Author(s): Alaattin DÄ°KMEN
There are various socialisation, social integration and social control mechanisms invented by societies. The functions of these mechanisms may also be provided with the social actions produced by the traditions, customs, beliefs and prayer types. The existence of beliefs, customs and conventions that foster socialisation and culture positively affects the society and the lives of the individuals. They also contribute to the elimination of the phenomena such as alienation, social dissociation and desolation that were commonly found among societies as well as to the seeking for meaning in the social relations. The interhuman relations concerning death, condolence and practices after death are of this type. The practices after death hinge on the perception and attitudes implying that the dead is still a social being and alive in this world. The practices after death, short and long rituals provide us with sociological data related to both beliefs and traditions of societies since these practices become significant indicators of culture over time. Although every society has its own peculiar traditional and religious practices, it is likely to find similar, even the same, practices in societies enjoying different religions. The practices related to death and other similar traditional and religious practices are provided in this article; plus, the similarities and differences between these practices are problematized. The data is assessed from the viewpoint of the sociology of death.
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