Cremation is the burning of a deceased person’s body, with the ashes either scattered or buried. It is an ancient practice, and in the US, it is done in a crematorium. Cremation is cheaper than burial and seen as more environmentally friendly, but some religions disapprove of it.
Cremation is the act of disposing of the body of a deceased person by burning the remains of the body. In the United States, those who have chosen cremation can request that their ashes be scattered in a place sacred to them, or they can be buried. In some family traditions, the cremated remains of the deceased may be kept by surviving family members.
Cremation is one of the oldest means of disposing of a corpse. Funeral pyres, instead of burial, were a common practice in a number of countries. Vikings who had died could be loaded onto ships with all their belongings. The ship was then fired up and sailed away. In some countries, religious beliefs held that a husband on a pyre should be joined by his surviving wife. Such beliefs are now virtually non-existent.
Cremation in the United States normally takes place in a crematorium. The body is heated to over 2000 degrees F (1093.3 C), essentially reducing the body to very little other than small pieces of bone and jewelry or dental fillings. In most cases, these pieces are separated from the ash remains of the body. The family tends to receive only the ashes.
For some, cremation is the most natural way to dispose of a body. The Bible tells of Ashes to Ashes, and in the Protestant burial ceremony, cremation seemed symbolic of the body returning to ashes and dust. Until recently, the Catholic Church disapproved of cremation, but now it allows it.
There are many Christian sects, and almost all of them Judaic, that do not believe in cremation. The body should return to the earth and should not be associated with more pagan means of disposal. For many, cremation is a highly individual choice and one cannot rely on religious feelings alone in determining how they would like their remains to be treated.
Cremation has gained popularity for several reasons. Many feel that cremation is more environmentally friendly than the embalming practices used in the United States. Many chemicals used in embalming are known toxins. However, there is some evidence that crematoria, where bodies are cremated, produce their own pollutants.
Financially, cremating a body is much cheaper than burial. Burial requires the purchase of a burial site, a coffin, and so on. Cremation can mean simplifying funeral arrangements for family members, something many wish to do so bereaved family members don’t have to be overwhelmed after a loss.
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