The master’s thesis examines the understanding of death in Catholicism and Shinto and analyzes how theological concepts, funeral rituals, and value systems within both traditions shape the everyday lives of believers. Death is approached as a central anthropological and religious phenomenon that transcends its biological dimension and structures attitudes toward the body, family, community, and ultimate destiny. The aim of the study is to illuminate how differing religious interpretations of death influence ethical decisions, intergenerational bonds, and collective memory.
The first part analyzes the Catholic perspective on death, grounded in Christ’s death and resurrection and in the eschatological hope of eternal life. Funeral rites, sacramental life, and the family as the “domestic Church” demonstrate that Catholic understanding of death shapes respect for the body, communion between the living and the dead, and individual moral responsibility.
The second part explores the Shinto view of death as a state of ontological impurity (kegare) requiring ritual purification and as a transformation of the deceased into an ancestor (kami). Spirit-transfer rituals, memorial tablets, and household altars reinforce family continuity and preserve enduring intergenerational bonds.
The comparative analysis reveals fundamental ontological differences between the two traditions while confirming that both place death at the center of their social and value systems. The findings confirm the hypothesis that religious interpretations of death, despite modern social changes, continue to significantly influence lifestyle, family organization, and the identity of believers.
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