The Bible and Cremation

[John146]

While I do not recommend Ecclesiastes to establish doctrine, there is a very appropriate verse in Eccl 6:3 for the practice of burial: If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. Does this verse tell us that burial is important? Absolutely.

So we need to go back to what was said to Adam (Gen 3:19): In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Since Adam is the ancestor of the human race, it is reasonable to conclude that this applies to all humanity. And there is no mention of "ashes to ashes" as is commonly and falsely said by many at burials.

But the strongest support for Christian burial is (a) the burial of Christ, (b) the burial of Stephen the first Christian martyr and (c) the fact that Christ will summon the bodies which are in their graves at the resurrection (John 5:28). Even though Christ was entombed, He spoke of His "burial", and so did Paul. And ever since it has been an invariable CHRISTIAN PRACTICE worldwide. That should be proof enough, and goes back to the practice of burial by the Hebrews since the time of Abraham.

In the Bible the burning of bones is associated with pollution and as a punishment for evil and idolatry: And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words... And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem. (2 Kings 23:16,20).

On the other hand cremation is a pagan practice which actually began in India, the home of Hinduism:

"Hindu beliefs about death
The Hindu faith is centred around reincarnation; the belief that when someone dies, the soul is reborn as a different form. They believe that although the physical body dies, their soul remains and continues to recycle until it settles upon its true nature. This can take many lifetimes, and with each death they strive to move closer to Brahma, the Hindu God. Additionally, they believe their soul’s next incarnation will depend on the actions throughout their previous life, this is also known as Karma.

Why do Hindus cremate?
After death, Hindus believe that the physical body serves no purpose, and therefore does not need to be preserved. They choose to cremate their loved ones as they believe it’s the quickest way to release the soul and help with reincarnation. Historically, Hindu cremations would take place on the Ganges River, India, and the family would carry the casket to the crematorium site. Nowadays, Hindus are cremated locally, and most funeral directors can accommodate the traditions and rituals of a Hindu cremation.

What are Hindu funeral rites?
Traditionally, Hindu funeral rites take the form of chants or mantras which are overseen by an officiant, usually a Hindu priest or the eldest son of the bereaved. They will gather the family and friends and lead them in the various Hindu death rituals. These include:

• Washing the body with ghee, honey, milk, and yoghurt
• Placing essential oils on the head of the deceased (turmeric for females, sandalwood for males)
• Placing the palms in a position of prayer and tying the big toes together
• Dressing the deceased’s body in smart clothes (contemporary) or wrapping it in a white sheet (traditional)
• Placing a garland of flowers and ‘pinda’ (rice balls) around their loved ones
• Putting a lamp near the head or sprinkling water on the body

How long after death is a Hindu funeral?
According to Hindu death rituals, the body should remain at the home until cremation –"

https://www.funeralpartners.co.uk/h...nerals/hindu-funeral-rites-and-death-rituals/

Christians in India will only bury their dead to distinguish themselves from Hindus.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, but it’s not enough for me to set Christian doctrine.

Was Christ buried six feet under in a casket or in a tomb in which one could enter in and out? If it’s Christian practice, then we should make sure we get it right.

 

[Dino246]

It is rooted in pagan practices and beliefs. Ask a Hindu why he believes in cremation.

Ask a Christian why he follows the pagan Roman practices for month and day names.

The fact that a practice is observed in a false religion does not make the practice "anti-Christian"; that is the fallacy of guilt by association.

 

[Lanolin]

Jesus had a rich mans tomb (Joseph of arithmea begged the body of Jesus) but he didnt stay in it for very long

It was Mary and the women who lovingly were going to wrap him with spices etc. He did have grave clothes.

If Joseph had not intervened, it would have been likely that Jesus body would have been thrown in a rubbish tip and eaten by wild dogs.

I dont understand the burning of bodies. Burial is actually cheaper BUT the cost of a burial plot is the big expense, not the actual act of burying, while the cost of cremation is high because you need an oven, fuel, and what to do with ashes/pollution from burning.

With natural burial you can wrap the body and bury it, the flesh will decay and become compost quickly. Its the bones that do not rot (If we are saved, they are preserved) and its the bones that will rise again and God will clothe. See Ezekiel about the Valley of the bones

Cornithians also mentions burning bodies but if you have no love, then its is nothing.

I personally do not like to attend cremations. Cremations not only burn the body but mash up everything in a grinder. The body is basically destroyed. I think your soul is a different entity but I do believe our heavenly bodies will be glorfied. If you are body is torn or ground in a million pieces I kind of think the resurrection process will take much longer...nothing is impossible for God, but why make it harder for Him?

It would be like not saving your puzzle pieces in a box and expecting God to just put them all together when youve just thrown them here there and everywhere.

 

[Lanolin]

I do gardening, and some gardeners use blood and bone as fertiliser, but I dont think its human blood and bones. Even if it was you couldnt tell who's it is. But if you wanted to stipuate in your will you want your ashes to be turned to fertiliser then I suppose you could. You might even make money from it - cos people do buy and sell that stuff

Thats the way it goes I suppose.

Pray and ask God what He thinks about it all.

 

[Nehemiah6]

The fact that a practice is observed in a false religion does not make the practice "anti-Christian"; that is the fallacy of guilt by association.

It certainly does. You would be telling the world you believe in reincarnation.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, but it’s not enough for me to set Christian doctrine.

That's the problem today. The fact that Christ was buried and that His burial has spiritual significance means nothing. Christians today want the Bible to be a textbook which say "Christian may only be buried, not cremated, since that is a pagan practice".

 

[John146]

That's the problem today. The fact that Christ was buried and that His burial has spiritual significance means nothing. Christians today want the Bible to be a textbook which say "Christian may only be buried, not cremated, since that is a pagan practice".

If you feel being buried is right for you, then by all means be buried. Romans 14.

 

[Seeker47]

Jesus had a rich mans tomb (Joseph of arithmea begged the body of Jesus) but he didnt stay in it for very long

It was Mary and the women who lovingly were going to wrap him with spices etc. He did have grave clothes.

If Joseph had not intervened, it would have been likely that Jesus body would have been thrown in a rubbish tip and eaten by wild dogs.

I dont understand the burning of bodies. Burial is actually cheaper BUT the cost of a burial plot is the big expense, not the actual act of burying, while the cost of cremation is high because you need an oven, fuel, and what to do with ashes/pollution from burning.

With natural burial you can wrap the body and bury it, the flesh will decay and become compost quickly. Its the bones that do not rot (If we are saved, they are preserved) and its the bones that will rise again and God will clothe. See Ezekiel about the Valley of the bones

Cornithians also mentions burning bodies but if you have no love, then its is nothing.

I personally do not like to attend cremations. Cremations not only burn the body but mash up everything in a grinder. The body is basically destroyed. I think your soul is a different entity but I do believe our heavenly bodies will be glorfied. If you are body is torn or ground in a million pieces I kind of think the resurrection process will take much longer...nothing is impossible for God, but why make it harder for Him?

It would be like not saving your puzzle pieces in a box and expecting God to just put them all together when youve just thrown them here there and everywhere.

With all due love and respect, it costs more to just dig the hole @ $1,800.00 than to do a cremation with a casket and an urn.

 

[MsMediator]

Overall I think burial is ideal because I think the body is treated in a more respected manner than cremation. However, I don't think this really matters. People die in different ways and the body may not be recouped (drowned in sea/eaten by sharks, killed in explosion, etc.). We will also get new bodies anyway.

 

[Dino246]

It certainly does. You would be telling the world you believe in reincarnation.

That's ridiculous.

 

[Dino246]

That's the problem today. The fact that Christ was buried and that His burial has spiritual significance means nothing. Christians today want the Bible to be a textbook which say "Christian may only be buried, not cremated, since that is a pagan practice".

Next you'll be telling us that only burial in a cave is acceptable.

smh...

 

[Lanolin]

With all due love and respect, it costs more to just dig the hole @ $1,800.00 than to do a cremation with a casket and an urn.

no it doesnt. You dont have a spade? Just because you may be too lazy to do it doesnt mean someone else has to charge you the earth. Its just in some countries funeral directors operate a racket with burials and crematoriums really dont care whos ashes are whos.

 

[Lanolin]

There are still bodies in mines and on mt erebus, and other volcanoes. If someone has died in many cultures the burial site is tapu (taboo, sacred) and is reserved as memorial.

There are cloisters of many christians buried in underground caverns. The egyptians of course had the great pyramids, but the hindus just throw and burn bodies into the ganges. Tibetans do sky burial where the body is eaten by vultures.

americans mostly have lawn cemetaries, military fashion in neat rows like crops.
The French have garden cemeteries.

I went to a garden cemetery that was covered in plaques because people tipped their ashes there and grew camellias over them. However it was getting crowded and the camellias didnt have enough room I think. Unfortunately someone took over that garden and forbade volunteers from gardening there, so it looked not well maintained and overgrown.

The garden charged people to have their name plaques there.

some bodies are never found, there are lots of places to get lost on earth after all. most bodies decompose quickly. Depends how humid it is

 

[Lanolin]

The Queen of England will have a tradtional christian burial. Actually a lot of monarchs are buried at Westminster Abbey, but I expect she'll be buried together with her husband in one of the royal chapels. He is in a vault at the moment. Most old churches had graveyards nearby.

Dont blame the saints for wanting to be near each other while sleeping.

 

[wolfwint]

Is there any mention of Cremation in The Bible? I mean, as an option for Christians after death. I prefer to be Cremated when I die and was asked by a new believer if The Lord finds it acceptable. Caskets and burial plots can be quite pricey and I wouldn't want to burden my only child with the expense. Thanks

Well, in some places in germany the burial space is very limited and expensive, so cremate bodys becomes more and more common. Our soul will be not in the body anymore when he will be buried or cremated, so it makes for a christian no different in the meaning.

 

[Seeker47]

no it doesnt. You dont have a spade? Just because you may be too lazy to do it doesnt mean someone else has to charge you the earth. Its just in some countries funeral directors operate a racket with burials and crematoriums really dont care whos ashes are whos.

My Mother-in-law spent several thousand dollars pre-planning her final services. When the time came, the family was told the pre-plan did not include the cost of "opening the grave". When we questioned the cost, we were told that only "approved" contractors could be used because, "They know how to do it".

How did you know I am too lazy to dig the hole?