Abstract
This chapter provides an assessment of the importance of religious conceptions in our views on aging. Human growth and development – ultimately aging – is inevitably informed by our beliefs. Religious beliefs inform our understanding of birth, life, death, and time. The discussion focuses first on three Abrahamic traditions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. These three traditions treat aging in stages or periods. After an analysis of the Abrahamic traditions and their treatment of aging based on religious texts, the authors turn to Eastern religious traditions. They consider the alternative views on aging inspired by Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. They conclude by suggesting that a true understanding of aging must consider the aging person’s religious convictions.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Atchley, R (2009). Spirituality and aging. Baltimore, MD: The John Hopkins University Press.
Confucius. (2015). The analects. (trans. Robert Eno.). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
‘Digha Nikaya: the long discourses’, edited by Access to Insight (2013). Access to Insight (Legacy Edition).
Lai, K. (2006). Learning from Chinese philosophies: ethics of interdependent and contextualized self. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company.
Mehta, K. (1997). The impact of religious beliefs and practices on aging: a cross-cultural comparison. Journal of Aging Studies, 11(2), 101–114.
Minois, G. (1989). History of old age: from antiquity to the renaissance. (trans. Sarah Hanbury Tenison.). Cambridge: Polity Press.
The new oxford annotated bible with apocrypha, college edition, new revised standard translation. (2010). New York: Oxford University Press.
The Qur’an. Translated by Maulawi Sher ‘Ali (2004). Islam International Publications Limited.
Tilak, S. (1989). Religion and aging in the Indian tradition. Albany: State University of New York Press.
‘Tipitaka: The Pali Canon’, edited by Access to Insight (2005). Access to insight (Legacy Edition).
Tzu, Lao. (1996). Tao-Teh-ching: A parallel translation collection. Comp. B Bolsen. Boston: GNOMAD Publishing.
Visuddhimagga: The Path of Purification. Translated by Bhikkhu Ñãnamoli (2011). Buddhist Publication Society.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2016 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Taliaferro, C., Varie, M. (2016). Aging in Religious Perspective. In: Scarre, G. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of the Philosophy of Aging. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-39356-2_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-39356-2_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-39355-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-39356-2
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)