Transformations of Care of the Dead in the Czech Republic

Summary* * (5* * Summary:( The*ways*in*which*members*of*a*society*treat*their*deceased*is*inseparable* from*their*views*on*such*significant*subjects*such*as*death,*postmortal* existence,*the*possibility*of*any*afterlife*and*the*destiny*of*a*living*being*after* the*end*of*its*biological*existence.*These*are*important*themes*of*all*the* world's*religions*as*well*as*of*their*nonqreligious*opponents.*In*such*a*widely* secularised*society*like*that*of*the*Czech*Republic,*the*approaches*to*these* topics*are*extraordinarily*interesting*(those*who*do*not*profess*any*religion* or*refer*to*themselves*as*nonqreligious*represent*79.4%*of*the*inhabitants* according*to*the*latest*2011*census).*What*do*members*of*the*Czech*society* feel*when*facing*the*loss*of*their*beloved*ones*and*what*do*they*do*for*them?* This*dissertation*focuses*on*the*changes*in*the*funeral*behaviour*and* related*beliefs*that*have*taken*place*in*the*last*decades*(although*in*order*to* understand*the*roots*of*these*changes,*it*is*necessary*to*also*discuss*the* development*in*the*past*centuries,*especially*in*the*19th).** This*work*is*based*on*a*field*research*of*cemeteries,*columbaries*and* temporary*monuments*from*various*places*in*the*Czech*Republic,*as*well*as* on*inqdepth*interviews*with*8*people*from*different*religious*(and*nonq..