Finding Hope When a Child Dies: What Other Cultures Can Teach Us

by Sukie Miller

Book Overview

The death of a child is an overwhelming loss. "Why did my child die?" and "Is my child suffering now?" are questions that all people, of all cultures and backgrounds, ask. But characteristic of Western culture is a limited language for expressing grief, and a consuming guilt that undermines the recovery process. Dr. Sukie Miller, author of the landmark work After Death, turns to the beliefs and healing stories of other cultures to present a unique perspective that is both surprising and comforting. Sharing her research with a compassionate and grounded voice, she offers hope to those seeking meaning in what seems senseless, and heartening possibilities for returning to wholeness, even if we feel life cannot ever be the same.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684865610
• ISBN13: 9780684865614
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Feeling hopeless? Be encouraged by this book.

By learning about other cultures and their traditions, sometimes we can gain an insight into why we act the way we do. This book shows us that other cultures are more prepared for and accepting of death. When someone dies, the family is prepared which is more than we can say for North American culture and its inexperience with death.

It makes you think of other culture's ideas on child death

I found this one to be very interesting. We tend to stay within our culture's views, and Miller enlightens our thinking. Some of it is a little strange compared to our culture's thinking. All the same, very interesting. I did not, however, read any of Miller's other books for the simple reason she has never had children. Her views are from a "textbook" point of view, very professional and well written. She speaks from the point of her patients, and people she has met throughout the world who have lost children. Textbook theories or not, a person cannot grasp how this truly feels unless they have had a child of their own die.

A very helpful and consoling work.

My son died 15 years ago and although I have gone on to live my life, I have never been free of the grief of this loss. Dr. Miller's book has helped create a context in which I feel a sense of hope possibility, and healing. I felt comforted by the ideas in the book and reccommend it highly to anyone who has lost a child or knows someone who has.