OPINIONS PLEASE! Why Do We Bury The Dead?

Question

I don't understand, it, to me it seem like such a waste of usable space, for nature or for industry. I mean Have you looked at the size of some graveyards and what could be put there instead.

I see nothing wrong with having a wake and funeral sessions, but why bury the body, why not after the session, cremate it, and put it in a beautiful vase or jar. Its economical and saves space.

Thing of the price you are paying for a coffin, thousands and thousands of dollars, for something that is going to go into the ground and and eventually degrade.

I mean its like flushing money down the drain.

Answer 1

It's a tradition that goes back centuries....look at the pyramids.

More and more people are electing to be cremated but tradition is very strong.

Answer 2

If more and more people cremate their dead, then more and more pretty urns and urn display cases and urn pillows and urn trinkets, etc, would be manufactured.

We bury the body because 1) we'd stink up the place otherwise, and 2) it gives people the chance to see the departed one more time to say goodbye. This is a peaceful way.

If someone wants an expensive funeral, so be it. I'm buying my plot right now, and once that's paid off, will purchase my funeral arrangements. Nothing fancy, no airtight coffin, nothing like that. I'll select the cheapest one, 'cause it doesn't bother me to know that worms and insects will eat my insides. Why not? They need food too.

Cremation is a violence upon the body. To bury is to treat the body with the proper respect.

Answer 3

Depends on how it's done. Personally, I wouldn't mind going for the "Green Funeral" where my body will be placed in the earth (not in a coffin) in a wooded reserve. Costs about as much as cremation (though that's not a bad idea either) and gives back to the earth. Fertilizer. ^_^

Doesn't really matter either way though. If a person wishes to spend that much money to bury their dead, then that's their choice. And graveyards aren't exactly wastelands as you are insinuating here... I know plenty of people that go to graveyards in the same way others go to a park. Which, if I assume too much of your statement here, parks would be considered a waste too since they're really not used for anything except for people to go to, sit around and talk, etc...

Answer 4

Hmm.

Just how much ENERGY (fuel-wise) does it take to cremate a body? Isn't THAT a waste of fuel? There's really NO positive output from burning a body. Not like it's used to fuel a power plant or anything. Just burn. Burning pretty much anything is a waste of energy and also a serious source of polution.

ALSO, have you given any thought to the fact that burning bodies means that YOU might be breathing in some body residue? That's kind of gnarly.

Answer 5

I have to agree, but people want to have a place to go see their lost ones and it gives them a sort of "immortality" because they remain (no pun intended) in the ground for such a long time. It also provides a lasting memorial to the family's of the dead and rich family's can "show off" their high dollar head stones and make a religious statement all at the same time!

Personally, I agree that we should do away with them, slowly phase out graveyards and make room for more condo's. ; )

Answer 6

I would rather be fed to the sharks when im gone.No grave,no vase,,nothing.Im gone,sharks are happy and when you want to visit me,just look out across the ocean and there I will be.
It might sound bad,I just dont like the idea of being burried in the ground,or being cremated and put in a jar to stay forever.
Why not put our bodies to one last good cause,like feeding sharks,not at the beach,,way out in the ocean.Or at least donate your organs.

Answer 7

I trust something Jesus says. regardless of each little thing, he's the fact or, in different words, the source of all reality. Christ grew to become into making use of a non secular utility right here. He grew to become into asserting enable the spiritually ineffective bury their ineffective. your organization is to persist with and obey me. In different words, there are extra significant issues to attend to than the issues on the topic of this existence. whilst Christ calls you there are some issues which you will might desire to go away at the back of and enable others gain this as to respond to the call.

Answer 8

You are right.

Humans have always had a hard time letting go.

Catholicism has a concept of treating the body consistent with belief in the resurrection -- e.g., it is considered "wrong" to scatter ashes from cremation.

But if there were a bodily resurrection, I figure god would have to know how to reassemble atoms and molecules to reconstruct those he/she chose to resurrect who had died in nuclear blasts, died at sea, rotted on land, were eaten by a bear, dissolved in acid, or had been dismemebred and bodily parts scattered.

The whole burial thing today seems directed to ensure that people get to church to hear a sermon, to make charitable contributions, to keep the undertakes in business and create jobs for cemetery caretakers. Silly stuff.

Answer 9

I tend to agree with you. Both my wife and I have decided that cremation is the way to go. It costs a lot less and there little fuss or muss. Rather have my wife spend my insurance money on a house or something then bury it.

Answer 10

Death, unfortunately, like Christmas has become big business. However there are those who believe that the body needs to be returned to the earth in the form it is in at death. And that the spirit will take up the body at some point in time. I think they have the understanding that ashes cannot be gathered up as readily.

Answer 11

Exactly....to be honest the continuation of this ritual seems more and more to be reminescent of Ancient Egyptian tombs (like, I realized, not only do we bury them in expensive coffins, but we also dress them in suits and dresses! Expensive clothes that will never be worn by anyone again unless they are really into skeleton-ware!)