Death is a natural part of life that we all have to face one day. How friends and loved ones cope during this time depends on their culture or religious beliefs and support system. Different religions or cultures have different mourning customs that are unique to their own beliefs. For this project, three religious practices: Christian, Muslim and Catholic were examined as well as their own customs and beliefs. Despite the wide range of differences between each culture, they all believe in life after death and that there is a heaven and a hell. CHRISTIANITY Christians believe that once they have lived a holy and acceptable life, when they die, they will go to heaven to be with God. On the other hand, if you have lived an unrighteous life, you will be considered a sinner and if you die without repenting of your sin, then your afterlife will be spent in hell. In the eyes of the righteous, death is considered a time of happiness because family and friends have the certainty that the deceased is in a better place and that if they too live an acceptable life, they will see their loved ones again. Death is also seen as a time of sadness as friends and loved ones will regret the passing.PREPARATIONWhile a person is on their deathbed, the pastor will prepare them for death. This is done through prayer and reconciliation. After the person dies, the pastor may visit the bereaved family to offer comfort and/or assistance. He will help them cope with the death and, if necessary, also help them organize the funeral. Additionally, friends often send their sympathies in the form of cards and/or flowers to the family of the deceased. FUNERAL Unlike Muslims who only believe in burial, Christians have the choice to be buried...... middle of paper.... ...h dead than they who speak of their grief to counselors or psychologists. Indeed, they can talk about their loss in their own terms and at their own level. The Rev. Lavender Kelley, pediatric chaplain at Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago, spends much of his time helping children through various forms of grief, including the loss of loved ones. She explained that infants don't feel the same sense of loss as an adult because their brains are not fully developed. Since it is difficult for infants to understand death as a permanent state, it is important to use concrete language. Kelley says being vague or using metaphors to explain death will lead children to indulge in fantasies obsessed with something that will never change. One way to help children cope with death is to listen to them and let them ask questions..