On Browsing Death

October 16, 2014 by Max Lindenman

Continued from Page 1

With planet Earth now home to seven billion living inhabitants, it's hard to dispute the logic of squeezing the dead into small and obscure spaces, even if those spaces be as small and obscure as an urn in a private home. Facebook now permits dead account holders' next of kin to turn their pages into memorials, where loved ones leave messages like unwilting flowers. YouTube and blogging platforms enable the dying to bid farewell to a potential audience of millions. Considered objectively, the odds of reaching the living from beyond the grave may be higher now than ever before.

But being both dead and present is a delicate paradox, and I have my doubts that these media can do it the same justice as a cemetery located within easy driving—or better yet, walking—distance. The problem isn't that Facebook lacks the "solemn stillness" of the air in Gray's country churchyard, though God knows it does. But the leveling effect is too complete. Nobody is standing up, and nobody is lying down.

So maybe, when the time comes to pick a place to live, it's good for the soul to count a browsable cemetery as a must-have, or at least a plus. Strip malls come and go, school districts rise and fall. But places that stretch the imagination to measure the gulf between life and death may soon be America's best-kept secret.

Page: 2 of 2

10/16/2014 4:00:00 AM

Remembering the Dead

Public Square

Ancestors

Afterlife

Cities

Death

History

Media

Relics

Rituals

more at patheos

Living Waters of Lent - Commentary for Third Sunday of Lent

Bruce Epperly

Back to School with AI

Gene Veith

God, I'm for You | Valeska M. Bushman

Delisa Hargrove

A Faith Reflection for Weary Mothers

Christine Moriarty Field

About Max Lindenman

Max Lindenman is a freelance writer, based in Phoenix. He has been published in National Catholic Reporter, Busted Halo and Salon.

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos