When we die why are we buried in coffin?

Question

Why are we not just layed in the ground. Is it just for our family and friends to feel good .Or is there a medical reason

Answer 1

It's a way of being respectful to our "mortal remains."

Rather than just toss the body into a hole in the ground, and then throw dirt right on top of it (which would probably freak-out people there at the cemetery who have loved this individual), the body is buried in a coffin, which seems a more civilized and humane way to go about it.

Answer 2

Primarily it comes from cultural and religious beliefs. Burial as a sign of respect for the deceased or the notion of it helping to bring closure to family and friends is indeed part of this.

Another related issue is the idea that an enclosure (such as a coffin) would help to preserve the body from decay -- this is particularly important to some religions that emphasized an afterlife or immortality.

Egyptian burial involved sarcophagi for wealthy nobles for example -- they believed that their dead would come back and reinhabit their bodies. If if the bodies decayed, then the poor naked spirits would be homeless.

On a related note, if the body was maimed, then the spirits would be forced to live in a maimed body for eternity.

Not all cultures or religions practice burial with coffins. Cultures and religions that emphasize a return of the body to the earth (nature) do not use coffins.

Interestingly the World Health Organization advises burial only for when bodies are known to be carrying infectious diseases.

If you want a huge article about burial in general, check my source article which has tons of other links related to the subject.

Answer 3

Its all about culture and religion.Moslems are put in the ground they dont use coffins.In some cultures bodies are buried in coffins for a few years then dug up and the bones put into a church you can see the crypt of older churchs sometimes full of bones.

Answer 4

I want an endangered specials to eat me,
but some people like the idea of not being worm dinner for as long as possible. In the past rich people had lead-lined coffins,
or even a stone sarcophagus. Its an attempt to deny mortality.

Answer 5

The Pillow certainly serves a objective, some in fact. i be responsive to this because of the fact my Grandfather owned a Morgue. First, while mendacity flat the jaw drops slightly. The pillow is used (like a muscle) under the back neck to prop the jaw in place. Secondly, different than for greater advantageous viewing for the kinfolk, and reminiscent of that of sleep, it takes away the preliminary ask your self of seeing your loved ones member ineffective in a coffin. The pillow will enhance the top basically adequate to be seen at a distance. it is likewise advantageous for those to prefer to kiss their enjoyed ones good night on the brow. unusual - yet real.

Answer 6

Not everybody chooses a coffin. Some people are burned to ashes and their ashes are put in an urn, but we are buried in a coffin for our family and friends to feel better.

Answer 7

I totally agree. The only medical reason I can think of is there is too many of us, which means too many dying to help the ground refill of it's natural nourishment's. I think 50% buried natural and 50% burned, or shot into space like Spock.

Answer 8

Most of the time yes, But some times you get cremated and all your ashes go into a bottle, [Some people wish this before they die], so they can be in there familys home, Even after they passed away.

Answer 9

People were afraid that bugs would eat them and the coffin has just stayed around because of that.

Answer 10

Seeing the corpse of a loved one (especially if they were disfigured, scarred or badly bruised in an accident) and smelling the stench of their rotting flesh would make for a very unsettling funeral service for most people. It could also be a medical reason, if the person died of a contagious disease.