Brits who are religious find it harder talking about death than those who aren't

It’s probably not many people’s favourite subject, but apparently how comfortable you are talking about death can vary depending on how religious you are.

According to a recent study, religious Brits are most uncomfortable when it comes to talking about death.

The survey by Co-op Funeralcare, which quizzed 30,000 people on death, dying and bereavement, found that Hindus are more uncomfortable discussing their own death than any other religious group, with more than half (51%) uneasy when it comes to discussing their own mortality.

They are closely followed by Muslims, with 49% saying they’re uncomfortable talking about their own death.

Yet despite this, Muslims first consider their own mortality at the age of 19 – younger than any other religious group.

Christians, on average, don’t think about their own demise until they hit 30 – much later than other faiths.

And in contrast to those who consider themselves religious, other groups are more comfortable when it comes to addressing their own demise.

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Humanist Brits were most comfortable, with three quarters (75%) agreeing so and just one in ten (9%) explaining that they are unsure of how to talk about the topic with others.

Overall, those of a religious faith think about their own mortality later than Brits identifying as non-religious.

Asked what puts them off facing up to their own mortality, the answers covered everything from not wanting others to worry about them dying, to not knowing how to talk about the subject, or just people too busy to talk about it.

Despite their reticence to discuss it, people identifying as a religious group overall are more clued up about what they would want for their funeral than those who aren’t religious.

Brits of Jewish faith are most prepared with over a third (36%) knowing exactly what they would want for their own funeral. They are also most likely to plan financially, with a fifth (18%) having already put a funeral plan in place – twice as many as any other religious group.

Overall, four fifths (84%) of non-religious people say they haven’t saved anything towards funeral costs, compared to three quarters (75%) of religious groups who say the same.

David Collingwood, Director of Funerals at the Co-op, said: “Whether we identify as part of a religious group or we don’t, death is something that is fearful for many people and is resulting in many not talking about it.

“We see the impact that not having those important conversations has on those left behind with families left wondering whether they should choose a cremation or a burial for their loved one.

“Our advice is to talk about it, even if it’s during your favourite soap character’s funeral. Broach those conversations to avoid loved ones feeling the burden later down the line.”