Coffin Therapy: The (Un)Denial of Death

Gizmodo finds this a bit creepy, and perhaps I have a morbid streak, but does […]

R-J Heijmen / 12.3.12

Gizmodo finds this a bit creepy, and perhaps I have a morbid streak, but does this strike anyone else as a really good idea? I was speaking recently with a woman whose husband had died in his 70s and she said, quite strikingly, “we hadn’t ever talked about funeral arrangements because, of course, we were never going to die.” She said this tongue-firmly-in-cheek, and yet it spoke volumes about how we (don’t) deal with our inevitable demise. Spending a few minutes in a coffin every so often sounds like a great way to engender a bit of the freedom and peace that comes with accepting one’s own mortality. Plus, it looks kind of comfy.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzSJwc2LWTc&w=600]

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COMMENTS


9 responses to “Coffin Therapy: The (Un)Denial of Death”

  1. B.I.C says:

    R-J, you are psychotic. That being said, I think you ARE on to something.

  2. Jim E says:

    Never thought about a coffin having its own aura and “biofield” but a coffin couch sounds way cool.

    I saw someone online who made coffins that doubled as cedar storage chests. I’d so get one if I had a place to keep it. But then, since I plan to get cremated, I suppose that would be a bit of overkill.

  3. H.P. says:

    Professor of Ascetical Theology at General Seminary, Clair McPherson, tells a great story about a deacon that once served in his parish. The man was an excellent carpenter. He made his own coffin and used it as his coffee table. It sat right in the middle of his living room with plenty of daily use.

  4. O my God…you all must read the Denial of Death….one of the most brilliant books written in the last century…it’s sooooooooo good, you can’t stand it…with no resolution but utterly good….

  5. Of course by Ernest Becker….

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