why a service?

[memoriesbymichelle]

I did not know that about the "cryers" in biblical times. How interesting. Also back in those days they would sometimes put the person on a table and they would stay there for viewing/saying goodbye purposes. I also suspect they may have wanted to make sure the person was dead. I have heard of times when they did this the person was actually not dead and came back to life so to speak while they were set up for viewing.

 

[blackribbon]

The purpose of the wake is to make sure the person really was dead...someone would sit with the body (shift) until the funeral. You don't have to go back to Biblical days...this is part of American history. And there are still professional grievers in some cultures. The louder the crying and grieving, the greater the man.

Then you look at cultures like old New Orleans types....where the first half of the funeral is grieving and the second half is celebrating their entrance into Heaven. That part is a party with happy music and dancing.

 

[TheyCallMeDavid]

The purpose of the wake is to make sure the person really was dead...............

Yeah, ill bet this guy wished they would have ! >>>> Miss. Man, Declared Dead, Wakes Up in Body Bag at Funeral Home - ABC News

 

[bobross]

Yeah, ill bet this guy wished they would have ! >>>> Miss. Man, Declared Dead, Wakes Up in Body Bag at Funeral Home - ABC News

I read about that David. That is like my worst nightmare come true! I don't remember what culture it was, but they used to tie a string to the dead person's finger with attached to some kind of bell above the ground, so if the person was not truly dead they could pull the string and ring the bell. If I remember correctly, this particular group of people were being hit hard with some illness that caused their bodies to seemingly die, but in a lot of cases they were actually still alive. I need to read up on it again to get my facts straight, but that is the gist of it. So scary.

 

[blackribbon]

It isn't very likely. I personally would not be surprised to find out that he was "dead" but God said it wasn't his time yet and sent him back.

In times before all the electronic medical equipment, a person could go into conditions where their vital signs were so low that they were undetectable. This can be done in situations like hypothermia and is actual a protective reaction. I believe I have read about an illness that did the same thing.