Faiths, beliefs, cultures and communities

Understanding the needs, rituals and practices of different faiths and cultures can be helpful when you’re supporting someone who is bereaved or who is facing bereavement. 

As a professional supporting someone who is bereaved, the first principle of supporting people of different cultures, faiths and belief systems is to be aware that approaches to death and dying will vary not only between faith groups and cultures, but will also vary within faiths, groups, and families. While different faiths and cultures may have set rituals and timescales for mourning, at an individual and family level there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to grieve. There is no ‘one size fits all’. For some people, rituals and traditions can be supportive in their grieving process, offering structure and comfort; they may feel negatively affected if they are unable to observe their traditions. For others, the expectations from their culture or faith may feel too prescriptive and they may feel hampered in talking about what has happened, expressing how they feel or seeking support. 

Aspects that may differ between faith groups can include: 

• Beliefs about death and dying, and life after death
• Rituals and customs around death and dying
• Who can attend funerals and other ceremonies and their prescribed roles
• Treatment of the body of the person who has died
• Expression of grief
• Length of and expectations around a mourning period
• Ways of remembering someone who has died

Every family will have its own unique culture and it is important not to make assumptions. Instead, ask people what their own practices are, what they want or need, what’s important to them and what they find supportive. 

Additional resources and information can be found on sudden.org's page about cultural and religious issues professionals may encounter following a bereavement and Lasting Post which is an organisation that offers independent advice on practical matters following a death, including funeral etiquette for different faiths.

The summaries below attempt to offer an overview of how a number of different cultures and beliefs approach death, dying and bereavement and offer some suggestions for further sources of support. Please note that these summaries give a general overview of beliefs and traditions and are by no means intended to be comprehensive, all-encompassing, or applicable to all.  

We are grateful to a number of faith leaders, celebrants and cultural/community leaders/members (listed at the bottom of each section) for their invaluable input. We have also listed some other support organisations.

If you are working in the bereavement sector and have professional expertise in an area of culture, faith and belief, and would like to suggest ways to add to or improve this resource, please contact us on: [email protected]