DEATH, FUNERAL RITUALS AND CONCEPTIONS OF THE WORLD IN DIFFERENT RELIGIONS

Abstract

Since the beginning of human history, different views on death have played a crucial role in the organization of societies and the formation of identities, both at an individual and collective level. When we analyze the importance of death as an anthropological and religious phenomenon, we are led to understand the complexity of the human condition, being challenged to reflect on life and the search for meaning in a world marked by finitude and the unknown. This article aims to investigate the visions and rituals associated with death and their relationship with the sacred in five distinct religious traditions, namely: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Afro-Brazilian religions. In order to respond to the proposed objectives, we used a methodology of a bibliographic nature, involving the review and analysis of academic works and studies that address the conceptions of death and its relationship with the divine in the aforementioned religions. It is concluded that the investigation of death and its relationship with the divine reveals the differences between religious traditions and their fundamental similarities, such as the search for transcendence and the desire for connection with something greater. From this perspective, death, far from being just an end, appears to be a vital link in the continuous human search for meaning and spirituality.