'n Ondersoek na die rol van lidmate in die proses van rou

[摘要] English: The bereaved find themselves dependent on the comfort and support of friends, family andparishioners after the loss of a loved one. Few other sources of support plays such animportant roll within the first days and weeks after a loss. Professional counselors areusually only consulted in cases of complicated mourning. Literature on the process ofmourning is hardly ever read by the bereaved within the first weeks due to the state ofshock in which they find themselves.The way in which the bereaved are comforted can either have a negative (frustrating) orpositive (facilitating) impact on the resolution of their grief. Comforting can have anegative effect in cases where the bereaved are denied ample opportunities of expressingtheir grief and encouraged to overcome their grief as soon as possible. This happens whenexplanatory interpretations and platitudes are offered instead of compassion. This is oftendone by theologizing, rationalizing or minimizing the loss.Parishioners can play a positive roll in the facilitation of the process of mourning if theyhave better perception of the griefwork that needs to be done by the bereaved to resolvetheir grief. Presence, a willingness to listen and the validation of a person's loss couldmake a meaningful and comforting contribution towards resolution.The study focuses on: Biblical coordinates concerning death, God's will and comforting byfellow believers; a literature study on the process of mourning and effective means ofsupport and comforting; a qualitative investigation as to how the bereaved experiencesupport; and a concept manual with guidelines for comforting the bereaved.

[发布机构] University of the Free State