Some Christian funeral practices embody unity with the earth (“earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust”), while others suggest a trajectory away from earth (“set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,” toward “a heavenly home”). This course studies ritual practices at death as centrally embodying convictions about human relationship with the earth and with God. The course traces a number of themes toward their intersection at funeral rituals: theology of the cross, incarnation and embodiment, ecological theology, and liturgical theology. The course especially focuses on the emerging natural burial movement: placing it in historical context, analyzing it theologically, and equipping course members to be leaders in articulating and introducing its practices for the church and the wider community. This course contributes to a number of LSTC’s identified learning outcomes at the master’s level, including 1 (inspiring others to grow in faith); 2 (scriptural religious heritage); 3 (traditions of religious heritage); 4 (cultural contexts); 5 (ministry leadership).
Bibliography:
Grave Matters: a journey through the modern funeral industry to a natural way of burial. Mark Harris
The Mystery of Death. Dorothee Sölle
The Crucified God: The Cross of Christ as the Foundation and Criticism of Christian Theology. Jurgen Moltmann
Accompany Them With Singing: The Christian Funeral. Thomas Long