Comments on: To Be and Not to Be: Thanatotic Therapy

By: Mike Melendez

Mike Melendez — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:01:16 +0000

I don’t think approval/disapproval is what is considered here but simple observation. Is this pseudo science? How would we tell? It doesn’t seem to pretend to be science. It provides a modified ritual that may provide a different perspective to the participant and thereby help them in getting past some of their preconceptions. That’s about the extent of it.

By: David Nickol

David Nickol — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:18:49 +0000

Since the clinic’s opening in 2009 more than one thousand people have “attended their own funerals”, as it were, each one lasting between four and five hours, during which the “patient” lies in the coffin listening to eulogies prepared by family and friends. Tang Yulong, a therapist at the clinic, says many burst into tears upon their “resurrection”.

Are we supposed to disapprove? If this exercise prompts family members to evaluate and express what the “dearly departed” means to them, I can see that it might be a very effective means of “family therapy.” If we would all stop and think how we would be affected by the deaths of those we take for granted, we might treat them better and not say, after they die, “If only I had said (or not said) that . . . If only I had listened more . . . If only . . . “

By: Mike Melendez

Mike Melendez — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:02:06 +0000

There is a lot more to the human mind than science knows. We’re still on the level of trail and observation in spite of claims for MRIs.

By: andrew

andrew — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:06:54 +0000

I can’t help but be reminded of those Dutch “memento mori” paintings. And NPR has run a story in the last few months about people “meeting” their digitally aged selves — it turns out that the experience helps them save for retirement….

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:27:33 +0000

From the article: “On the wall there was a poster of Jesus holding a newborn baby illuminated with gloomy blue lights.”

You can see the poster in one of the photos and even though it’s small, it’s clearly the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. I wonder if the author made a typo, or if she actually thought it was a picture of Jesus?

By: DennisM

DennisM — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:23:45 +0000

So it really is possible to be late for one’s own funeral!