Opinions on cremation?

Question

My family doesn't like this idea, but I have always wanted to be cremated when I pass away.

Answer 1

I like the idea. It's actually probably what I will have done...its a lot cheaper.

Answer 2

I think cremation is the most reasonable way to go. It saves your family A LOT of money. You can also be nearer to your family in the afterlife, perhaps on the mantle (anywhere near them) in a nice urn. A coffin is a very expensive box that gets burried next to a lot of other expensive boxes. If buried, your family would have to make a special trip to visit you, and that's only if you could find a site close enough so that they wouldn't be limited to visiting only a few times a year. I think that those are only a few of the down sides. I have the fact I want to be cremated in my living will, as does my fiance. But in the end, it's your body and your decision. It may make others feel uncomfortable, but it is your wish and they should understand that. I would make sure that you have proper documentation (living will) so that your wishes are carried out. It happens all too often where someone who thinks they know best makes all the decisions the way the THEY want to make them. If you want to make sure you get the result that is best for you, make sure you document it in a living will. And maybe explaining your wishes and why would help your family understand a little better. It's your wishes and family is supposed to be understanding. If you explain it hopefully they can respect what you want and be happy knowing that in the end you will be happy.

Answer 3

I have asked to be cremated, also. Although neither burial or cremation is something I want to think about, I just can't imagine being put in a box and placed in the ground. Decay is unappealing to me and since our bodies are the only part of us that remains on the Earth (I believe your soul goes to another place), cremation just sounds better to me. Loved ones can still visit and the cost is so much easier for someone to deal with with cremation.

Answer 4

Hi,
I cannot see how slowly being eaten away by insects can appeal to anyone but obviously it does.

I think it is more the fact that there are always some remains left for people to visit.

And how sick is that standing by a grave talking to a headstone on top of a pile of bones. Or placing flowers there on birthdays and anniversary's.

It is the same as flowers at a funeral, why?
The deceased does not know about them, it is just a 'feel good factor' for the relatives. "look how much I missed him/her", "See how big my bunch of flowers is."

Myself I would like to be burned on a wood pyre and then the ashes scattered. No markers, nothing. I want to live on in folk's memory alone.

In actual fact you have given me an idea. I went to look at 6 acres of woodland today, which I am contemplating buying, I might arrange to have myself cremated in the wood and my wife the same, that would be truly neat. Thankx.

Answer 5

Many religions believe in the physical Resurrection of the body so for them cremation as a choice is not an option. I think its a good idea: cemeteries are a waste of prime land that could be put to other uses.

Answer 6

I see nothing wrong with cremation. My mom wants to be cremated. I might be cremated as well. I don't understand why people want to be buried underground just rotting away. It costs too much money and it's a waste of space. Cremate me and then remember me in your own special way.

Answer 7

My personal feeling is that I do not agree with cremation but I believe everyone has the right to a different opinion. Though the body is not really the whole being, it represented us in the material world. To desecrate it after death just seems not quite right to me. I do not really want to look at my hands and arms right now and know that someday someone will burn them up into ashes. I just guess I feel the natural process of letting the flesh go away naturally just seems better to me. But, I realize it is just a body and we will no longer be in it when we die.

Answer 8

It's really up to you. It is my opinion that it's a good idea. You have two choices when you die (seeing as how you're not going to use your body when you've passed on) you can take up space underneath the ground in a coffin or you can help fertilize a garden with your ashes, or have your ashes spread across a mountain and float away into the air.

sometimes I think that the cemetery is more for the family and friends of the deceased rather than the actually dead person.

Answer 9

Actually, modern cremation is somewhat comparable to the actions of the men of Jabesh-gilead after they rescued the bodies of King Saul and his sons from the Philistines. They took the bodies to “Jabesh and burned them there. Then they took their bones and buried them.” (1 Sam. 31:12, 13) Faithful David did not consider their burning the corpses as shameful. It was part of a respectful disposing of the dead.—2 Sam. 2:4-7.

The early Christians continued the Jewish custom of burial in the earth or in tombs. In addition to the Jewish background of Christianity, a reason for this seems to have been that cremation at that time was associated with paganism such as the immortal-soul teaching. In later centuries the Roman Catholic Church legislated against cremation, thus forbidding by Church Law what was not forbidden by Scripture.

What about Christians today? The fact is that there is no Bible command for or against either burial or cremation. Nor usually does burial instead of cremation help to distinguish true Christians from believers in the pagan idea of an immortal soul; today some of the chief adherents of that unscriptural doctrine are found among churchgoers who normally bury their dead.

Additionally, the Bible plainly shows that it matters not whether a dead body is returned to dust rapidly by fire or gradually by decay. Either way God’s words are true: “For dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Gen. 3:19) It certainly is not as if God needs a mummy in order to resurrect a person. The apostle Paul taught that a person resurrected to heaven will be given a new body, so that he is “changed” from the fleshly body that disintegrated. He showed that ‘God gives to each one a body just as it pleases him.’ (1 Cor. 15:35-49) It will be similar with those resurrected to life on earth in the New Order. God will be able to provide adequate human bodies no matter how their former bodies disintegrated, whether rapidly by fire or slowly by decay.

Answer 10

Good for you. Why use up space on earth which is becoming more and more limited? Why use up natural resources like trees for the coffin when you can expend a fraction of that on being cremated? And it's way cheaper.

Answer 11

Cremation is far better than burial.

Dead people shouldn't own property. Why does a rotting corpse really need to own a plot in the cemetery for the rest of eternity?