- 學位論文
從基督教會傳統喪葬禮儀到自然葬禮儀之探討與芻議
A Brief Discussion on the Transition from Traditional Funeral Rites to Natural Funeral Rites in the Christian Church
摘要
本論文旨在探討基督教的死亡神學。聖經中，死亡被定義為靈魂離開身體，起源於人類始祖的罪，導致與上帝分離。死亡狀態被描述為「安息」與「主懷」，分別強調肉體的休息和靈魂回歸上帝的懷抱。死後去向則視乎信仰與否，信者進入樂園，等待復活；不信者則在陰間受苦。最終，所有人在末日復活接受審判。 研究長老教會喪葬禮儀的神學意涵。喪禮被視為禮拜，強調上帝的主權、聖經權威、因信稱義，並以榮耀上帝為目的。喪禮的功能在於安慰生者，見證信仰，並將安息者交託上帝。從臨終的祝福到入殮、火化、告別、安放等各階段，都有其神學依據和意義。 討論喪葬形式的選擇條件，包括經濟、環境、紀念、生態和神學等因素。傳統土葬和火葬各有優缺點，而自然葬則因其環保、經濟和符合神學觀點而興起。台灣的自然葬主要包括海葬、樹葬和花葬，各有其特色和實施方式。 提出喪葬禮拜程序建議，提供認識死亡真理和基督福音的信息機會，幫助人們在悲傷中得到安慰和盼望。提供教會在喪葬禮儀方面更符合時代需求的建議，更闡明了自然葬與基督教神學觀的契合，有助於推動自然葬禮方面發揮作用。
並列摘要
This thesis aims to explore the theology of death in Christianity. In the Bible, death is defined as the separation of the soul from the body, originating from the sin of humanity's ancestors, which led to their separation from God. The state of death is described as "rest" and "in the Lord," emphasizing the rest of the body and the return of the soul to God's embrace. The destination after death depends on faith: believers enter Paradise, awaiting resurrection, while non-believers suffer in Hades. Ultimately, all will resurrect on Judgment Day for final judgment. The study investigates the theological significance of Presbyterian funeral rites. Funerals are regarded as worship, emphasizing God's sovereignty, the authority of the Bible, justification by faith, and glorifying God. The function of funerals is to comfort the living, bear witness to faith, and entrust the deceased to God. From blessings at the end of life to embalming, cremation, farewell ceremonies, and interment, each stage has theological foundations and meanings. The thesis discusses criteria for choosing funeral forms, including economic, environmental, commemorative, ecological, and theological factors. Traditional burials and cremations each have their advantages and disadvantages, while natural burials have risen due to their environmental sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and theological alignment. In Taiwan, natural burials mainly include sea burials, tree burials, and flower burials, each with distinct features and implementation methods. The thesis proposes suggestions for funeral worship procedures, providing opportunities to understand the truth of death and the message of the Christian gospel, helping people find comfort and hope in times of grief. It offers recommendations for church funeral rites that better meet contemporary needs and clarifies the alignment of natural burials with Christian theological perspectives, contributing to the promotion of natural burials.