The benefits of witnessing are largely personal. For some people, being present when the casket takes its final journey into the cremation enclosure is comforting or may be part of their traditions. For others, it may demystify something that they weren't able to be part of in the past.
Many religious groups witness cremations, and families are invited to attend. It is possible for a loved one to say their last goodbyes prior to cremation. Through the window, families can observe the cremation process being conducted by a crematory operator. It is entirely up to you whether or not to take this route.
Can the family observe the cremation? Most crematoria will allow a family member or a couple of family members to witness the coffin being placed into the cremator.
The Eastern Orthodox Church — including the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches — is another faith that is opposed to cremation for its followers. Traditionally this was due to the perceived pagan associations of cremation and the preference for the natural decomposition of the body as per traditional burial.
Cremation Involves Lighting the Body on Fire
One of the most misguided cremation myths is that the body is set on fire. The cremation process uses flames to create extreme heat in a specially designed furnace. During the cremation process, the furnace (also called a retort) reaches temperatures around 1800° F.
Do bodies move during cremation? If a body is burned at a low enough temperature and quickly after death, movements are possible. Because of the efficiency of modern cremation chambers, however, the body immediately begins its dissolution, and movement is unlikely.
What does the Bible say about cremation? According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars. However, some passages describe standard death practices during these times.
For most Christians today, the question of cremation is largely left to individual discretion. Many Christians choose cremation as an alternative to burial, while still retaining those aspects of their traditional funeral practices that allow them to honor the lives of their loved ones and glorify God.
Cremains contain what is known as rest energy, sometimes referred to as free or dormant energy. This type of energy is still subject to the restraints of natural law, and can have no physical or spiritual impact on those around it.
During cremation, the body parts that do burn consist of organs, soft tissue, hair, and skin, while the water in our bodies evaporates. The body parts that do not burn are bone fragments.
The process takes anywhere between three to four hours depending on the power of the retort and the mass of the body inserted. After this step is completed, the cremated bones will come out of the retort and then be processed.
Do bodies sit up during cremation? Because of the cremation chamber's high heat, some bodies go into what's called a pugilistic stance, meaning the elbows, knees, and fists clench from dehydration due to the extreme heat.
A common question that we find in the cremation diamond industry is do ashes have an expiration date? The short answer is they don't; at least not in our lifetime. It would take around one million years for ashes to dissolve since they are made solely of inorganic material.
The most significant environmental concerns with cremation are the amount of energy used and the greenhouse gases produced while the body is being cremated. Cremation releases noxious gases into the air. The by-products include fine soot, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury from dental fillings, and heavy metals.
No matter what a person's preference is, from the Christian perspective, cremation does not prevent one from going to Heaven.
One of the biggest reasons as to why Catholicism has been so against cremation for centuries is due to that very fact: Catholics believe the deceased should be buried in the same was as Jesus Christ, who was laid in a tomb after his death. This is because Catholics believe in the resurrection of the body.
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.
As the temperature reaches 1,400 degrees, the bones turn to a darker black. Once the heat rises to more than 1,470 degrees, the phosphorus and calcium in the bones change to light gray or white, depending on how long they remain at this temperature.
The common misconception about cremation is that it is not possible to have a visitation, wake or more formal services. Visitations are not only allowed before a cremation; they are a popular and appropriate choice for many families.
During the cremation service
Typically, the family will follow the coffin into the venue and be seated at the front. An officiant will lead the cremation service, which usually includes readings, eulogies and music. These can be chosen by the family. Some crematoriums have curtains.
The Regulation does not allow more than one body to be cremated in the same crematory retort at the same time to ensure that the ashes they receive are not a mixture of ashes from different people. It is for this reason that cremation authorities no longer attempt to separate wood ash from human ash.
The body does not feel pain during cremation because the person is no longer alive. When a person dies, their brain stops sending signals to the body. This means that the person cannot feel pain or any other sensation. In fact, a dead person feels nothing at all.
After the cremation process is complete, you receive three to seven pounds of remains that look white and feel soft like ashes. What's returned to you is the person's skeleton. Once you burn off all the water, soft tissues, and cremation container/casket, etc., all that's left is bone.
Once the curtains close at a crematorium, the coffin disappears discreetly from view and is taken away from you. It can also signal the end of the service and the point at which the loved one's coffin is taken by crematorium staff to be cremated.
Cremation occurs at such a hot temperature all micro-organisms are destroyed, and the remaining ashes are inert. After cremation there are no public health risks associated with handling ashes.