DO YOU BELIEVE CREMATION IS A VIABLE OPTION?
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Kathleen, would you care to research and post some excerpts or a compilation of articles on
"GREEN BURIAL"? A quick web search on "Green Burial" produced -- 'About 27,500,000
results (0.07 seconds)'. I think this is your position, and I have (negligently) largely ignored
it. It is worth spending a few minutes looking into and discussing here.
1
Genesis 3
19In 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.
Bible seems to say we're going to turn back in to dust anyways. Cremation speeds up what the worms and nature does. Maybe it's unbiblical to take the work away from the worms and bugs?
19In 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.
Bible seems to say we're going to turn back in to dust anyways. Cremation speeds up what the worms and nature does. Maybe it's unbiblical to take the work away from the worms and bugs?
LOOKS LIKE KATHLEEN WAS BUSY (or bored) --- I offer this -- Please add to and comment on:
Green Burial
What is a green burial?
Simple and natural. Green burial, or natural burial, ensure the burial site remains as
natural as possible in all respects. Interment of the bodies is done in a bio-degradable
casket, shroud, or a favorite blanket. No embalming fluid, no concrete vaults.
Why have a green burial?
It is clear that nature has intended that our bodies be reunited with the earth. All
organisms that have lived, have died and returned to the soil...only to be recycled into
new life. Constant microbial activity in the soil breaks everything down. Nature creates
no waste. Everything is recycled.
In keeping with your personal values, a natural burial site for you, family, even pets,
promotes growth of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers, in turn bringing birds and other
wildlife to the area. Water is not wasted, nor are pesticides and herbicides used in
attempts to control nature. Instead, a green cemetery allows nature take it's course.
Planting native trees, shrubs and flowers in your loved one's honor promotes habitat
restoration. To encourage land preservation, a green cemetery grants a conservation
easement for the burial site.
The grave does not use a burial vault or outer burial container that prohibits the body's
contact with soil. The grave should be dug to a depth shallow enough to allow microbial
activity similar to that found in composting. Natural burials can take place on both private
land (per regulations) and in any cemetery that will accommodate the vault-free technique.
In a 2007 survey by the AARP, 21 percent of Americans older than 50 said they would
prefer an ecofriendly end-of-life ritual. Nationwide, there are currently 22 cemeteries with
natural burial grounds certified by the Green Burial Council, up from only one in 2006, and
40 states with funeral providers offering green services. Many cite environmental
concerns or significant cost savings as a reason to go green.
Today's funeral industry, which uses embalming (to prevent decay of the body), and
concrete vaults, largely materialized from the desire of a generation of Civil War mothers
to have their sons shipped back home.
Embalming
Embalming's secondary purpose is to temporarily retard decomposition for viewing and
as such it can be deemed inconsistent with the objectives of natural burial. Non-toxic and
naturally derived embalming fluids without formaldehyde cure most objections to ground
contamination.
No state or province in North America requires routine embalming of bodies. When
specified by state ordinance (usually within 24 hours of death), mechanical refrigeration
or chilling by using dry ice or some other method can be substituted for embalming. The
goal of cooling is to lower the body's temperature below 36 degrees F, retarding the
microbial growth present during decomposition. Many cultures around the world use no
artificial cooling at all, and bodies are regularly held for several days prior to final
disposition.
Special circumstances such as an extended time between death and burial and
transportation of remains on commercial flights that do not currently permit
unembalmed bodies to travel may necessitate embalming.
The most common embalming fluid is composed of organical chemical and contains a
5-29% formaldehyde, ethanol and water. This solution is technically biodegradable over
time, but it cross-links proteins found in tissue cell membranes; slowing bacterial
decomposition and inhibits the body's breakdown in the earth. The potential for
embalming fluid to contaminate soil or water tables has not been studied thoroughly ...
Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen and can have deleterious health effects for
workers exposed to it in high quantities. It is implicated in cancer, ALS, nervous system
disorders, and other ailments. OSHA can require embalmers to wear respirators if the
Permissible Exposure Limit air exchange allowance is surpassed, which may put funeral
home workers at risk.
Coffins
Natural coffins are made from materials that readily biodegrade. Ideally, the materials
are readily renewable or recycled, with less embodied energy in the production equation.
Coffins (tapered shoulder shape) and caskets (rectangular shape) are made from a
variety of materials. Most of them are not biodegradable. 80-85% of the caskets sold for
burial in North America in 2006 were stamped steel. Solid wood and particle board
(chipboard) coffins with hardwood veneers comprise 10-15% of the sales, with fiberglass
and alternative materials (such as woven fiber) making up the rest. In Australia 85-90%
of coffins are solid wood and particle board.
Most traditional caskets in the UK are made from chipboard covered in a thin veneer.
Handles are usually plastic designed to look like brass. The chipboard requires glue to
stick the wood particles together. Some glues that are used, such as those that contain
formaldehyde, are seen as environmentally unfriendly. There is concern that such glues
will cause pollution when they are burned during cremation or degrading in the ground.
However, not all engineered wood products are produced using formaldehyde glues.
Caskets and coffins are often manufactured using exotic and in some cases endangered
species of wood and designed to prevent decomposition. While there are generally no
restrictions on the type of coffin used, most sites encourage the use of environmentally
friendly coffins made from cardboard or wicker. A simple cotton shroud is another option.
Memorialization
A natural burial ground often utilizes a variety of memorialization techniques that vary
from designer to designer - the prohibition of headstones, tributes, and other common
markers is up to each individual cemetery and its users. Planting trees, shrubs, and
flowers on or near the grave establishes a living memorial and helps create habitat.
Irrigation, pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers may be significantly reduced or
eliminated altogether, in favor of non-toxic and less resource-dependent vegetation
support and control.
Environmental issues with conventional burial
Each year, 22,500 cemeteries across the United States bury approximately:
* 30 million board feet (70,000 m³) of hardwoods (caskets)
* 90,272 tons of steel (caskets)
* 14,000 tons of steel (vaults)
* 2,700 tons of copper and bronze (caskets)
* 1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete (vaults)
* 827,060 US gallons (3,130 m³) of embalming fluid, which most commonly includes formaldehyde.
(Compiled from statistics by Casket and Funeral Association of America, Cremation
Association of North America, Doric Inc., The Rainforest Action Network, and Mary
Woodsen, Pre-Posthumous Society)
REFERENCES:
Green Burials,...Return Naturally
Natural burial - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NEWSWEEK: Options for Green Burials on the Rise - More Americans are choosing to decompose directly into the earth. Aug 26, 2010
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTzQ0GOelHk[/video]
Green Burial
What is a green burial?
Simple and natural. Green burial, or natural burial, ensure the burial site remains as
natural as possible in all respects. Interment of the bodies is done in a bio-degradable
casket, shroud, or a favorite blanket. No embalming fluid, no concrete vaults.
Why have a green burial?
It is clear that nature has intended that our bodies be reunited with the earth. All
organisms that have lived, have died and returned to the soil...only to be recycled into
new life. Constant microbial activity in the soil breaks everything down. Nature creates
no waste. Everything is recycled.
In keeping with your personal values, a natural burial site for you, family, even pets,
promotes growth of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers, in turn bringing birds and other
wildlife to the area. Water is not wasted, nor are pesticides and herbicides used in
attempts to control nature. Instead, a green cemetery allows nature take it's course.
Planting native trees, shrubs and flowers in your loved one's honor promotes habitat
restoration. To encourage land preservation, a green cemetery grants a conservation
easement for the burial site.
The grave does not use a burial vault or outer burial container that prohibits the body's
contact with soil. The grave should be dug to a depth shallow enough to allow microbial
activity similar to that found in composting. Natural burials can take place on both private
land (per regulations) and in any cemetery that will accommodate the vault-free technique.
In a 2007 survey by the AARP, 21 percent of Americans older than 50 said they would
prefer an ecofriendly end-of-life ritual. Nationwide, there are currently 22 cemeteries with
natural burial grounds certified by the Green Burial Council, up from only one in 2006, and
40 states with funeral providers offering green services. Many cite environmental
concerns or significant cost savings as a reason to go green.
Today's funeral industry, which uses embalming (to prevent decay of the body), and
concrete vaults, largely materialized from the desire of a generation of Civil War mothers
to have their sons shipped back home.
Embalming
Embalming's secondary purpose is to temporarily retard decomposition for viewing and
as such it can be deemed inconsistent with the objectives of natural burial. Non-toxic and
naturally derived embalming fluids without formaldehyde cure most objections to ground
contamination.
No state or province in North America requires routine embalming of bodies. When
specified by state ordinance (usually within 24 hours of death), mechanical refrigeration
or chilling by using dry ice or some other method can be substituted for embalming. The
goal of cooling is to lower the body's temperature below 36 degrees F, retarding the
microbial growth present during decomposition. Many cultures around the world use no
artificial cooling at all, and bodies are regularly held for several days prior to final
disposition.
Special circumstances such as an extended time between death and burial and
transportation of remains on commercial flights that do not currently permit
unembalmed bodies to travel may necessitate embalming.
The most common embalming fluid is composed of organical chemical and contains a
5-29% formaldehyde, ethanol and water. This solution is technically biodegradable over
time, but it cross-links proteins found in tissue cell membranes; slowing bacterial
decomposition and inhibits the body's breakdown in the earth. The potential for
embalming fluid to contaminate soil or water tables has not been studied thoroughly ...
Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen and can have deleterious health effects for
workers exposed to it in high quantities. It is implicated in cancer, ALS, nervous system
disorders, and other ailments. OSHA can require embalmers to wear respirators if the
Permissible Exposure Limit air exchange allowance is surpassed, which may put funeral
home workers at risk.
Coffins
Natural coffins are made from materials that readily biodegrade. Ideally, the materials
are readily renewable or recycled, with less embodied energy in the production equation.
Coffins (tapered shoulder shape) and caskets (rectangular shape) are made from a
variety of materials. Most of them are not biodegradable. 80-85% of the caskets sold for
burial in North America in 2006 were stamped steel. Solid wood and particle board
(chipboard) coffins with hardwood veneers comprise 10-15% of the sales, with fiberglass
and alternative materials (such as woven fiber) making up the rest. In Australia 85-90%
of coffins are solid wood and particle board.
Most traditional caskets in the UK are made from chipboard covered in a thin veneer.
Handles are usually plastic designed to look like brass. The chipboard requires glue to
stick the wood particles together. Some glues that are used, such as those that contain
formaldehyde, are seen as environmentally unfriendly. There is concern that such glues
will cause pollution when they are burned during cremation or degrading in the ground.
However, not all engineered wood products are produced using formaldehyde glues.
Caskets and coffins are often manufactured using exotic and in some cases endangered
species of wood and designed to prevent decomposition. While there are generally no
restrictions on the type of coffin used, most sites encourage the use of environmentally
friendly coffins made from cardboard or wicker. A simple cotton shroud is another option.
Memorialization
A natural burial ground often utilizes a variety of memorialization techniques that vary
from designer to designer - the prohibition of headstones, tributes, and other common
markers is up to each individual cemetery and its users. Planting trees, shrubs, and
flowers on or near the grave establishes a living memorial and helps create habitat.
Irrigation, pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers may be significantly reduced or
eliminated altogether, in favor of non-toxic and less resource-dependent vegetation
support and control.
Environmental issues with conventional burial
Each year, 22,500 cemeteries across the United States bury approximately:
* 30 million board feet (70,000 m³) of hardwoods (caskets)
* 90,272 tons of steel (caskets)
* 14,000 tons of steel (vaults)
* 2,700 tons of copper and bronze (caskets)
* 1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete (vaults)
* 827,060 US gallons (3,130 m³) of embalming fluid, which most commonly includes formaldehyde.
(Compiled from statistics by Casket and Funeral Association of America, Cremation
Association of North America, Doric Inc., The Rainforest Action Network, and Mary
Woodsen, Pre-Posthumous Society)
REFERENCES:
Green Burials,...Return Naturally
Natural burial - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NEWSWEEK: Options for Green Burials on the Rise - More Americans are choosing to decompose directly into the earth. Aug 26, 2010
Green Burial
THIS: ......................................OR THIS:
S
I chose the cremation option, because I don’t think there is anything wrong with cremation. But I myself would like to be buried in a nice plain pine box. Since I’m sure my family can’t put me in a tomb. (Just kidding, Ha Ha) After I’m gone I’m sure they will cremate me. Just as long as I’m with Jesus, I don’t think I’ll know the difference. However, the green burial makes sense.
Just an after thought, what about the people that died in a fire? What would you do with the ashes? Put them in a box? Or under a tree?
I think this is one of those questions that will be answered in Heaven, and we will all laugh together at our pondering about it here. God bless, Shekaniah
Just an after thought, what about the people that died in a fire? What would you do with the ashes? Put them in a box? Or under a tree?
I think this is one of those questions that will be answered in Heaven, and we will all laugh together at our pondering about it here. God bless, Shekaniah
Last edited by a moderator:
S
Respecting the body of deceased is very important, at least to us Catholics. We don't have the "Cradle to Grave" reputation for nothing.
But that being said the Church does allow for cremation if the financial circumstances of the family makes it where they can't afford burial (But there are Church owned cemeteries and Catholic cemeteries offer low prices to Catholics) or if there is simply not enough usable land for burial like in Greece.
But that being said the Church does allow for cremation if the financial circumstances of the family makes it where they can't afford burial (But there are Church owned cemeteries and Catholic cemeteries offer low prices to Catholics) or if there is simply not enough usable land for burial like in Greece.
Is cremation 'disrespect'? Is there some significance to a dead body, a burial, a gravestone?
What about respect of nature, conservation, pollution, land use, resource use? This sort of
cremation is not the judgment-type such as Gehenna in scripture. It is a choice, by reason
with forethought -- Logos.
Cradle to grave -->> womb to tomb -->> sperm to worm
Would you care to address what 'resurrection of the dead' and similar concepts in scripture
mean to Catholics?
Uh What?
Got news for ya....after we are dead our souls detach from our bodies. Our physical body is no longer PART of God. That part is already going to where it needs to go.
There is nothing wrong with cremation. I wouldnt do it to my family members for certain reasons but there is nothing unbiblical about it.
Got news for ya....after we are dead our souls detach from our bodies. Our physical body is no longer PART of God. That part is already going to where it needs to go.
There is nothing wrong with cremation. I wouldnt do it to my family members for certain reasons but there is nothing unbiblical about it.
LOOKS LIKE KATHLEEN WAS BUSY (or bored) --- I offer this -- Please add to and comment on:
Green Burial
What is a green burial?
Simple and natural. Green burial, or natural burial, ensure the burial site remains as
natural as possible in all respects. Interment of the bodies is done in a bio-degradable
casket, shroud, or a favorite blanket. No embalming fluid, no concrete vaults.
Why have a green burial?
It is clear that nature has intended that our bodies be reunited with the earth. All
organisms that have lived, have died and returned to the soil...only to be recycled into
new life. Constant microbial activity in the soil breaks everything down. Nature creates
no waste. Everything is recycled.
In keeping with your personal values, a natural burial site for you, family, even pets,
promotes growth of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers, in turn bringing birds and other
wildlife to the area. Water is not wasted, nor are pesticides and herbicides used in
attempts to control nature. Instead, a green cemetery allows nature take it's course.
Planting native trees, shrubs and flowers in your loved one's honor promotes habitat
restoration. To encourage land preservation, a green cemetery grants a conservation
easement for the burial site.
The grave does not use a burial vault or outer burial container that prohibits the body's
contact with soil. The grave should be dug to a depth shallow enough to allow microbial
activity similar to that found in composting. Natural burials can take place on both private
land (per regulations) and in any cemetery that will accommodate the vault-free technique.
In a 2007 survey by the AARP, 21 percent of Americans older than 50 said they would
prefer an ecofriendly end-of-life ritual. Nationwide, there are currently 22 cemeteries with
natural burial grounds certified by the Green Burial Council, up from only one in 2006, and
40 states with funeral providers offering green services. Many cite environmental
concerns or significant cost savings as a reason to go green.
Today's funeral industry, which uses embalming (to prevent decay of the body), and
concrete vaults, largely materialized from the desire of a generation of Civil War mothers
to have their sons shipped back home.
Embalming
Embalming's secondary purpose is to temporarily retard decomposition for viewing and
as such it can be deemed inconsistent with the objectives of natural burial. Non-toxic and
naturally derived embalming fluids without formaldehyde cure most objections to ground
contamination.
No state or province in North America requires routine embalming of bodies. When
specified by state ordinance (usually within 24 hours of death), mechanical refrigeration
or chilling by using dry ice or some other method can be substituted for embalming. The
goal of cooling is to lower the body's temperature below 36 degrees F, retarding the
microbial growth present during decomposition. Many cultures around the world use no
artificial cooling at all, and bodies are regularly held for several days prior to final
disposition.
Special circumstances such as an extended time between death and burial and
transportation of remains on commercial flights that do not currently permit
unembalmed bodies to travel may necessitate embalming.
The most common embalming fluid is composed of organical chemical and contains a
5-29% formaldehyde, ethanol and water. This solution is technically biodegradable over
time, but it cross-links proteins found in tissue cell membranes; slowing bacterial
decomposition and inhibits the body's breakdown in the earth. The potential for
embalming fluid to contaminate soil or water tables has not been studied thoroughly ...
Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen and can have deleterious health effects for
workers exposed to it in high quantities. It is implicated in cancer, ALS, nervous system
disorders, and other ailments. OSHA can require embalmers to wear respirators if the
Permissible Exposure Limit air exchange allowance is surpassed, which may put funeral
home workers at risk.
Coffins
Natural coffins are made from materials that readily biodegrade. Ideally, the materials
are readily renewable or recycled, with less embodied energy in the production equation.
Coffins (tapered shoulder shape) and caskets (rectangular shape) are made from a
variety of materials. Most of them are not biodegradable. 80-85% of the caskets sold for
burial in North America in 2006 were stamped steel. Solid wood and particle board
(chipboard) coffins with hardwood veneers comprise 10-15% of the sales, with fiberglass
and alternative materials (such as woven fiber) making up the rest. In Australia 85-90%
of coffins are solid wood and particle board.
Most traditional caskets in the UK are made from chipboard covered in a thin veneer.
Handles are usually plastic designed to look like brass. The chipboard requires glue to
stick the wood particles together. Some glues that are used, such as those that contain
formaldehyde, are seen as environmentally unfriendly. There is concern that such glues
will cause pollution when they are burned during cremation or degrading in the ground.
However, not all engineered wood products are produced using formaldehyde glues.
Caskets and coffins are often manufactured using exotic and in some cases endangered
species of wood and designed to prevent decomposition. While there are generally no
restrictions on the type of coffin used, most sites encourage the use of environmentally
friendly coffins made from cardboard or wicker. A simple cotton shroud is another option.
Memorialization
A natural burial ground often utilizes a variety of memorialization techniques that vary
from designer to designer - the prohibition of headstones, tributes, and other common
markers is up to each individual cemetery and its users. Planting trees, shrubs, and
flowers on or near the grave establishes a living memorial and helps create habitat.
Irrigation, pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers may be significantly reduced or
eliminated altogether, in favor of non-toxic and less resource-dependent vegetation
support and control.
Environmental issues with conventional burial
Each year, 22,500 cemeteries across the United States bury approximately:
* 30 million board feet (70,000 m³) of hardwoods (caskets)
* 90,272 tons of steel (caskets)
* 14,000 tons of steel (vaults)
* 2,700 tons of copper and bronze (caskets)
* 1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete (vaults)
* 827,060 US gallons (3,130 m³) of embalming fluid, which most commonly includes formaldehyde.
(Compiled from statistics by Casket and Funeral Association of America, Cremation
Association of North America, Doric Inc., The Rainforest Action Network, and Mary
Woodsen, Pre-Posthumous Society)
REFERENCES:
Green Burials,...Return Naturally
Natural burial - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NEWSWEEK: Options for Green Burials on the Rise - More Americans are choosing to decompose directly into the earth. Aug 26, 2010
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTzQ0GOelHk[/video]
Green Burial
What is a green burial?
Simple and natural. Green burial, or natural burial, ensure the burial site remains as
natural as possible in all respects. Interment of the bodies is done in a bio-degradable
casket, shroud, or a favorite blanket. No embalming fluid, no concrete vaults.
Why have a green burial?
It is clear that nature has intended that our bodies be reunited with the earth. All
organisms that have lived, have died and returned to the soil...only to be recycled into
new life. Constant microbial activity in the soil breaks everything down. Nature creates
no waste. Everything is recycled.
In keeping with your personal values, a natural burial site for you, family, even pets,
promotes growth of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers, in turn bringing birds and other
wildlife to the area. Water is not wasted, nor are pesticides and herbicides used in
attempts to control nature. Instead, a green cemetery allows nature take it's course.
Planting native trees, shrubs and flowers in your loved one's honor promotes habitat
restoration. To encourage land preservation, a green cemetery grants a conservation
easement for the burial site.
The grave does not use a burial vault or outer burial container that prohibits the body's
contact with soil. The grave should be dug to a depth shallow enough to allow microbial
activity similar to that found in composting. Natural burials can take place on both private
land (per regulations) and in any cemetery that will accommodate the vault-free technique.
In a 2007 survey by the AARP, 21 percent of Americans older than 50 said they would
prefer an ecofriendly end-of-life ritual. Nationwide, there are currently 22 cemeteries with
natural burial grounds certified by the Green Burial Council, up from only one in 2006, and
40 states with funeral providers offering green services. Many cite environmental
concerns or significant cost savings as a reason to go green.
Today's funeral industry, which uses embalming (to prevent decay of the body), and
concrete vaults, largely materialized from the desire of a generation of Civil War mothers
to have their sons shipped back home.
Embalming
Embalming's secondary purpose is to temporarily retard decomposition for viewing and
as such it can be deemed inconsistent with the objectives of natural burial. Non-toxic and
naturally derived embalming fluids without formaldehyde cure most objections to ground
contamination.
No state or province in North America requires routine embalming of bodies. When
specified by state ordinance (usually within 24 hours of death), mechanical refrigeration
or chilling by using dry ice or some other method can be substituted for embalming. The
goal of cooling is to lower the body's temperature below 36 degrees F, retarding the
microbial growth present during decomposition. Many cultures around the world use no
artificial cooling at all, and bodies are regularly held for several days prior to final
disposition.
Special circumstances such as an extended time between death and burial and
transportation of remains on commercial flights that do not currently permit
unembalmed bodies to travel may necessitate embalming.
The most common embalming fluid is composed of organical chemical and contains a
5-29% formaldehyde, ethanol and water. This solution is technically biodegradable over
time, but it cross-links proteins found in tissue cell membranes; slowing bacterial
decomposition and inhibits the body's breakdown in the earth. The potential for
embalming fluid to contaminate soil or water tables has not been studied thoroughly ...
Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen and can have deleterious health effects for
workers exposed to it in high quantities. It is implicated in cancer, ALS, nervous system
disorders, and other ailments. OSHA can require embalmers to wear respirators if the
Permissible Exposure Limit air exchange allowance is surpassed, which may put funeral
home workers at risk.
Coffins
Natural coffins are made from materials that readily biodegrade. Ideally, the materials
are readily renewable or recycled, with less embodied energy in the production equation.
Coffins (tapered shoulder shape) and caskets (rectangular shape) are made from a
variety of materials. Most of them are not biodegradable. 80-85% of the caskets sold for
burial in North America in 2006 were stamped steel. Solid wood and particle board
(chipboard) coffins with hardwood veneers comprise 10-15% of the sales, with fiberglass
and alternative materials (such as woven fiber) making up the rest. In Australia 85-90%
of coffins are solid wood and particle board.
Most traditional caskets in the UK are made from chipboard covered in a thin veneer.
Handles are usually plastic designed to look like brass. The chipboard requires glue to
stick the wood particles together. Some glues that are used, such as those that contain
formaldehyde, are seen as environmentally unfriendly. There is concern that such glues
will cause pollution when they are burned during cremation or degrading in the ground.
However, not all engineered wood products are produced using formaldehyde glues.
Caskets and coffins are often manufactured using exotic and in some cases endangered
species of wood and designed to prevent decomposition. While there are generally no
restrictions on the type of coffin used, most sites encourage the use of environmentally
friendly coffins made from cardboard or wicker. A simple cotton shroud is another option.
Memorialization
A natural burial ground often utilizes a variety of memorialization techniques that vary
from designer to designer - the prohibition of headstones, tributes, and other common
markers is up to each individual cemetery and its users. Planting trees, shrubs, and
flowers on or near the grave establishes a living memorial and helps create habitat.
Irrigation, pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers may be significantly reduced or
eliminated altogether, in favor of non-toxic and less resource-dependent vegetation
support and control.
Environmental issues with conventional burial
Each year, 22,500 cemeteries across the United States bury approximately:
* 30 million board feet (70,000 m³) of hardwoods (caskets)
* 90,272 tons of steel (caskets)
* 14,000 tons of steel (vaults)
* 2,700 tons of copper and bronze (caskets)
* 1,636,000 tons of reinforced concrete (vaults)
* 827,060 US gallons (3,130 m³) of embalming fluid, which most commonly includes formaldehyde.
(Compiled from statistics by Casket and Funeral Association of America, Cremation
Association of North America, Doric Inc., The Rainforest Action Network, and Mary
Woodsen, Pre-Posthumous Society)
REFERENCES:
Green Burials,...Return Naturally
Natural burial - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NEWSWEEK: Options for Green Burials on the Rise - More Americans are choosing to decompose directly into the earth. Aug 26, 2010
Green Burial
THIS: ......................................OR THIS:
Thats your opinion, ive expressed mines. Evidently we dont agree. No big deal
The reason i say it is no big deal, is because it would APPEAR that in all the threads that i say something is unbiblical on, EVEN if backed by scripture, you still disagree...im beginning to feel like i waste my time trying to explain myself, because it would appear you want to continue doing what your doing, and blinding yourself from allowing me to show you the truth, because of my age. Which also annoys me.
So...
Although there are no DIRECT verses opposing it, there are verses supporting burial. Which is pro-burial.
In the Old Testement, there were alot of burials. MOST of the key people in the Old Testement were buried. It was considered a huge dis-honour in the people in of Isreal, if a proper burial was not given.
Jesus was not cremeated.
Most of the people burned to death were being punished - i realise this is when they are alive, but i feel they are connected.
1 Corinthians 15:35-55
It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
It mentions burial in the bible many times, not cremeation, therefor ..it is not of the bible, it is unbiblical.
So...
Although there are no DIRECT verses opposing it, there are verses supporting burial. Which is pro-burial.
In the Old Testement, there were alot of burials. MOST of the key people in the Old Testement were buried. It was considered a huge dis-honour in the people in of Isreal, if a proper burial was not given.
Jesus was not cremeated.
Most of the people burned to death were being punished - i realise this is when they are alive, but i feel they are connected.
1 Corinthians 15:35-55
It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
It mentions burial in the bible many times, not cremeation, therefor ..it is not of the bible, it is unbiblical.
First off I have interrected with you VERY LITTLE on this site. As a matter of fact this is only the SECOND thread where I have even paid attention to your posts. You aren't showing me anything but your point of view. I am sorry, but I don't see much truth in it.
Also, I have not said one thing abot your age. Why is it that younger people think that we disagree with them because of their age? Has it ever occured to you that just maybe your age has little to do with whether someone agrees with you or not? So, please. Stop playing hte age card. You are the one bringing that up. No one else is.
There is also nothing in the bible that opposes cremation.
Cremation was looked down upon by the early Christian because of it's pagan background, but in today's society it is just another form of removing the body.
As far as what the Old Testement says there are ALOT of customs that happened back then. Christians do not live be laws of the OT. We are in the New Law.
Also, I have not said one thing abot your age. Why is it that younger people think that we disagree with them because of their age? Has it ever occured to you that just maybe your age has little to do with whether someone agrees with you or not? So, please. Stop playing hte age card. You are the one bringing that up. No one else is.
There is also nothing in the bible that opposes cremation.
Cremation was looked down upon by the early Christian because of it's pagan background, but in today's society it is just another form of removing the body.
As far as what the Old Testement says there are ALOT of customs that happened back then. Christians do not live be laws of the OT. We are in the New Law.
This is what i mean...i SPECIFFICALLY said there are no verses that opposes cremetation, BUT that burial IS mentioned frequently in the bible ! i specifically mentioned that! I KNOW there are none that say "you shall not get cremated" but ....on the other hand, burial is a the option used frequently in the bible.
I KNOW there were alot of customs back then. I know jesus came to fulfill the law, that we are no longer in it. Your stating the obvious.
Burial wasnt law. HOWEVER, imo, these laws are placed in the old testement, thats the way God wanted us to live, but we failed to do so. They are reasons God put them in the Old Testement, it still reflects the way God would have wanted us to act. If you fail to see this, then i am wasting my time.
I have given you verses and examples from the bible which support what i am saying.
I KNOW there were alot of customs back then. I know jesus came to fulfill the law, that we are no longer in it. Your stating the obvious.
Burial wasnt law. HOWEVER, imo, these laws are placed in the old testement, thats the way God wanted us to live, but we failed to do so. They are reasons God put them in the Old Testement, it still reflects the way God would have wanted us to act. If you fail to see this, then i am wasting my time.
I have given you verses and examples from the bible which support what i am saying.
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C
Great discussion about a sensitive subject!
I conducted a funeral yesterday for a young man, 45 years, who died from a long term chronic illness. The man had been ill for many years but had been in the death throes for about three weeks. THe family wanted an open casket funeral. At the risk of appearing insensitive, I thought that was a bad choice. The man was very emaciated and looked horrible. This was not due to poor mortuary services, it was simply a reflection of the condition of the body when the man passed.
After the funeral, the funeral director asked me about cremation - wondering if I had a theological opposition to it. I do not! The bible says our bodies will return to the earth - dust to dust and ashes to ashes - the cremation process simply speeds up that process. And, in this case, I think the family and friends would have been spared from seeing their loved on looking so horribly.
Just some of my thoughts!
I conducted a funeral yesterday for a young man, 45 years, who died from a long term chronic illness. The man had been ill for many years but had been in the death throes for about three weeks. THe family wanted an open casket funeral. At the risk of appearing insensitive, I thought that was a bad choice. The man was very emaciated and looked horrible. This was not due to poor mortuary services, it was simply a reflection of the condition of the body when the man passed.
After the funeral, the funeral director asked me about cremation - wondering if I had a theological opposition to it. I do not! The bible says our bodies will return to the earth - dust to dust and ashes to ashes - the cremation process simply speeds up that process. And, in this case, I think the family and friends would have been spared from seeing their loved on looking so horribly.
Just some of my thoughts!
So are you saying I cannot agree with you? Like I said. this is the SECOND thread where I have even paid attention to what you say. I disagree with you. That is fine. I also have a right to state my point of view just as you do.
Just because someone doesn't agree with your opinions doesn't mean that are attacking your age OR your intelligence. I will say that at least you state these are your OPINIONS and you aren't like some who think what you say is fact and that is how it should be. To me, you are opening a "new way" of looking at things from another perspective. Whether I agree with it or not it is something to ponder.
You are a humble young lady and I personally think that is a great quality to have.
Just because someone doesn't agree with your opinions doesn't mean that are attacking your age OR your intelligence. I will say that at least you state these are your OPINIONS and you aren't like some who think what you say is fact and that is how it should be. To me, you are opening a "new way" of looking at things from another perspective. Whether I agree with it or not it is something to ponder.
You are a humble young lady and I personally think that is a great quality to have.
id lyk to be burried,however if id have to be cremated who cares,id be dead anyway,i wouldnt feel a thing,its the spirit that matters,and id be fine cuz i have been bought ba Jesus,if ppl think cremation might affect our ressuruction then wat abt many saints who were burnt alive to death,amsure he has the power to make me a body outa ashes if he can create anything wid his word...well so yeah i don have any problem wid burrial or cremation