Cremation

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What does your faith teach regarding the acceptability of this practice?
 
hs_hopeful said:
What does your faith teach regarding the acceptability of this practice?
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The short answer, is cremation is permissible. Historically it was not allowed but became approved about 40 or so years ago.

In the Middle Ages cremation was often associated with things like witchcraft, paganism, and devil worship and the Church sought to distance itself from that sort of thing so it forbade cremation. But times change. No one takes witchcraft and devil worship seriously anymore and the Church recognizes that funeral expenses can be a difficult financial burden on surviving families, so it started allowing cremation as an alternative to casket and burial.

There are some restrictions, however. The cremated remains must be treated in a respectful way just like a deceased body would be. The ashes must be put into an appropriate urn and either buried in a proper cemetery or entombed in a columbarium. Under no circumstances may the ashes be scattered, made into trinkets or jewelry, or anything like that.
 
Lost_Sheep said:
The short answer, is cremation is permissible. Historically it was not allowed but became approved about 40 or so years ago.

In the Middle Ages cremation was often associated with things like witchcraft, paganism, and devil worship and the Church sought to distance itself from that sort of thing so it forbade cremation. But times change. No one takes witchcraft and devil worship seriously anymore and the Church recognizes that funeral expenses can be a difficult financial burden on surviving families, so it started allowing cremation as an alternative to casket and burial.

There are some restrictions, however. The cremated remains must be treated in a respectful way just like a deceased body would be. The ashes must be put into an appropriate urn and either buried in a proper cemetery or entombed in a columbarium. Under no circumstances may the ashes be scattered, made into trinkets or jewelry, or anything like that.
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I think that historically it was allowed but only in special circumstances, such as in times of plagues in order to not spread the decease. An example would be during the Black Death outbreaks in Medieval Europe. Other extraordinary circumstances when regular burial was not possible were for example in times of large scale famines in winter when the victims were too many and the ground was too frozen.
 
As far as I know, muslims don’t practice cremation. The dead body is buried with a shroud wrapped around it.
 
FrancescaMaria said:
I think that historically it was allowed but only in special circumstances, such as in times of plagues in order to not spread the decease. An example would be during the Black Death outbreaks in Medieval Europe. Other extraordinary circumstances when regular burial was not possible were for example in times of large scale famines in winter when the victims were too many and the ground was too frozen.
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That, in bold, brought a memory of a friend’s father passing in the winter (in a northern New England state, U.S.A.) years ago and during a cemetery workers’ strike. That was an “old” cemetery with the ability to keep the casket and body during the winter inside these things that looked like large. . . mounds with doors on them. I do not recall their name.

**Let Nothing Disturb You
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.

Patience,
Obtains all things,
Whoever has God
Lacks nothing:
God alone suffices.

Santa Teresa de Jesús
(Santa Teresa de Ávila)**

Luz María
 
Cremation is permissible for Catholics. I plan to be cremated and interred in a columbarium at a local monastery. Burials are expensive and the result is the same, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, sort of thing. I would much rather have my kids use the money I leave them to do something positive for themselves rather than spending a chunk of it on embalming, a casket, plot, cement vault and headstone. I’ll pre-pay everything and the church ladies will put on a funeral lunch for which I will leave a donation.

As long as one is interred in holy ground cremation is fine.
 
If we believe in the resurrection, cremation seems incompatible with the idea. The bones buried will one day be reconstituted and a new human existence awaits the once dead body. Seems to me we cannot prefer cremation to burial but only accept it as practical necessity for some people.
 
IgnatianPhilo said:
If we believe in the resurrection, cremation seems incompatible with the idea. The bones buried will one day be reconstituted and a new human existence awaits the once dead body. Seems to me we cannot prefer cremation to burial but only accept it as practical necessity for some people.
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I’ve spoken to a priest about this and cremation is fine as long as the rules are followed such as the ashes being interred in holy ground. As far as the resurrection I have strong faith God can do what He needs to do with me at the appropriate time. 🙂

Besides it’s not as though our bodies are remain whole if buried. They may remain in a box if buried in one but how about folks who were wrapped in a cloth & buried, or maybe drowned at sea and were never recovered or some of the victims of the 9/11 attack who were basically unable to be found due to the condition of their remains, or the many scenarios that don’t result with an embalmed body in a water tight casket sealed in a cement vault. I believe if God has the power to resurrect us, He has the power to make the pieces fit.
 
He made me out of nothing, so he’ll have no difficulty putting my ashes together. 🙂
 
Horton said:
Cremation is permissible for Catholics. I plan to be cremated and interred in a columbarium at a local monastery. Burials are expensive and the result is the same, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, sort of thing. I would much rather have my kids use the money I leave them to do something positive for themselves rather than spending a chunk of it on embalming, a casket, plot, cement vault and headstone. I’ll pre-pay everything and the church ladies will put on a funeral lunch for which I will leave a donation.

As long as one is interred in holy ground cremation is fine.
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I am not putting down your idea but would like to clarify some facts. Embalming or not embalming has nothing whatever to do with cremation or burial. It has to do with the privilege of viewing the body whether one is cremated or buried. Many people who chose cremation still want the privilege of viewing. You do not need a casket for burial, you could be buried in the same plywood box that is used for cremation. Mos t people who are cremated either bury the ashes in a cemetery plot or columbarium in which case a headstone or marker is used. Cremation does not directly eliminate the need for a marker.

What is holy ground if not a cemetery? Whether cremation is cheaper than burial is directly related to the price of a plot. Many cemeteries in smaller communities have plots almost free in which case burial may be cheaper than cremation if everything is compared apples to apples.
 
Wannano said:
I am not putting down your idea but would like to clarify some facts. Embalming or not embalming has nothing whatever to do with cremation or burial. It has to do with the privilege of viewing the body whether one is cremated or buried. Many people who chose cremation still want the privilege of viewing. You do not need a casket for burial, you could be buried in the same plywood box that is used for cremation. Mos t people who are cremated either bury the ashes in a cemetery plot or columbarium in which case a headstone or marker is used. Cremation does not directly eliminate the need for a marker.

What is holy ground if not a cemetery? Whether cremation is cheaper than burial is directly related to the price of a plot. Many cemeteries in smaller communities have plots almost free in which case burial may be cheaper than cremation if everything is compared apples to apples.
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I have thought it all out. No embalming, no viewing, nothing more than the urn I will purchase prior to my death. I will be dead and I want my family to be able to not suffer with this extended grieving process that has become funerals. I’m sure my family will grieve enough without all that. But death is a natural part of life. I’m in my fifties now so when I die from now on, I am comfortable that I have completed God’s plan for my life. If God gives me another 10, 20, 30 years I’m ok with that too. I can’t say I don’t want my family to be sad because it’s not a reality, they will be sad. But I’m not going to make it worse for them with viewings, and all the associated stuff that goes with a burial. I want a funeral Mass of course, but I am the only Catholic in my family. I know my kids will respect my wishes on what I want because I raised them to be strong respectful men.

In the Catholic Church all Catholics are buried in Holy ground. In a regular cemetery a priest will bless the plot, making it Holy. Where I plan to be interred is a Catholic columbarium so there is no need for the prior blessing.
 
Horton said:
I have thought it all out. No embalming, no viewing, nothing more than the urn I will purchase prior to my death. I will be dead and I want my family to be able to not suffer with this extended grieving process that has become funerals. I’m sure my family will grieve enough without all that. But death is a natural part of life. I’m in my fifties now so when I die from now on, I am comfortable that I have completed God’s plan for my life. If God gives me another 10, 20, 30 years I’m ok with that too. I can’t say I don’t want my family to be sad because it’s not a reality, they will be sad. But I’m not going to make it worse for them with viewings, and all the associated stuff that goes with a burial. I want a funeral Mass of course, but I am the only Catholic in my family. I know my kids will respect my wishes on what I want because I raised them to be strong respectful men.

In the Catholic Church all Catholics are buried in Holy ground. In a regular cemetery a priest will bless the plot, making it Holy. Where I plan to be interred is a Catholic columbarium so there is no need for the prior blessing.
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You probably have raised a lovely family and they are strong respectful men. Just keep in mind that strong men still have needs when they lose a parent. How one dies will determine the actual needs of the survivors at that time. For example: if you die a lingering death, your sons will have time to come to the realization that they are losing you in stages . They probably will have seen you in the days before your death. If you die suddenly perhaps in an accident or a bus runs you over, chances are those strong sons or maybe only one of them who has not seen you for a bit will have a strong desire to see you before cremation. If you have predetermined and cast in stone that there be no viewing and yet one
of them wants too then it is most unfortunate that he cannot be granted the privilege. Good funeral planning is stating what you desire but with the allowance for changes if the remaining family deem it important.
 
Wannano said:
You probably have raised a lovely family and they are strong respectful men. Just keep in mind that strong men still have needs when they lose a parent. How one dies will determine the actual needs of the survivors at that time. For example: if you die a lingering death, your sons will have time to come to the realization that they are losing you in stages . They probably will have seen you in the days before your death. If you die suddenly perhaps in an accident or a bus runs you over, chances are those strong sons or maybe only one of them who has not seen you for a bit will have a strong desire to see you before cremation. If you have predetermined and cast in stone that there be no viewing and yet one
of them wants too then it is most unfortunate that he cannot be granted the privilege. Good funeral planning is stating what you desire but with the allowance for changes if the remaining family deem it important.
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Further to my post above. No matter what pre-arrangement plans are made even if paid in advance, your executor has the power to change anything he or she wants.
 
hs_hopeful said:
What does your faith teach regarding the acceptability of this practice?
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Baha’is do not practise cremation:

*The body of man, which has been formed gradually, must similarly be decomposed gradually. This is according to the real and natural order and divine law. If it had been better for it to be burned after death, in its very creation it would have been so planned that the body would automatically become ignited after death, be consumed and turned into ashes. But the divine order formulated by the heavenly ordinance is that after death, this body shall be transferred from one stage to another different from the preceding one, so that according to the relations which exist in the world, it may gradually combine and mix other elements, thus going through stages until it arrives in the vegetable kingdom, there turning into plants and flowers, developing into trees of the highest paradise,becoming perfumed and attaining the beauty of colour’. "Cremation suppresses it speedily from attainment to these transformations, the elements becoming so quickly decomposed that transformation to these various stages is checked’. *
(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 201)
 
Wannano said:
You probably have raised a lovely family and they are strong respectful men. Just keep in mind that strong men still have needs when they lose a parent. How one dies will determine the actual needs of the survivors at that time. For example: if you die a lingering death, your sons will have time to come to the realization that they are losing you in stages . They probably will have seen you in the days before your death. If you die suddenly perhaps in an accident or a bus runs you over, chances are those strong sons or maybe only one of them who has not seen you for a bit will have a strong desire to see you before cremation. If you have predetermined and cast in stone that there be no viewing and yet one
of them wants too then it is most unfortunate that he cannot be granted the privilege. Good funeral planning is stating what you desire but with the allowance for changes if the remaining family deem it important.
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Wannano said:
Further to my post above. No matter what pre-arrangement plans are made even if paid in advance, your executor has the power to change anything he or she wants.
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I have made my decisions about this and have spoken to a priest about it. These are my wishes and I certainly don’t need a stranger from the internet telling me I’m wrong or what my sons may or may not need at that time. So please stop on this issue.

You don’t know me or my family. I wish I could be hit by a truck and it would be over, but it’s more likely, given my current medical situation, that I will die a long lingering painful death and that will be what my sons will have to remember me, sick, feeble, and wasting in a hospital bed. So don’t presume to know what my boys will want, what my grandkids will want, what my siblings will want. I know what they’ll want…their mother, grandmother, sister, alive but that will not be something I can give them. But I can give them the chance to have it over without a lot of fuss and fanfare so they can mourn and start to live again.

So don’t tell me what my family may want.
 
Horton said:
I have made my decisions about this and have spoken to a priest about it. These are my wishes and I certainly don’t need a stranger from the internet telling me I’m wrong or what my sons may or may not need at that time. So please stop on this issue.

You don’t know me or my family. I wish I could be hit by a truck and it would be over, but it’s more likely, given my current medical situation, that I will die a long lingering painful death and that will be what my sons will have to remember me, sick, feeble, and wasting in a hospital bed. So don’t presume to know what my boys will want, what my grandkids will want, what my siblings will want. I know what they’ll want…their mother, grandmother, sister, alive but that will not be something I can give them. But I can give them the chance to have it over without a lot of fuss and fanfare so they can mourn and start to live again.

So don’t tell me what my family may want.
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I am sorry I offended you, I was trying to be helpful by pointing out the facts. Peace.
 
IgnatianPhilo said:
If we believe in the resurrection, cremation seems incompatible with the idea. The bones buried will one day be reconstituted and a new human existence awaits the once dead body. Seems to me we cannot prefer cremation to burial but only accept it as practical necessity for some people.
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With all due respect, I believe you are thinking too much in a contemporary context. Hundreds of years ago, there was no embalming like there is today and people were buried in a simple wooden coffin if a coffin was used at all. Mother Earth eventually consumed the remains until there was nothing left at all; not even bones. I’m sure God has a plan for that sort of thing.

So in that sense, whether it is a cremation or a natural decomposition, no body remains. Surely God will take care of the Faithful regardless of their earthly remains (or non-remains.)
 
I’m planning to be cremated and everyone can look at a picture of me. I’d like my ashes to be included in a memorial tree that are becoming popular now.

Way back when I was a kid and went to my first viewing it creeped me out having everyone stand around and say, “doesn’t he/she look wonderful?” LOL I know I won’t really be there but I don’t want that to happen. My dad didn’t look like himself at all and my mom’s hair was too poofy. Each of us girls would go and pat her hair down when we would go up to the casket.

Good question.

Rita
 
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