Why do we bury caskets?

Question

They are the most expensive piece of furniture in our life...and could be re-used, many many times.

We re-use forks, after washing them. We re-use sox, after laundering them. Why not slip the corpse into a bag and then re-use the casket?

It seems such a waste, if you don't mind my asking.

Why are we so weird when it comes to death?
.

Answer 1

I think we are waaaay too uptight about death. I will leave it up to my relatives and what makes them feel the best, but once I'm gone, I could care less what happens to my body.

I think that the choice of a casket, the funeral, graveside service, etc. all is just a way to show how we respected and loved someone who is gone.

When making the choices for my dad's final services...I wasn't thinking about what he would want (because he's dead and doesn't care) or what others would think. I approached it more as this is the last time I will be able to do something for him and choosing pretty words and a pretty box was all I had left before saying goodbye.

I also think that funeral homes/directors take a nasty advantage of people who are grieving and tend to try to make a family feel like they don't care enough if they don't spend huge amounts of money.

Answer 2

It's about respecting the dead, and protecting the bodies (Though that's a little old fashioned, I doubt there are many more wolves that will dig up the grave). The Romans used to put money on the dead person's tongue to pay for passage into the underworld, and I'm sure you know all about Pharoah's tombs. Wouldn't you prefer a dignified funeral and burial, instead of being shoved in a garbage bag and tossed into the ground?

Answer 3

I'm not sure how you'd reuse a casket. Are you suggesting we use the casket to transport the body to the gravesite then just dump it in and take the casket back to the funeral home?

I think we are just trying to keep the worms out of our loved one's corpses. Yeah, they'rre gonna rot away to dust, but no worms in a well-sealed steel casket.

Personally. I think we should all be creamated and then our ashes mixed in with fireworks so our freinds and loved ones can have a great party to say goodbye in style. That's be cool. No casket required.

Good Luck!

;o)

Answer 4

There is a lot of tradition associated with death, and a lot of emotion as well.

I have heard that some mortuary employees try to use guilt to convince the bereaved relatives to buy expensive caskets. I specifically told my son to get the cheapest box he can find. What difference does it make what it looks like or what kind of wood it is after it's in the ground?

Answer 5

People have the need to feel like a loved one is 'at peace and resting'. The thought of a mother, brother etc being tossed into the ground in a bag could be devestating to those who are still living. It is a way to leave the world in a dignified way in our cultures. Many other cultures burn there dead in the open (pyres) or lay them to rest in trees so they can reach their destinations. Our society has cultured itself to believe in life eternal and our resting circumstances are important for healing and our mental well being as survivors. Death is a mystery to us and we try to make it as human as possible (not scientific like it is), that is why, I believe we do these things.