Death is a Fundamental Part of Life

Mourning practices in America are often deeply ingrained in religion. In the early years of America, death was so commonplace that it was seen as a part of life. Religious beliefs led to the idea that death was a rite of passage from one way of being (life) to another (afterlife). Today, death is often seen as a permanent end to life. This makes it difficult to deal with and has led to the American death industry today that keeps death outside the home. Death has gone from a part of life to a taboo subject to be avoided.

History

How was death perceived in the early years of America? In this section I will provide a short history of death in America.

Rites of Passage

How does the American attitude toward death differ within its borders? In this section I will go over the purpose of various mourning rituals.

Today's Funeral

How does the professionalization of funerals affect our dissociation with death? How are new methods of disposal changing American mourning rituals? In this section I will explore the death industry of today.