Description
Book SynopsisBased on the How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies. The handbook for how to respond in an appropriate way when someone dies—no matter what their faith or denomination. Few of us are ever prepared for the loss of a relative, friend or colleague. This stressful situation can be made worse if we are unfamiliar with the practices and rituals of the deceased person's religious tradition. This complete guide provides all the answers you need to express your condolences and show your respect in the appropriate way regardless of the religious tradition involved, addressing many common concerns, including: Will there be a ceremony—what will it be like, and how long will it last? What should I wear? What should I avoid doing, wearing, saying? Are flowers appropriate? What is the appropriate behavior if viewing the body? These are just a few of the basic, very practical questions answered in this unique etiquette guide covering all the major (and many minor) denominations and religions found in North America—from Hindu to Presbyterian, from Mennonite to Sikh—helping you to do the right thing in a difficult situation. Covers all the major (and many minor) denominations and religions found in North America: African American Methodist Churches • Assemblies of God Baha’i • Baptist • Buddhist • Christian and Missionary Alliance • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) • Christian Congregation • Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) • Church of the Brethren • Church of the Nazarene • Churches of Christ • Episcopalian and Anglican • Evangelical Free Church • Greek Orthodox • Hindu • International Church of the Foursquare Gospel • International Pentecostal Holiness Church • Islam • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Jewish • Lutheran • Mennonite/Amish • Methodist • Mormon • (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) • Native American/First Nations • Orthodox Churches • Pentecostal Church of God • Presbyterian • Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) • Reformed Church in America/Canada • Roman Catholic • Seventh-day Adventist • Sikh • Unitarian Universalist • United Church of Canada • United Church of Christ • Wesleyan
Trade Review"This book couldn't have come at a better time.... A welcome Stranger." —Chicago Sun-Times “A wealth of information.... 'strangers’ to a religion will know exactly how to act, react and console friends of differing religions.” —Ron E. Wilder, president, Association for Death Education and Counseling “No other book comes close to being as comprehensive and easy to read.... A treasure, long overdue. A wonderful reference and guide.” —Helen Fitzgerald, C.D.E. (Certified Death Educator); author of The Mourning Handbook and The Grieving Teen
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction General Secretary, National Council of Churches 1 · African American Methodist Churches 2 · Assemblies of God 3 · Baha'i 4 · Baptist 5 · Buddhist 6 · Christian and Missionary Alliance 7 · Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 8 · Christian Congregation 9 · Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) 10 · Church of the Brethren 11 · Church of the Nazarene 12 · Churches of Christ 13 · Episcopalian and Anglican 14 · Evangelical Free Church 15 · Greek Orthodox 16 · Hindu 17 · International Church of the Foursquare Gospel 18 · International Pentecostal Holiness Church 19 · Islam 20 · Jehovah’s Witnesses 21 · Jewish 22 · Lutheran 23 · Mennonite/Amish 24 · Methodist 25 · Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) 26 · Native American/First Nations 27 · Orthodox Churches 28 · Pentecostal Church of God 29 · Presbyterian 30 · Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) 31 · Reformed Church in America/Canada 32 · Roman Catholic 33 · Seventh-day Adventist 34 · Sikh 35 · Unitarian Universalist 36 · United Church of Canada 37 · United Church of Christ 38 · Wesleyan