Cremation Vs Traditional Burial
When a person dies, their family is faced with an important decision - whether to choose cremation or burial for their loved one.
There are a wide variety of reasons why people opt for cremation and for traditional burial, and it is important to provide some historical background on both methods of disposing of a loved one's remains.
The word cremation is derived from the Latin word "cremo," which means "to burn.
" For many thousands of years, especially during the Stone Age, cremation was the common practice, according to archaeological research.
Cremation was also the preferred method among the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Often, a funeral pyre would be constructed in the battlefield when a soldier was killed in battle in a foreign land, and the soldier's ashes were gathered and sent home to the deceased man's family.
Cremation was introduced by the Greeks to the Western World as early as 1,000 B.
C.
Today, during the cremation procedure, the body of the deceased is placed inside a container and burned in a chamber, with the temperature ranging from 1,400 to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The remains or "ashes" are composed of bone fragments and other elements that are pulverized until they resemble fine sand.
The average weight of the remains is from 4 to 8 pounds, and the whole process usually takes an average of 1-5 hours, depending on the weight of the individual.
Cremation began increasing in popularity in Europe and North America after the development of the first modern cremation chamber by Professor Brunetti of Padua, Italy, in the 1870s.
The first crematorium was later built in the United States in 1876.
During the latter part of the 19th century, the practice of cremation was revived among concerns about potential unsanitary conditions brought about by the increasing number of cemeteries.
However, in 1886, the Roman Catholic Church formally banned cremation and, thus, approved only of traditional burial of the body for Catholics worldwide.
In fact, there are instances as recent as World War II when church members were excommunicated for assisting in the arrangements for cremation.
Changes in religious beliefs, social values, and scientific knowledge has contributed to the popularity of cremation in Europe, the United States and throughout the world.
The Roman Catholic Church has lifted the ban on cremation for its followers.
Thus, although cremation has been available in the United States for 125 years, it was not in widespread use until only 25 years ago.
Today, 1 out of 4 Americans choose cremation over traditional burial.
On the other hand, traditional burial has also been practiced by many cultures for thousands of years.
The ancient Israelites, for example, did not burn the bodies of the dead.
Rather, they placed the remains in sepulchers or tombs, where the bodies were exposed to the air of the tomb and left to decompose naturally.
When only the bones remained, these would be gathered and placed inside a bone box.
The ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife; therefore, they embalmed and buried their dead.
Even the ancient Chinese buried their dead.
Today, burial is the traditional method of disposing of a loved one's body in America and most of the Western World.
However, there were some times in history when cremation became the preferred method in Western countries, as well.
One example was during the Black Death in 1656, wherein to prevent the spread of the disease, many hundreds of thousands of bodies were cremated.
Research indicates that during this time over 60,000 bodies were cremated in Naples, Italy, alone, in the span of one week.
To choose cremation or burial? That is the question.
The choice is a personal one, which will differ according to family traditions, religious beliefs and other factors.
Below are just some of the reasons why families might choose one method of disposing of their loved one's remains over the other.
Why do so many families choose burial over cremation? To answer that question, let us begin with the etymology of the word "cemetery.
" The word is derived from an ancient Greek word which literally means "sleeping place.
" Many cultures believe that death is a type of sleep, and burial is a method of letting a body rest eternally, and allowing the deceased to decompose naturally.
There are other cultures which believe in an afterlife, and they believe that the body must be whole when it reaches the other side.
Another reason people choose burial over cremation is because they value tradition.
Burying the body of a loved one allows family and friends to be able to visit the deceased and pay respects to the dead.
People believe that burial is much more respectful to the body than cremation is.
Finally, although many environmentally conscious people support cremation, there are others who condemn cremation because they believe the procedure produces waste products such as carcinogenic matters, trace metals, toxic fumes such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, and strong acids such as hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acids, all of which can harm the environment.
Why do some families choose cremation over traditional burial? First of all, cremation costs less than embalming and burying a loved one.
In addition, cremation is less time-sensitive than traditional burial.
Cremation can be performed right after death, but a memorial service can be held weeks or even months later - allowing for distant relatives and friends to travel to attend the services.
Cremation also offers a variety of ways of disposing of the remains, including burial, placement in a columbarium niche, or scattering of the ashes according to the wishes of the deceased.
Finally, cremation is more environmentally friendly than burial.
In traditional burial, embalming fluids must be used, which can be toxic to the earth, and many casket and vaults are not biodegradable.
There are many reasons why a person might choose to cremate or bury a loved one, including religious beliefs, family traditions, and the wishes of the deceased in a will.
Choosing how to dispose of a loved one's remains is a very personal decision, and it is important to remember that no matter which method you choose, you have made the right choice.
Most funeral homes offer both services for the convenience of clients.
There are a wide variety of reasons why people opt for cremation and for traditional burial, and it is important to provide some historical background on both methods of disposing of a loved one's remains.
The word cremation is derived from the Latin word "cremo," which means "to burn.
" For many thousands of years, especially during the Stone Age, cremation was the common practice, according to archaeological research.
Cremation was also the preferred method among the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Often, a funeral pyre would be constructed in the battlefield when a soldier was killed in battle in a foreign land, and the soldier's ashes were gathered and sent home to the deceased man's family.
Cremation was introduced by the Greeks to the Western World as early as 1,000 B.
C.
Today, during the cremation procedure, the body of the deceased is placed inside a container and burned in a chamber, with the temperature ranging from 1,400 to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The remains or "ashes" are composed of bone fragments and other elements that are pulverized until they resemble fine sand.
The average weight of the remains is from 4 to 8 pounds, and the whole process usually takes an average of 1-5 hours, depending on the weight of the individual.
Cremation began increasing in popularity in Europe and North America after the development of the first modern cremation chamber by Professor Brunetti of Padua, Italy, in the 1870s.
The first crematorium was later built in the United States in 1876.
During the latter part of the 19th century, the practice of cremation was revived among concerns about potential unsanitary conditions brought about by the increasing number of cemeteries.
However, in 1886, the Roman Catholic Church formally banned cremation and, thus, approved only of traditional burial of the body for Catholics worldwide.
In fact, there are instances as recent as World War II when church members were excommunicated for assisting in the arrangements for cremation.
Changes in religious beliefs, social values, and scientific knowledge has contributed to the popularity of cremation in Europe, the United States and throughout the world.
The Roman Catholic Church has lifted the ban on cremation for its followers.
Thus, although cremation has been available in the United States for 125 years, it was not in widespread use until only 25 years ago.
Today, 1 out of 4 Americans choose cremation over traditional burial.
On the other hand, traditional burial has also been practiced by many cultures for thousands of years.
The ancient Israelites, for example, did not burn the bodies of the dead.
Rather, they placed the remains in sepulchers or tombs, where the bodies were exposed to the air of the tomb and left to decompose naturally.
When only the bones remained, these would be gathered and placed inside a bone box.
The ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife; therefore, they embalmed and buried their dead.
Even the ancient Chinese buried their dead.
Today, burial is the traditional method of disposing of a loved one's body in America and most of the Western World.
However, there were some times in history when cremation became the preferred method in Western countries, as well.
One example was during the Black Death in 1656, wherein to prevent the spread of the disease, many hundreds of thousands of bodies were cremated.
Research indicates that during this time over 60,000 bodies were cremated in Naples, Italy, alone, in the span of one week.
To choose cremation or burial? That is the question.
The choice is a personal one, which will differ according to family traditions, religious beliefs and other factors.
Below are just some of the reasons why families might choose one method of disposing of their loved one's remains over the other.
Why do so many families choose burial over cremation? To answer that question, let us begin with the etymology of the word "cemetery.
" The word is derived from an ancient Greek word which literally means "sleeping place.
" Many cultures believe that death is a type of sleep, and burial is a method of letting a body rest eternally, and allowing the deceased to decompose naturally.
There are other cultures which believe in an afterlife, and they believe that the body must be whole when it reaches the other side.
Another reason people choose burial over cremation is because they value tradition.
Burying the body of a loved one allows family and friends to be able to visit the deceased and pay respects to the dead.
People believe that burial is much more respectful to the body than cremation is.
Finally, although many environmentally conscious people support cremation, there are others who condemn cremation because they believe the procedure produces waste products such as carcinogenic matters, trace metals, toxic fumes such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, and strong acids such as hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acids, all of which can harm the environment.
Why do some families choose cremation over traditional burial? First of all, cremation costs less than embalming and burying a loved one.
In addition, cremation is less time-sensitive than traditional burial.
Cremation can be performed right after death, but a memorial service can be held weeks or even months later - allowing for distant relatives and friends to travel to attend the services.
Cremation also offers a variety of ways of disposing of the remains, including burial, placement in a columbarium niche, or scattering of the ashes according to the wishes of the deceased.
Finally, cremation is more environmentally friendly than burial.
In traditional burial, embalming fluids must be used, which can be toxic to the earth, and many casket and vaults are not biodegradable.
There are many reasons why a person might choose to cremate or bury a loved one, including religious beliefs, family traditions, and the wishes of the deceased in a will.
Choosing how to dispose of a loved one's remains is a very personal decision, and it is important to remember that no matter which method you choose, you have made the right choice.
Most funeral homes offer both services for the convenience of clients.
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