‘Bury me wherever I die’: A practical-theological inquiry into the Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the dead

Abstract

The reinterment of deceased kin on ancestral grounds is a time-honoured custom in numerous African cultures, imposing considerable financial and logistical challenges on mourning families. This practice, grounded in beliefs regarding belonging, territory and ancestral rights, faces growing opposition from younger urban and diaspora African Christians who assert, ‘bury me anywhere I die’, demonstrating their confidence in bodily resurrection, though not without peril. This article presents a practical-theological analysis that synthesises biblical exegesis, systematic theology and empirical pastoral observation to explore the conflict between traditional burial practices and Christian resurrection beliefs. This study contends, through exegetical analysis of significant Old and New Testament passages, theological reflection and pastoral engagement in the African context, that Scripture does not consider the location of graves essential to resurrection or eternal status, viewing burial sites solely as tools for honouring the deceased. The faith in resurrection reinterprets death, the corporeal form and the afterlife, emancipating African Christians from culturally imposed duties that often contradict gospel principles. The article additionally suggests pastoral and liturgical resources to assist churches in addressing this tension in culturally sensitive and theologically sound manners.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article offers a distinctive contribution to African practical theology by critically examining biblical exegesis, systematic theology and pastoral analysis of a specific cross-cultural pastoral issue: the theological significance of burial location in Christian resurrection doctrine. It engages with the emerging literature on African Christian eschatology, contextualisation and funeral ministry, advancing these discussions in a way that can yield tangible pastoral effects.