죽어가는 환자가 경험하는 두려움의 본질과 목회 돌봄: 엘리자베스 퀴블러 로스의 On Death and Dying 사례를 중심으로

Abstract

This study explores the basis of fear of death and dying. Nobody can escape from death, and everybody knows that they will die someday. However, talking about death is taboo in both Western and Eastern cultures. People live their present lives as if they will never die. They only face up to the reality of death when death stares them in the face. If people think of death as a part of life, human beings would accept their death naturally as they accept their birth. Nonetheless, they tend to deny the fact that they are going to dying. Therefore, this study concerns what people are afraid when they face death and dying based on some cases of the dying. In order to find the basis of fear of the dying, I revisit Elisabeth Kubler Ross’ On Death and Dying, and look into interview with terminally ill patients that Kübler Ross conducted. Recently, there are few death related studies in Korea, specifically about the fear of death and dying. Thus, On Death and Dying provides abundant sources of how terminally ill patents experience the process of dying. The result shows that they fear being alone, losing their dignity, and feeling worthless and hopeless, and this study found that these fears relate to personal relationships to which have been connected in life. The cases are examined from socio-cultural and pastoral theological perspectives on death and dying, and the result of analysis is applied to pastoral care and counseling. Death is inevitable; also, fear of death and dying is natural emotion. The one thing people have to recognize is that people need to live their lives thinking of death. It will help them reduce their fear of death. If people think of their lives separate from death, the fear of death and dying becomes bigger. Thus, it is important for people to integrate life into death when the time comes for the wholeness of their lives. In addition, I suggest that pastors provide with death education, which will support meaning of life and death according to Christian faith.