|
|
|||||
|
|
Cremation vs. Traditional Burial—Which Is Better? What is cremation? The word cremation comes from Latin “cremo,” meaning “to burn”—in particular to burn the dead. Temperatures in a crematorium range from about 1400-2100 degrees F. Under these conditions, body and container are almost completely consumed. Remains consist of bone fragments and particles, weighing a total of 4-8 pounds; these are then finely ground. The entire process takes somewhere between 1 and 5 hours. A small portion of the remains is incidentally left inside the cremation chamber and subsequently mingled with the next body to be cremated. A brief history Cremation has been practiced for millennia. Archaeologists believe it was invented during the Stone Age, about 3000 B.C. It became the most common method of disposing of bodies in ancient Greece and Rome, and was introduced to Western world by the Greeks as early as 1000 B.C. Greeks had first used it as a way of providing burial for soldiers—those slain in foreign lands were incinerated on the battlefield; their ashes were then gathered and sent home for funerals attended by family and fellow citizens. The early Christian church initially rejected the practice because of its association with the Pagan societies of Greece and Rome. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and the followers of other religions were exiled or exterminated, burial became the only method of disposing of bodies throughout Europe. Christianity didn’t expressly forbid cremation, but there was concern that cremation would prevent resurrection of the body. Another worry was a shortage of wood—cremation, as done then, required a lot of timber for pyres. Still, cremation found favor in emergencies. During an outbreak of Black Death in 1656, 60,000 bodies were burned in Naples in a single week! An Italian professor, Brunetti, developed the first modern cremation chamber in the 1870s. This invention started a movement toward cremation in Europe and North America. Interest in cremation increased in 1874 when Queen Victoria’s surgeon, Sir Henry Thompson, published his influential book on the subject and helped organize the Cremation Society of England. The first crematorium in the U.S. was built in 1876. In the late 19th century, worry about the unsanitary conditions caused by overflowing cemeteries brought about a revival of cremation. Physicians and sanitary engineers contended that burial in cemeteries saturated the ground with poison. In 1886, the Roman Catholic Church officially banned cremation. As recently as World War II, church members were excommunicated for arranging cremation. Although cremation has now been done in America for about 125 years, it didn’t really take root here until about 25 years ago. Now about 1 in 4 Americans chooses cremation over traditional burial. Cremation gains favor as society becomes more secular. The trend is fueled by changes in not only religious thought, but also social values and even scientific knowledge. The practice has become common in Europe and Asia faster than in the U.S. It is now almost universal in Japan. The Roman Catholic Church has announced that cremation is not prohibited. The Orthodox Jewish religion, however, continues to forbid it. Modern cremations do not use open fires or copious quantities of firewood. Why choose cremation? First, cremation costs a fraction of what embalming and casket burial cost. Regarding religious considerations, fewer people now believe in life after death and give any thought to resurrection. Remains can be scattered in a place of significance, and those left behind can enjoy the peace of knowing their loved one is spending eternity in a special place. Alternatively, remains can be buried in an urn in the family plot; this option, however, significantly reduces the monetary savings. Some people dislike the idea of decaying slowly. Some, too, think that cemeteries are a poor use of land, and that cremation is a more ecological choice. The guiding principle is not tradition but progress. Why choose traditional burial? “Cemetery” has its roots in the ancient Greek for “sleeping place,” a reflection on the belief that death is a type of sleep. The deceased is buried in a casket and left to decompose over time. Some cultures believe that a body must be whole in the afterlife, which rules out cremation. American traditions try to maintain some connection between those still living and those who’ve gone before. Cemeteries, especially in the South, are often places of recreation. Reverence for tradition, family, and community supports traditional burial. In addition, cremation can be an aid to murderers. A cremated body cannot be exhumed and analyzed for evidence. I’ve heard stories—you probably have, too—in which a suspicious death occurs, and a certain member of the family insists upon cremation. It usually turns out that this one family member is a suspect in the death. It is worth noting that cremation produces carcinogenic dioxins, trace metals, hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide. So much for the ecological argument in favor of cremation! What the Bible says Burning of bodies and objects in ancient Israel was reserved mostly for idols and evil material (such as Pagan scrolls), criminals, the disobedient, and enemies. In Exodus 32:20, for example, Moses destroyed the golden calf by burning it. In Joshua 7:15-25, as punishment of the soldiers who looted the city in violation of God’s command, He ordered the thieves to be burned. The New Testament contains few references to burning of bodies, yet fire is used often as a description of hell. In contrast, the burial of many important figures is described in the Bible—both Testaments. To be denied a proper burial was considered a great tragedy and dishonor. Curses often manifested themselves in the cursed being devoured by wild animals—in other words, not having a proper burial. Paul says in I Corinthians 15:35-44 that God will raise the decomposed body of a believer, which perhaps has been interpreted as meaning that the cremated body will not be raised. Over the history of the church, burning was usually reserved for witches and other heretics. While well-meaning people may have been overzealous in this practice, it is historically significant that fire was reserved for undesirables. Is there a better choice than cremation or burial? The tradition of burial has come a long way from its humble beginnings. As burial is carried out now, human remains are far removed from the natural processes that would return us to the earth. Modern U.S. cemeteries are designed to ensure our perpetuity in the flesh. Caskets are made of impenetrable materials and spaced closely (to maximize land use). Wood caskets buried in earth have been known to remain intact for centuries. Considering that most are now made of steel or fiberglass and enclosed in concrete, they could last virtually forever. This should not appeal to the ecologically minded. What’s the alternative? The British have come up with a better idea—Nature Reserve Burial Grounds. Here, people are buried ecologically—in a biodegradable container of flax, cork, cardboard, or recycled materials. Many of these “green” cemeteries double as habitats for endangered creatures. In the United States, it is generally legal to bury human remains on one’s own rural land. Cost-wise, this plan could prove comparable to the purchase of a cemetery plot (and the property can be enjoyed during the owner’s lifetime). Conclusion The trend toward cremation may be progress of the wrong type. Given the air pollution it produces, the ecological argument doesn’t hold up well. As far as economy is concerned, “green” burial, whether on private land or in a cemetery designated as such, is at least as good a choice. Economy and ecology aside, humans need their traditions. In my close-knit community, with its rich Gold Rush Era history, the local newspaper once carried a front-page story about extensive vandalism to a number of our town’s cemeteries. Such an act clearly indicates a disturbing lack of respect on the part of a small number of individuals for the deceased and their families. Yet, the front-page coverage, the ongoing investigation, the growing reward for information in the case, the series of letters to the editor, the way the community pulled together to repair the damage—all attest to the outrage that people feel when tradition is dishonored. Places are important to all of us, and not the least of these is a place to grieve. Cremation (sans burial) deprives us of such a place. Cemeteries—traditional or the modern “green” version—provide us with those important places where people can gather to remember, to show respect, to connect with our past, to contemplate our place in history. Progress can be good, but it’s bad when it disconnects us from our roots. Why hasn’t the “green cemetery” idea caught on in the United States? I’d like to see it happen!
This article was posted on November 07, 2005
|
||||
