Stelae

shaft

kiones

column

trapazae

Greek square cut tombs

naidia

temple like tombs

Ancient Roman civilization

This ancient civilization had the greatest influence on the secular role model of the modern funeral director

Ancient Roman death beliefs

Animistic view of death; hovering soul around place of burial that required constant attention. If the grave was neglected, it would result in evil amongst the survivors; offerings of food and drink

mystery cults

religious/philosophical belief of the ancient Greeks and Oriental East emphasizing spiritual aspects of the afterlife and the hope of joining the cult god in a wonderful existence in eternity.

Libitina

roman goddess of corpses and funerals

Libitinarius

head roman undertaker that was the secular role model for the FD; conducted business at the temple of Libitina; death registered at the temple

Constantine the Great

emperor of rome that pushed for religious freedom as long as you paid taxes to Rome; converted to Christianity

Pollinctores - Roman

roman embalmers; slaves of the libitinarius

designator

master of ceremonies and director of the ancient Roman funeral procession

Praeco

aka crier, a special funeral functionary in ancient Rome who summoned participants to a public funeral.

Funeralis

Latin for torchlight procession; word 'funeral' is derived from this; roman practice. If high status, took place during the day, if low status, took place during the night

Ancient Roman funeral procedures

flowers on funeral coach, incense, cypress branches, display of wealth demonstrated through length of repose and procession & time of day. Music and singing, funeral masks, offerings, festivity

(CREMATION AND BURIAL BOTH PRACTICED)

republic times of rome

time period under caesars role that burial and cremation were both practiced

Constantine empire

time period in rome in which burial was the preferred mode of disposition, under the rule of constantine

Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Three of the worlds major religions

The Ancient Hebrews & Judaism

Ancient civilization that had the greatest influence on being the first major monotheistic religion

Jewish death beliefs

Humans composed of two separate elements: the body (basar) and the breath (nefresh); flesh retuned to dust; sheol was the shadowy afterlife in which the soul was connected to the living world

basar

jewish word for the body

nefresh

jewish word for the breath (spirit)

sheol

The jewish name for the underworld; shadow underworld where the soul lived and was connected to the living world

Ancient Jewish death preparation

features set, body washed, anointed and dressed in everyday attire in the fetal position. Burial most common method of disposition with infrequent embalming. Cremation was believed to be a desecration of the body; postmortem punishment