Culture and a Man’s Dying Wish
A man dies. His community's culture deems that he be buried
in holy ground lest the community suffer some catastrophe. He, having always
been at odds with his community on this point, has left a provision in his will
that he be cremated and his ashes scattered into the ocean. The body waits in
the hospital while the community debates the issue. What is to be done?
The elders have asked for a moral opinion. What is one to say? If the belief
that the man must be buried is one deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of
the community, then a decision to cremate him would cause an
uproar. On the other hand, if there are some who sympathize with the
man, either decision might cause a schism within the community. The ultimate
action would have to depend on much more than the culture's belief about
burial. It would have to take into account the culture's beliefs on individual
rights, freedom of belief, and the validity of the man's will.
