With the passage of years, traditional religions are fading away. Western allopathic medicine can now pinpoint the moment of death within the body. Eastern religions, however, incorporate pre-existing traditions into their practices. These traditions include Buddhism, Hinduism and Bon, an ancient Tibetan religion. Bon includes shamanic belief and practices to banish evil spirits. These religious traditions have combined to develop a sophisticated system for understanding how death happens.
Traditional religions are slowly dying away
Traditional religions are long considered to be dying, but there are many recent examples that show this is changing. For example, the Asatru faith is a new type of faith in Iceland. It doesn't have a particular doctrine and instead celebrates ancient customs, mythology, and history. It is active in social and environmental issues and has become a popular option among Icelanders. Similar movements have emerged throughout Europe, including Druidry in the UK. Some Asatru members are motivated conservative traditional values, and have clashed in the past with others who believe otherwise.
Western allopathic medical systems can locate the moment of death within the body.
Allopathic medicine is a type of medicine that uses drugs to treat symptoms. These types of medicine target specific organ systems, and do away with the concept of death. Although the term "allopathy" was once used as a derogatory term for alternative medicine, it is now a more fitting term for Western medical systems.
Eastern religions incorporate pre-existing indigenous traditions
The geographical distinction between East and West in religion is not precise and is largely meaningless in today's context of global transculturation. Some aspects of East-West religions are however common.
Protestantism
The Protestant movement was formed in 16th-century England as a reaction against the teachings from the Eastern Orthodox Church (Middle Catholic Church) and the medieval Catholic church. It quickly grew to become one of the three major forces within Christianity and spread all over Europe and beyond. It shaped the social, political, and cultural life of many European countries.
Tibetan tradition
Some people say the Tibetan tradition is a dying religion, but others disagree. The Tibetan belief holds that the deceased is still connected to the outside world even 21 days after death. This means their loved ones can still communicate to them and help them let go. This is a very comforting tradition. However it is important to keep in mind that the mind is still subtle.
Orthodox Catholicism
The decline of Orthodox Catholicism in the West is due to the changes made by the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church's view about the church is very different than Orthodox Catholicism. The Orthodox Church stresses the importance of baptism as a means of cleansing the soul and re-admission into the Church.