In collaboration with Theos Thinktank, we’re delighted to present this report: Ashes to Ashes: Beliefs, Trends, and Practices in Dying, Death, and the Afterlife, produced by SWF Senior Researcher Lia Shimada and Theos’ Marianne Rozario.
Report summary:
This project investigated current trends on, and attitudes towards dying, death, and the afterlife in the UK, and explored the role of churches and faith communities. Our report draws on data from a wide range of experts and informed participants – academics, faith leaders and representatives, death industry professionals, charity leaders, health professionals, and community organisers. We interviewed 33 individuals and 31 focus group participants between June and November 2022.
Our research focused on understanding attitudes surrounding a “good death”, trends and practices on memorialisation of the dead, and beliefs about the afterlife. We sought to explore the role played by churches and faith communities offering pastoral care and theological accompaniment.
Common trends to what makes a “good death” include no pain/suffering, being surrounded by family/at home, peace/reconciliation, and preparedness. There is a growing trend to choose cremation over burial, and towards alternative memorialisation practices, with an increased emphasis on “celebrations of life”. There exists a wide range of religious and spiritual beliefs about the afterlife, among the religious and the non-religious.
Churches and faith communities walk alongside the dying, offering a voice of reassurance, comfort, and informal support, while spiritually supporting the dying through prayer. They have an important role to play, in offering both pastoral care and theological accompaniment to the dying and the bereaved, but could also expand this role – especially through facilitating increased conversation about, and education on, dying, death, and the afterlife, and equipping their leaders and representatives to develop better pastoral and theological practice.
We close by offering a limited series of recommendations for death industry professionals, and for churches and faith communities, to refine their delivery of this crucial role.
Download the report or read online here.
