Museums=sin/disrespect of the dead?

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SisterSnowflake

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OK…I’m back. And, despite speculation to the contrary, I’m not trying to cause arguments due to the seeming oddity of my questions!

Remember: I teach 7th-12th graders…they have unique questions!

QUESTION: Since disturbing a grave/taking things from a grave is sinful (stealing) and disturbing a body would be violating the dignity of the human person…wouldn’t taking things from ancient graves or even taking bodies, all later to be displayed in museums, constitute sin, as well?

If so, does going to said museum=sin, because we are supporting the actions mentioned above?

Thanks for your responses in advance!
God bless!
 
Good questions.

Even in death - a body takes on cultural responsiblities.

I’m thinking of the display of Egyptian mummies and the Catholic Church’s Incorruptible saints.

In American Indian culture, it’s a disgrace to display the bones of the dead.
 
I don’t know about other cultures, but wasn’t it customary for Christians to keep body parts of saints who had been martyred? I seem to remember reading somewhere that they’d have the bones of saints and they’d keep them… whether or not they kept for the display I’m not sure but I’m pretty sure that was a customary thing to do. They guarded the bones of some saints very zealously.
 
It all hinges on how respectfully it’s done, I assume. The Church moves the bodies of the saints around pretty regularly, after all. Even Bl. John Paul II, just recently.

I think putting a body in a museum connotes quite a bit of respect, as opposed to throwing ashes off a mountain or whatever.
 
I think it depends on the culture. Espeically if that culture is still active today.

Also at somepoint if we never display artifacts from any culture ever, we can never learn from them, or inspire kids to learn from them. I volunteer at a museum where we have 2 mummies and I’m always irked by the “return everything to it’s country of origin” crowd as there are a lot of underpriviledged kids who come through our museum and they probably will NEVER have the chance to travel to Eygpt, but they can still see a real mummy and learn from it because of the two in our museum.

If an existant culture has an issue displaying the bodies of their dead, that should be respected as much as possible.

And yes the Catholic Church does display relics, even splitting bodies up to disperse the relics over more churches.
 
hxcCatholic413 said:
there’s an exhibit called BODIES: bodiestheexhibition.com/

I wonder if this is respectful or not??
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I would be careful which of the exhibits with plastination (sp?) you go to. The original Body Worlds exhibits were done in what is a respectful manner in my opinion. They came through the museum I volunteer for and were quite interesting. The bodies used were donated by the actual person, and they had to meet strict donation policies. You could not comit suicide to donate your body and your entire extended family had to sign off on the donation.

There are other similar exhibits that are staged by other companies…mainly the chinese where the bodies used are rumored to be those of prisoners and political disidents. Our museum could not authenticate either way so they passed on those companies.
 
Alix1912 said:
I would be careful which of the exhibits with plastination (sp?) you go to. The original Body Worlds exhibits were done in what is a respectful manner in my opinion. They came through the museum I volunteer for and were quite interesting. The bodies used were donated by the actual person, and they had to meet strict donation policies. You could not comit suicide to donate your body and your entire extended family had to sign off on the donation.

There are other similar exhibits that are staged by other companies…mainly the chinese where the bodies used are rumored to be those of prisoners and political disidents. Our museum could not authenticate either way so they passed on those companies.
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While I am not one who finds that exhibit to be pleasant, I would have to agree that it is indeed respectful, do to the following:
  1. It was agreed upon by all parties involved, over strict guidelines.
  2. The bodies, as they are displayed, is meant to encourage intellectual growth and education.
  3. The bodies are depicted in manners that remember them as humans first, art and scientific interest second.
 
presidentjlh said:
While I am not one who finds that exhibit to be pleasant, I would have to agree that it is indeed respectful, do to the following:
  1. It was agreed upon by all parties involved, over strict guidelines.
  2. The bodies, as they are displayed, is meant to encourage intellectual growth and education.
  3. The bodies are depicted in manners that remember them as humans first, art and scientific interest second.
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Never said I thought it was pleasant per see…more of educational. CERTAINLY not for small kids and should TOTALLY be preview by the parent before taking older kids.
 
As an historian, I always kinda figured in my own mind that while the pharaohs might not have agreed with every aspect of how they were treated by modern researchers, that on the whole, they would likely be very pleased. Since in their religion the biggest concern was the preservation of the body and the artifacts needed for the next life, what could be better than being placed in a building with massive 24 hour security and teams of preservationists carefully restoring and protecting your mummy, especially since every tomb except one was compromised?
 
Rolltide said:
As an historian, I always kinda figured in my own mind that while the pharaohs might not have agreed with every aspect of how they were treated by modern researchers, that on the whole, they would likely be very pleased. Since in their religion the biggest concern was the preservation of the body and the artifacts needed for the next life, what could be better than being placed in a building with massive 24 hour security and teams of preservationists carefully restoring and protecting your mummy, especially since every tomb except one was compromised?
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Good point. Not to mention they are now remembered for eternity and their names spoken which was another big thing for them.
 
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