In Christianity burial seems to be the preferred way to care for the dead. A fundamental reason for burial in Christianity comes from Deuteronomy 32:43, “And he makes atonement for the land of his people,” this phrase suggest that burial not only honors the dead but is a sort of penance for the living.Another biblical source in which supports burial is when God pronounces to Adam in the Garden of Eden that he may enjoy life “till thou return unto the ground” ,Also when Abraham declares at his wife's,Sarah, interment , to “give me a possession of a burying –place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” (Iserson, Kenneth)
There are several more arguments to why Christians prefer burial as the predominant way to care for their dead. But one big reason is the fact that Jesus was not cremated. Christian's attitudes towards the disposal of a dead body also greatly relies on what type of Christians they are. Mormons, Orthodox and Roman Catholic all disapprove of cremation while the Episcopal Church and other Christian’s denominations like the Methodist and Unitarians allow it.
There are biblical passages infact that suggest cremation to be the right choice for Christians. “In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread till you return to the ground. For dust you are and dust you shall return”. (Genesis 3:19). There are many references in the Bible that support both arguments. That is why Christians don’t have a strict death right like many other religions. Modern society has had a big impact on western Christians aswell . So for Christians, it is not only the religion that sets the standard for death rights but also the expectations, standards and rules of society.
Christians unlike many religions for better or worse support embalming in their death rituals. One of the main reasons why Christians have allowed and even embraced the practice of embalming is due to the Civil War and President Lincoln. Americans,mainly Christan's at the time, wanted their soldiers to be returned home after battle. After an officer and friend of President Lincolns were embalmed, the president allowed embalmers to embalm the soldiers after the battles. This gave American Christians time to prepare funeral services and gather family. After President Lincoln was embalmed and put on display across the nation, American Christians chose to embalm. They saw no religious conflict with body preservation. Embalming is just seen that it would just prolong the inevitable. Catholics have no problem embalming, tho the Vatican has gone back and forth on the topic.
Embalming has been referenced about several times in the bible. In Genesis “And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father” and “forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.” Infact many bible passages contain graphic descriptions of embalming.
It seems that the decision of how to care for the dead usually begins with what the person would have wanted and the religious affiliation of the person. Unfortunately as a society we have decide to start a trend where death is viewed as a "taboo" and the body is taken and removed of quickly.There is no doubt that being in the presence of a dead body can bring deep emotion and spirituality. Having to dispose of a body is the best reminder that it is our fate. It is the only thing we really have.
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There are several more arguments to why Christians prefer burial as the predominant way to care for their dead. But one big reason is the fact that Jesus was not cremated. Christian's attitudes towards the disposal of a dead body also greatly relies on what type of Christians they are. Mormons, Orthodox and Roman Catholic all disapprove of cremation while the Episcopal Church and other Christian’s denominations like the Methodist and Unitarians allow it.
There are biblical passages infact that suggest cremation to be the right choice for Christians. “In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread till you return to the ground. For dust you are and dust you shall return”. (Genesis 3:19). There are many references in the Bible that support both arguments. That is why Christians don’t have a strict death right like many other religions. Modern society has had a big impact on western Christians aswell . So for Christians, it is not only the religion that sets the standard for death rights but also the expectations, standards and rules of society.
Christians unlike many religions for better or worse support embalming in their death rituals. One of the main reasons why Christians have allowed and even embraced the practice of embalming is due to the Civil War and President Lincoln. Americans,mainly Christan's at the time, wanted their soldiers to be returned home after battle. After an officer and friend of President Lincolns were embalmed, the president allowed embalmers to embalm the soldiers after the battles. This gave American Christians time to prepare funeral services and gather family. After President Lincoln was embalmed and put on display across the nation, American Christians chose to embalm. They saw no religious conflict with body preservation. Embalming is just seen that it would just prolong the inevitable. Catholics have no problem embalming, tho the Vatican has gone back and forth on the topic.
Embalming has been referenced about several times in the bible. In Genesis “And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father” and “forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.” Infact many bible passages contain graphic descriptions of embalming.
It seems that the decision of how to care for the dead usually begins with what the person would have wanted and the religious affiliation of the person. Unfortunately as a society we have decide to start a trend where death is viewed as a "taboo" and the body is taken and removed of quickly.There is no doubt that being in the presence of a dead body can bring deep emotion and spirituality. Having to dispose of a body is the best reminder that it is our fate. It is the only thing we really have.
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