Franciscan Doctrine of Death as A Means of Christianizing Luhyas’ Understanding of Death and Burial Rituals
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Date
2019
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
Introduction
Do not put off something that can be done today, as your tomorrow may never arrive. Imagine, my uncle Ambaisi Emmanuel had only lived a tender life of his early fifties. By his death, I realized that death can call for any one of us, at any time. Whatever your age, you need to ask yourself: ‘Am I really living my life to its full potential, or constantly waiting for a better tomorrow? ‘Am I postponing and procrastinating everything? If you are unhappy with something, change it. If you need to resolve a difference with another person, work on it now. If you have something to share out, follow the spirit of saint Francis of Assisi and share with the needy. Show your full love and concern to others; treat all as God’s creatures knowing that soon or later God may be in need of your soul . Life is really too precious and too fragile to wait for another moment that is not now. ‘When we speak of resurrection, we too often forget that this word does not have exactly the same meaning for us , influenced as we are by an anthropology of Greek origin, and for Daniel who still adhered to a Semitic anthropology.’
Luhyas are Bantu folks who inhabit the western region of Kenya, extending from Mount Elgon to Lake Victoria region. Among Luhyas there are approximately twenty sub tribes among them Wakisa on which the theme of the research will be largely based. There are different understandings of death and death rituals among the Luhyas. This is one of the topics which many folks will shun reading. A human being tends to negate the reality of death. Even when at the point of death, a person will be happy to be optimized of a healthy future. According to the oxford dictionary, death simply refers to the permanent end of something. For the Luhyas, death is a transformative stage. Asked about death, Mr. Okutoto said, “Ni okhwiyibulula” - ‘It is renewing of oneself’. Among the Luhyas, death is viewed positively or negatively depending on the age, time and manner of death. “Shock is the normal reaction to any bad news and is usually the immediate response to death or the news of the death of someone significant.” This one will be looked at vividly when dealing on how to deliver news about death. In one’s life except for the unloved and the unloving, all have to grief one time of their life. Love makes our life livable but death seems to give a meaning to creatures’ lives. “Grief can come as a result of the loss of a parent, spouse, child, brother, sister or comrade.” “For the majority of us, death is a fact of life we would really rather not think about…” Among the Luhyas it is even a taboo to discuss openly about death unless you bring that omen upon your family.
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Keywords
Death, Doctrine of Death, Christianizing Luhyas’, Death and Burial Rituals