Beyond Belief: Grief
We joined a panel discussion for BBC Radio 4's Beyond Belief programme on the place of faith, religion and ritual within the grieving process, whether it is a help or a hindrance and whether belief in an afterlife makes it easier to deal with loss.
Coping with grief, a discussion on BBC Radio 4’s Beyond Belief
The Centre for the Art of Dying Well recently took part in an episode of BBC Radio 4’s programme Beyond Belief, on the subject of grief. Maggie Doherty, the Director of the Centre, joined a wide ranging conversation alongside fellow guests Rabbi Jonathan Romain, Jusna Begum, and Louise Blythe.
Listen to Beyond Belief on Grief.
Rabbi Jonathan Romain’s son, Benedict, died suddenly and tragically in January 2023. In his grieving, faith, community and the rituals of Judaism all played a part. He speaks to Aleem Maqbool about his experience and his response to bereavement.
Faith, religion and ritual in the grieving process
His story leads to a panel discussion on the place of faith, religion and ritual within the grieving process, whether it is a help or a hindrance and whether belief in an afterlife makes it easier to deal with loss.
Maggie spoke about the Centre’s mission to help people to live and die well and be supported in their grief.
Louise Blyth was 33 when her husband George died from bowel cancer, leaving her alone with their two young boys. At a time like that many lose their faith, but instead Louise found it, becoming a Christian. A year later she quit her job to write a book Hope is Coming about her experiences.
Jusna Begum supports bereaved Muslim families by washing the bodies of those they have lost; an essential part of the grieving process in the Muslim faith.
Towards the end of the programme, Maggie says:
“Even though we don’t think now that we can ever live tomorrow. We can. And it’s minute by minute, hour by hour.
And it’s just moving one step in front of the other.
We all have hope and a future, just as Louise has described.
There will be something more for us and something wonderful, something truly beautiful.
As Louise has painted, as Jusna has painted.
And if we are able to reach out and either ask someone for help or give someone help that will help with our moving forward into the next stage. It’s not going to be easy. It’s never going to be easy.
There will be light and there will be hope.”
Listen to Beyond Belief
Listen to Beyond Belief on Grief.