The lifestyle and customs of different religions, and by extension, the religious funeral service, would vary according to their core values and beliefs, so we will go through each funeral service, their purpose, customs and talk about what you should and shouldn’t do when attending funeral services of these different religions.

Note that this list does not cover all the different religious beliefs and their funeral services in Singaporean, as we do not have the first hand experience and the complete knowledge to cover all the need to know in religions and their funeral services that are not listed here.

Buddhist

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Reincarnation and achieving Nirvana is rooted deeply in Buddhists beliefs. After death, the soul will remain in this world and be reincarnated into another body. Depending on the deeds you have done, it will determine your karma, which will dictate your state that you will be rebirthed into 6 different states, which are Hell, Animals, Hungry Ghost, Asura,Human Life or be birthed into heaven, where there are no suffering for those who remain there. Or obtain Nirvana and be free from the cycles of life.

The purpose of funeral services for Buddhists would be guiding the soul, comforting their soul so that they can peacefully transition into their next life.Buddhists funerals usually have open caskets, allowing family and friends to see their loved one for the last time before being buried or cremated.

When attending a Buddhist funeral service, Your attire should consist of modest clothing and darker colours such as black or dark blue, white would also be suitable. Avoid wearing flashy accessories like ear rings and jewelry and avoid bright colours, especially the colour red, as the colour is normally associated with joy and fortune in the culture. Also remember to prepare Bai Jin or Condolences Money to offer to the family when attending.

DO

• Wear modest attire with darker colours (Avoid red)
• Prepare Condolences Money or Bai Jin
• Offer incense if invited
• Be Silent and respectful

DON’T

• Overt displays of Grief
• Wear Jewelry and Accessories
• Be loud when conversing

There are some exceptions on how some Buddhist funerals are conducted. Some Chinese cultures celebrate the passing of elders who have surpassed 100 years old. It’s treated as a gift of life and attendees would usually wear red instead of darker colours.

Taoist

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Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, Taoist focus on the concept of Ying and Yang, where life and death are balanced to each other. Concepts of immortality are also studied by Taoist practitioners. In Taoism perspective, life after death refers to the belief that one will die and be reborn in another being based on their previous lives.This belief encourages its followers to do good and benefit others, as their virtues will spread positive energy that will benefit all those around them.

Before the funeral, preparations are done to clean and dress the body in traditional attire. The body will be positioned with the head facing north and the feet facing south to help the soul transition. Rituals to guide the spirit, burn offerings (like joss paper), and protect the living from bad spirits will be led by Taoist priests.

When attending a Taoist funeral, be sure to wear white, black or sack cloth when mourning the deceased, keep a low profile when attending, avoid doing any overt actions like talking loudly or jumping and running around the premises.

DO

• Wear modest attire with darker colours (Avoid red)
• Prepare Condolences Money or Bai Jin
• Offer incense if invited
• Be Silent and respectful

DON’T

• Wear Jewelry and Accessories
• Be loud when conversing

Respect rituals even if unfamiliar; incense/joss paper burning may occur, be sure to follow family or host instructions and attend. Like Buddhist funerals there are some cultures where funerals are conducted to celebrate the passing of elders that have surpassed 100 years old.

Christian

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The Christian faith in death revolves around the afterlife, where a person would end up after death is determined by their actions throughout life; the righteous will be in heaven to be in the presence of the Lord, while the sinners would be sent to hell and repent for their sins during their lifetime on earth.

During a Funeral Mass, attendees of the funeral will be led by a priest to have prayers, scripture readings, hymns and a sermon will be done for the passing of the deceased. A eulogy will also be created for the attendees to remember and honor the deceased before being buried or cremated. The main purpose of a Christian funeral is to help the deceased to enter Heaven peacefully, while offering comfort and support for friends and families that are mourning.

For your attire, make sure to wear conservative and dark clothing when attending a Christian Funeral Mass, The presiding priest or father will be leading the funeral mass and maintain a respectful attitude during your time as the funeral mass. Flowers can also be offered to the grieving family is a nice gesture and a charity donation in honour of the deceased could also be made.

DO

• Offer Condolences to the family
• Wear Formal wear

DON’T

• Be Overt
• Wear jewelry and flashy accessories

Roman Catholic

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All Catholics are Christians, but not the other way around. A Christian refers to a follower of Jesus Christ but he may be a Catholic, Protestant or follower of another branch of the religion. One notable difference is the belief in Purgatory, Catholics believe that the souls of the departed may need to undergo purification in purgatory before they can enter heaven, whereas some branches of Christians do not study the concept of purgatory, but only heaven and hell .

During a funeral Mass for Roman Catholics, attendees would have prayers for the deceased, asking God to grant mercy and allowing their soul to successfully finish purgatory and be guided to the afterlife. This belief shows the importance of a funeral mass and the prayers offered to the deceased during a Catholic funeral.

Catholic funerals are led by a Catholic priest, and the structure of the service is considered more formalized to their other Christian counterparts. The use of incense, holy water, and blessings is commonly used in traditional Catholic rituals for funerals.

When attending a Catholic Funeral Service, wear conservative and dark clothing as your attire, follow the instructions of the presiding priest and maintain a low profile throughout the funeral mass.

For a better break down of the differences between Christians and Catholic funerals, click here :https://memorialfuneral.com.sg/blog/difference-between-a-christian-and-catholic-funeral/ 

DO

• Offer Condolences to the family
• Wear Dark and Formal attire

DON’T

• Be Overt
• Wear jewelry and flashy accessories

Soka

(Source: SGI-USA)

With its roots in Buddhism, the teachings of Soka Gakkai is based on Nichiren’s interpretation of the Lotus Sutra and is a relatively new religious movement that originated from Japan. With their belief centering on achieving their potential and purpose in life, and to contribute and help those around them to live a rich and meaningful life. Practitioners also believe that life doesn’t begin at birth nor ending at death, but simply changing forms throughout the cosmic rhythm of the world.

Although similar to Buddhist funeral services, Soka Gakkai Funeral services are usually not as formal and are held with the emphasis on spiritual continuity, helping the peaceful transition of the deceased and providing community support for those still living. Services are held with simplicity, minimalism and sincerity, as extravagance, insincerity and contempt are usually frowned upon in funerals.

When attending a Soka funeral service, attire usually consists of modest clothing and avoid wearing jewelry. Express your condolences respectfully through gestures like bowing and offering flowers, and observe the cultural norms such as removing shoes, and avoid inappropriate and overt behavior when at the funeral service.

DO

• Wear Respectful Clothing
• Offer Condolences Afterward
• Participate in rituals like chanting and offering incense

DON’T

• Be Overt
• Wear or Act Extravagance when attending

Atheist/ Freethinker

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Unlike many religions that have the belief of an afterlife or reincarnation, For many atheists, death is simply the end of your life, and instead of thinking what would happen to them after death, many would focus on their impact on the world throughout their lives and changes to the world and those around them after their death.

For atheist funerals, the purpose is to honor the memory and celebrate the life of the deceased, usually eulogies, and personal stories of those who passed are shared to those who attend the funeral. And depending on the will of the deceased, cremation or burials could be conducted during the final phases of the funeral.

When attending atheist funerals, customs are usually not set in stone, but typically the ceremony may be more casual and is dependent on the will of the deceased or following family traditions. This means that the atmosphere of the funeral could vary from person to person, you could share stories if asked, and maintain respect when attending. Focus on life, not religion. The tone may even be celebratory for some atheist funerals.

DO

• Be Open Minded
• Follow the Crowd

DON’T

• Bring Religion into Conversations when attending

Although there are differences when it comes to funeral services for both religious or non religious groups, they all serve the same purpose, for family and friends to honor and remember the dead and ensure that they have a proper send off and respect for them before being buried or cremated.

So If you ever need assistance with planning a funeral, consider contacting Singapore Funeral Services, With more than 20 years of experience and supporting families in times of sorrow and bereavement since 1997, we at Singapore Funeral Services ensures that your loved ones will have a smooth and dignified farewell.

You can contact us at +65 8866 3326 or send us a message at Whatsapp here.