The Meaning of Death in Funerals of Suicides

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Ursula Roth
• Subject Area: Protestant Theology
• Term: from 2014 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 248415278

The research project aims to undertake an empirical study of the protestant practice in the funerals of suicides. The primary aim is to emphasize the interpretations of death which are the basis of the liturgical texts and funeral sermons, to analyze the texts semiotically and pragmatically and to give them an appropriate place in the discussions on the topic of suicide in society and in the academic context.In addition to the analytical reconstruction of funeral liturgies and funeral addresses, their correlation to the perceptions of the relatives of the deceased is examined. Using guided interviews with relatives of suicides, the intention would be to examine the extent to which the interpretation of death as experienced in the funeral was perceived on the part of the relatives and how it was perceived in the context of overcoming loss.Overall, the study aims to examine the protestant practice in funerals of suicides in terms of their meaning and to analyze this practice in the context of modern discussions on the subject of suicide (including the topics active/passive euthanasia, assisted suicide, etc.) and to apply it to a differentiated and contemporary practical theological theory of funerals.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants