The concept of “worldview minorities” challenges binary distinctions between secular and sacred, fostering an inclusive approach to understanding diverse burial practices. Central to the project is the framework of deathscape, a concept rooted in human geography, which extends beyond physical burial sites to encompass social, ritual, metaphorical, and virtual dimensions. This approach provides a holistic view of how communities engage with burial practices, linking these spaces to identity formation and collective memory.
In a context where burial practices have historically been dominated by the majority Lutheran Church, minority communities face specific challenges in managing their burial grounds. MeDea's comparative approach seeks to uncover both shared and unique meanings that different worldview communities—such as non-religious, Jewish, Muslim, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic—attribute to their burial spaces. This comparative analysis highlights the ways in which burial practices become sites of identity negotiation and societal belonging for these communities.
MeDea employs a minority-sensitive, collaborative research model, integrating the perspectives of both academic researchers and community members. This co-production of knowledge ensures that the research is deeply informed by the lived experiences of the people studied.
Data is gathered through oral methods, such as interviews, as well as visual techniques, such as pictures and mind maps. These varied approaches allow for a multi-dimensional understanding of how individuals and communities interact with burial spaces. The project employs thematic template analysis to interpret the data, ensuring the analysis is sensitive to the positionality of both researchers and participants.