Whats behind the change in position? The reason most often given is that the Bible does not explicitly prohibit cremation. In fact, unlike Judaism and Islam, treatment of the dead has historically had low priority in Christian teaching.

Is it against Christianity to cremate?

Pentecostal Christians forbid cremation. They hold that bodies must be buried after death; they base this belief on the teachings of early Christian figures. Pentecostals only hold funeral services for those cremated by accident, and they avoid attending funerals if the body has been cremated.

What religion does not believe in cremation?

Of all world religions, Islam is probably the most strongly opposed to cremation. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, there is little diversity of opinion about it. Cremation is considered by Islam to be an unclean practice.

How long does it take to cremate a body?

The average time it takes to cremate a body is from one to three hours, although it can take over five hours. An average body of 150 pounds in a cardboard container averages about two hours. After the cremation, you are left with three to seven pounds of remains that are pasty and white colored.

How long does a body last in a coffin?

If the coffin is sealed in a very wet, heavy clay ground, the body tends to last longer because the air is not getting to the deceased. If the ground is light, dry soil, decomposition is quicker. Generally speaking, a body takes 10 or 15 years to decompose to a skeleton.

Why do we cremate the dead?

Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. They do not constitute a health risk and may be buried, interred in a memorial site, retained by relatives or scattered in various ways.

What happens to hip replacements after cremation?

At some time in our lives we may need to have an operation to replace a joint or have a metal insert to assist the repair of a bone. Often we will die with these metal implants still in our body. We may then be cremated and these metal implants will remain in the ashes following the cremation.

Is it illegal to mix ashes?

Most states do not have any laws prohibiting this, but federal law does prohibit dropping any objects that might injure people or harm property. Cremains themselves are not considered hazardous material, but for obvious safety reasons you should remove the ashes from their container before scattering them by air.

Why is cremation bad?

Cremation requires a lot of fuel, and it results in millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year—enough that some environmentalists are trying to rethink the process.

Where does the soul go after it leaves the body?

“Good and contented souls” are instructed “to depart to the mercy of God.” They leave the body, “flowing as easily as a drop from a waterskin”; are wrapped by angels in a perfumed shroud, and are taken to the “seventh heaven,” where the record is kept. These souls, too, are then returned to their bodies.

How long before a body becomes a skeleton?

In a temperate climate, it usually requires three weeks to several years for a body to completely decompose into a skeleton, depending on factors such as temperature, humidity, presence of insects, and submergence in a substrate such as water.

Can a body be buried without a casket?

Can You Legally Be Buried in the Ground Without a Casket? Laws differ between states, but the majority require that people be buried in a casket. You can also choose to be buried in a simple cloth shroud. Many cemeteries that require burial with a casket also require a burial vault.