The Bible and Cremation

[moniQ]

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

 

[JaumeJ]

We are first created of dust, and we shall return to dust. Nothing is a burden for our Father, Who is truly All Mighty. Come the resurrection all shall be brought back from the dust. Would ashes be a hinderance for the Almighty? I think not. I believe not.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Is there any mention of Cremation in The Bible? I mean, as an option for Christians after death.

None whatsoever. Cremation is a pagan practice. Burial is a Christian practice.

 

[Magenta]

Welcome!

 

[JaumeJ]

It would seem to me that embalming is a pagan practice. Why would any believer of Jesus Yeshua wish to preserve these bodies which are allied to decay along with all the rest of creation? I

Memorializing the flesh is not taught anywheere. Perhaps because Joseph was embalmed many may thing otherwise, however the Children of Israel knew they were goign to take his body to the promised land of the proposed theocracy called Israel.

 

[TDidymas]

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

How to treat the body after death has nothing to do with relationship with God. The Bible mentions burial because it was the easiest and most convenient way to get rid of a dead person, while avoiding the stench and possible disease. At sea the body is wrapped and cast into the sea. In the middle ages bodies were burned sometimes to fend off diseases. But it is very difficult to cremate, as turning a body into ashes requires extreme heat, and needs modern technology to be done in a reasonable amount of time and reliably. In ancient times, bodies were placed into tombs, and some time later when only the bones were left, they were moved into small boxes called ossuaries, to make room for other dead people. In the case of the catacombs, the bones were moved into small holes in the walls.

Cremation may cost up to $4000, depending on where it's done, whereas $2000 is likely reasonable. But it's much less than the average cost of burial. Just to say that if how one is buried is not a teaching in the Bible (which it's not), then I think God really doesn't care how it's done. I'd say that the cheapest way to do it is an act of love for family survivors, on strictly a financial basis. However, if others want a burial plot to visit for sentimental reasons, it probably should be their prerogative. In any case, a will is not the right place to give funeral instructions (in case you were thinking of that).

But if you set up (and pay for) a funeral (i.e. a cremation or a burial) ahead of time, you are relieving the survivors of that burden. But they will have to know about it somehow, like a communication through an executor, or telling them yourself. That way they'll know it's been taken care of. This would be in lieu of life insurance that would cover the funeral cost.

 

[Clayman]

This is the sense I get from talking to some people.

Biblically it doesn't matter, but I think that those who want to be cremated generally show forth a rebellious attitude, what Im meaning is there seems to be a message in the act of the person saying to God, I'm dead and I'm going to stay dead, if you want to resurrect me, then I'm going to make it extremely difficult if not impossible.

Of course everyone is still going to be resurrected, it's no problem for God, so the snub to God is pointless...

Just me personally death is pictured by sleeping in the bible, and we are woken in the resurection, knowing this it seems more natural to just be buried, I know it doesn't matter just seems logical, Abraham bought a field for burial in the promised land, again that sense of wanting to be in the promised land when we are dead/asleep, seems to be tied to our inward heavenly desires, desiring to be clothed in a new body, closer if not readier to be with the Lord.

 

[MsMediator]

This is the sense I get from talking to some people.

Biblically it doesn't matter, but I think that those who want to be cremated generally show forth a rebellious attitude, what Im meaning is there seems to be a message in the act of the person saying to God, I'm dead and I'm going to stay dead, if you want to resurrect me, then I'm going to make it extremely difficult if not impossible.

Of course everyone is still going to be resurrected, it's no problem for God, so the snub to God is pointless...

Just me personally death is pictured by sleeping in the bible, and we are woken in the resurection, knowing this it seems more natural to just be buried, I know it doesn't matter just seems logical, Abraham bought a field for burial in the promised land, again that sense of wanting to be in the promised land when we are dead/asleep, seems to be tied to our inward heavenly desires, desiring to be clothed in a new body, closer if not readier to be with the Lord.

I think it basically comes down to cost and being less of a hassle. If the deceased does not explicitly say what he/she wants in his will, it is easier to cremate rather than "figure out" where the person wants to be buried, etc.

 

[MsMediator]

Cemetaries may not last forever. The government actually demolished a cemetary near me to build.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I think it basically comes down to cost and being less of a hassle. If the deceased does not explicitly say what he/she wants in his will, it is easier to cremate rather than "figure out" where the person wants to be buried, etc.

This is applicable to the general population. For Christians cremation is not an option. It is rooted in pagan practices and beliefs. Ask a Hindu why he believes in cremation.

 

[Moses_Young]

This is applicable to the general population. For Christians cremation is not an option. It is rooted in pagan practices and beliefs. Ask a Hindu why he believes in cremation.

I think burial is better, but surely this is one of those matters best left to the conscience of the individual believer, such as eating meat or refraining from eating meat? The wicked governments of the world make burial extremely expensive, and as another poster indicated, they destroy cemeteries after a period anyway.

 

[John146]

None whatsoever. Cremation is a pagan practice. Burial is a Christian practice.

Can you post the verses for your thoughts?

 

[Seeker47]

I respect everyone's decision.

I've been through a couple of burials lately and it felt like a flock of buzzards were sweeping down from every direction. I'm sure this is not everyone's experience but it has been mine. I have asked for a cardboard box, a coffee can and a nearby river. If he can make me from ashes and dust, I cannot imagine this makes the slightest problem for the Creator God.

 

[Bob-Carabbio]

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

True story: My Mother died, and was cremated as her family always was. Then her Sister died, and was cremated, and then her Sister in Law died and was cremated. Since my father was pretty much the "caretaker" for all of 'em, he wound up will all three urns in the upstairs closet. Just before HE died (and being Roman Catholic, his preference was normal internment) He took all three urns and buried them under one of the apple trees in the back yard. But since there are several apple trees, he neither marked the spot, of let me know which one - SO could be one of the successive owners of Dad's place will get a surprise one of these days. and in the ressurection, the sisters will have a sudden (and unexpected) reunion in the back yard (chuckle).

BUT BIBLICALLY - I don't see any mention of cremation in either a positive or negative light. I'll be cremated (WAY Cheaper, and I already bought the over-priced Urn), and my wife will be interred conventionally. We already bought the cemetery real estate, and her headstone is already there, AND filled out - except for the date of her death (since that hasn't happened yet - duh!!). If I go first, I'll probably be put in her casket, and if SHE goes first, then I'll wind up in my son's closet.

 

[John146]

I believe it's the Church of Christ that believe if the body is cremated then that person cannot be part of the resurrection.

 

[Eli1]

What an interesting topic.
So, we have some people who don’t condemn different methods of handling the body after death and a few who are specific about the methods.
In the East Orthodox Tradition, cremation is frowned upon and most don’t do it. I personally Don’t have an opinion on this but here’s a question for you all: What about the people who freeze themselves after death? Do you have any opinions on that? I’d love to hear from the crowd who doesn’t care about methods especially.

Freezing yourself is THE most expensive way to handle your body after death by the way, and it costs in the neighborhood of 200K.

 

[Seeker47]

What an interesting topic.
So, we have some people who don’t condemn different methods of handling the body after death and a few who are specific about the methods.
In the East Orthodox Tradition, cremation is frowned upon and most don’t do it. I personally Don’t have an opinion on this but here’s a question for you all: What about the people who freeze themselves after death? Do you have any opinions on that? I’d love to hear from the crowd who doesn’t care about methods especially.

Freezing yourself is THE most expensive way to handle your body after death by the way, and it costs in the neighborhood of 200K.

My understanding is that those who freeze themselves do so with the hope of being brought back to physical life sometime in the future. I don't think much comment is needed for that thought.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

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

I’ve never read anything regarding cremation in scripture I’ve wondered the same things but in the end our rental home is scheduled to be demolished and we have a mansion waiting elsewhere

“it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.

There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:44‬ ‭

the natural body is doomed and can’t be saved

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:50‬ ‭KJV‬‬

like I was saying I’ve never read anything about cremation and biblically they used tombs even as far back as Joshua

but I’ve concluded that my flesh and blood is something I’m not going to need later so I stopped worrying about what happens to my dead flesh and started looking towards the spiritual life ahead for us

I don’t think it matters what happens tomorrow dead body if we’re eaten by a shark or bear we aren’t getting buried many things happen to a flesh body that can destroy it completely this isn’t going to affect the persons living spirit they are just currently in a rental home that’s breaking down and is condemned property but the spirit in us has a different home

just my own thoughts but I’ve wondered about that for years finally came to the conclusion my flesh and blood body can’t be saved my spirit can live forever in Christ

 

[Eli1]

My understanding is that those who freeze themselves do so with the hope of being brought back to physical life sometime in the future. I don't think much comment is needed for that thought.

Ah so the intention matters then. But not the act itself.
That concept can take a spin on its own, but I guess this subject is a mystery after all and it’s tied heavily with cultures and traditions.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Can you post the verses for your thoughts?

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.