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Back to Module 14: Table of Contents Part V: World Religions

Considering World Religions in End of Life Care

• Hinduism Basic Facts
• Buddhism Basic Facts
• Judaism Basic Facts

Considering World Religions in End of Life Care

• The following section presents three case studies to illustrate end of life care considerations from the perspective of three world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism

• Our purpose here is to provide a framework for thinking about how religious traditions may influence the needs of a person at the end of life, and the needs of that person’s family as they grieve and survive

• We encourage you to use these cases as a starting point for thinking and learning about the role of religious beliefs and traditions in end of life care

• How religious traditions develop and are embodied in the daily lives of peoples is richly complex

• Religion interacts with other dimensions of culture such as economic systems and local customs


• Religious traditions are dynamic, never static


• They evolve over time to meet the needs of adherents
• They adapt to the conditions of culture


• Wide variations exist in beliefs and practices, even during the same time period or within a cultural subgroup

Example

• Studying the scriptures, creation myths, dogma, laws, or symbol systems in isolation from the religion as it is practiced by particular members yields a limited, if not skewed, understanding

• Making generalizations on the basis of a person’s religious affiliation or membership is of limited usefulness


• Knowledge of the basic beliefs and practices of the world’s major religions will help providers of palliative care only as a point of entry


• Therefore, consider the information that follows on the major world religions as only one tool among others needed to adequately and sensitively assess patient and family religious/spiritual framework and needs


• As with our efforts to respect culture difference more generally, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing if it forecloses an active, sensitive inquiry into a person’s own set of beliefs and practices

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Hinduism Basic Facts

• There are an estimated 764 million followers of Hinduism around the world with more than 900,000 residing in the United States. More

Buddhism Basic Facts

• Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, who lived in India in the 6th century BCE

• Legend has it that the sight of an ill person, an old man, and a dead body led this former Hindu prince on a spiritual search to explain the cause of suffering and find a means to its cessation


• As Buddhism spread from India to China, Japan, Tibet, and other Asian countries wide variances in belief and rituals developed

• More than 250 million people worldwide are Buddhists. More

Judaism Basic Facts

• Jewish views on and practices regarding death differ widely

• In addition to three main strands of Judaism – Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed – regional differences contribute to varied beliefs and practices


• Additionally, Judaism has always permitted a wide latitude for differences of opinion


• Below are listed some “traditional” beliefs and practices


• May or not may not be relevant to the patient/family in your care
• Be sure to ask which, if any of these, are meaningful to them. More

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