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Religion and spirituality

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Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Ian - Interview 32 >> As soon as Ian heard that his brother had been shot he started to pray. Then he heard that Dorrie had died. He screamed, felt utterly shocked, and ask

In 1999 Ian’s brother, Dorrie, was shot. He died soon afterwards. Ian was deeply shocked but he supported the rest of the family and kept his faith in God. Dorrie’s death made Ian reassess his life, and live not only for himself but also for Dorrie.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Marcus - Interview 38 >> Every year Marcus attends a service in St. Martin’s in the Fields for those bereaved by murder and manslaughter. It is organised by Victims’ Voice.

Marcus’s fiancée, Louise, was murdered in 1987. Marcus was shocked and his life was shattered. He found help through friends, family, the police, psychiatrists and art therapy. Today he finds help by helping others who have been bereaved in this way.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Ian - Interview 32 >> Ian joined a Catholic support group for men. For the first time he felt that he could cry and share all his emotions and that he did not have to be st

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Rosemary - Interview 25 >> Soon after her son died in the London bombing in 2005 Rosemary went to see her local vicar. He was very supportive and helped her find a reason for li

Rosemary’s son, James, was killed in the 7th July bomb attack in London in 2005. The family was devastated. Rosemary found help via family, friends, and colleagues, and through a vicar and a psychotherapist, and by creating wonderful memorials for her son.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Patsy - Interview 21 >> When Patsy’s son died she turned to God for help, and prayer became her companion.

In 1999 Patsy’s son, Dorrie, was shot. He died soon afterwards. Patsy was devastated, but through her belief in Jesus, her relationship with God, her work with Mothers Against Violence and other community work she has come to terms with Dorrie’s death.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Ian - Interview 32 >> Before his brother was shot, Ian thought that faith protected his family, but his faith in God has deepened since the death.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a friend or distant relative >> Angela - Interview 11 >> Angela’s strong faith in God helped her to put life and death into perspective. Her belief that God was there for her 24 hours a day helped with her g

Angela lost a cousin and a friend during 2008. Her cousin was killed with a machete and her friend was stabbed. These deaths have been very painful for Angela. Her faith in God has helped her. She gains strength by working for Mothers against Violence.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Peter - Interview 13 >> When Peter heard about his son’s death he went to church. He carried a bible in his van and read it at lunch time, but he didn’t attend church regular

In 2005 Peter’s son was killed in a car crash. Tim was only 19 when he died. He was in a car driven by a friend who was drunk. Peter and his wife have experienced a terrible loss. They comfort each other and do not want formal counselling.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Carole - Interview 08 >> Carole found comfort from attending church services. She also saw a spiritualist.

In November 2004 Carole’s 23 year old son was murdered by an ex-girlfriend. He was stabbed. Carole was devastated. She has found most help via family and friends and by running. She has also had counselling, arranged via work, which has helped.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Dean - Interview 36 >> Dean has found comfort in a Spiritualist Church whilst retaining his Hindu beliefs. Through mediums associated with this Church he has received messag

Dean’s son, Andrew, was killed in 2006. He was hit by a car which was driven by a man who was not insured and who was driving illegally. Dean felt shocked and devastated. He has found help via friends, family, RoadPeace, the Spirualist Church and others.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Martin - Interview 10 >> Martin was desperate for help after his wife’s death, but he was cynical about prayer, seeing it as something people use in self-defence to make them

Martin’s wife had a part time job as a lollypop lady. When she was standing on the pavement, she was hit by a bus, and died instantly. Martin was shocked. He is bringing up two children, which is a heavy responsibility. Counselling has helped him.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Cynthia - Interview 02 >> Cynthia has no religious beliefs herself but recognises that other people may get comfort from their beliefs.

In 2000 Cynthia’s 26 year old daughter was killed when she was knocked off her bicycle and run over by a lorry. The inquest verdict was “accidental death” and the driver was acquitted. Cynthia was devastated and now campaigns to prevent other road deaths.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Linda - Interview 15 >> Linda found help through Brahma Kumaris and through meditation. She believes that her son has ‘passed on’ and that he is no longer on this plane.

In 2007 Linda’s son, Kevin, was murdered. He was 27 years old. He was stabbed and died 5 hours later. It was a terrific shock to all the family. Linda misses Kevin tremendously but her spiritual beliefs have helped her cope with her grief.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> William - Interview 18 >> William believes that consciousness is independent of physical existence, and that it continues to exist after death.

In 2005 William’s 15 year old daughter, Lauren, was crossing a motorway and was hit by a lorry. She died almost immediately. William felt anger and guilt for not being able to protect her. He still misses her very much indeed.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a parent >> Michelle - Interview 41 >> After her mother died Michelle found great comfort through seeing a medium, who contacted her mother and said that she was very happy.

In 2005 Michelle’s mother was murdered. She was stabbed. Michelle was shocked and horrified. She has found help through friends, family, a community psychiatric nurse, a psychologist, a homeopath (privately), a medium and by writing about what happened.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Josefine - Interview 30 >> After Nicholas died Josefine had experiences that convinced her that there is life after death. She has seen a medium who told her that people often h

Josefine’s husband, Nicholas, was killed in a car accident in 2001. Josefine was shocked but understands that death is part of life. She arranged a ‘green funeral’ and buried Nicholas on her own land. She has had tremendous support from family and friends.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a friend or distant relative >> Lisa - Interview 29 >> Bereavement through two traumatic deaths affected Lisa very badly. Her mental health improved dramatically six years later when she went to her local

In the 1990’s Lisa lost two good friends due to murder. When her ex-boyfriend was stabbed, Lisa was in despair and at times suicidal. She was ill for over six years. She sought help in many ways. Finally, a healer from a spiritualist church restored her.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a friend or distant relative >> Angela - Interview 11 >> Angela said that if she hadn’t worked hard for Mothers Against Violence she wouldn’t be happy. She feels she is doing God’s will and has helped to cha

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Patsy - Interview 21 >> Patsy found help by talking to God. She suggests that people find comfort for themselves by helping others.

Religion and spirituality

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