Consolation Without Religious Topoi: Thematic Analysis of References to "Afterlife" in Secular Eulogies in Communist Czechoslovakia (1948–1989).

The article examines the practice of secular eulogistic rhetoric in communist Czechoslovakia (1948–1989), focusing on how references to the "afterlife" were employed in eulogies despite the explicit exclusion of religious interpretations such as resurrection or heaven. Analyzing 61 model secular eulogies from Eulogy Manuals, the study identifies two main secular interpretations of "afterlife": symbolic continuity—where the deceased persists through memory, legacy, nature, descendants, or love—and factual (but deprived) continuity—where death is depicted as sleep, a journey, or relief from pain. These secular concepts served as ideologically acceptable alternatives to traditional religious afterlife notions, aiming to console non-religious audiences while reinforcing Marxist scientific-materialist worldviews. The findings highlight how secular eulogies creatively adapted consolatory rhetoric within the constraints of communist ideology and suggest potential applicability to other non-religious contexts.