The study of death and dying (thanatology) has experienced a major boom in recent decades. Interest in questions surrounding death and the range of disciplines and activities involved have grown significantly. Training and continuing education programs are emerging with a focus on practice-oriented professions and their integration into theology, the humanities, and the social sciences. Pastoral counsellors and ritual facilitators specialize in supporting people at the end of life. In addition to traditional forms of burial, there is a growing range of personalized options. Art and culture, literature, and film address death and the afterlife in diverse and sometimes provocative ways.

The study of death and dying (thanatology) has experienced a major boom in recent decades. Interest in questions surrounding death and the range of disciplines and activities involved have grown significantly. Training and continuing education programs are emerging with a focus on practice-oriented professions and their integration into theology, the humanities, and the social sciences. Pastoral counsellors and ritual facilitators specialize in supporting people at the end of life. In addition to traditional forms of burial, there is a growing range of personalized options. Art and culture, literature, and film address death and the afterlife in diverse and sometimes provocative ways.