Unresting Dead : A Christian Perspective on Death, Burial and Afterlife in Papua New Guinea

Christianity is a religion that places 'resurrection' at the centre of its confession of God's goodness, love, and mercy. Indeed, 'the Lord is risen' is one of the earliest statements identifying the followers of Jesus as a distinct group within Judaism. Moreover, celebrating 'death and resurrection' is at the heart of Christian liturgy: Easter is the greatest feast, and we gather each Sunday as we see that day as recalling 'the day of resurrection.' But 'resurrection' assumes a view of life, death and after-live -- and cultures that have been Christian for centuries too easily forget that these are not simple facts but are constructs within our culture when long ago our ancestors fused various cultural elements with their perception of the significance of the Christ-event. In turn, as when Christianity encounters new cultures, this process of integration must take place afresh. Here lies the importance of this book. Harbinson examines what death and burial mean in the cultures of Papua New Guinea -- and then seeks to create a theology of death and resurrection. This is not an abstract paper exercise but is pursued in the reality of culture, belief, and celebration. This book should be a cornerstone for those celebrating any funeral liturgy in Melanesia, and a model for Christian mission everywhere.