While no major religion only allows cremation as there are always exceptions (like infants/saints in Hinduism), Hinduism is the faith most strongly associated with it, seeing it as essential for releasing the soul for reincarnation, with almost all adults being cremated, except for very young children, saints, or yogis, who are typically buried. Buddhism, following the Buddha's own cremation, also widely practices it, though burial is permitted.
Like Buddhists and Hindus, Sikhs have a preference for cremation over burial. There is no link between the physical body and the soul in the Sikh religion, and the deceased's cremated remains are traditionally scattered over a river.
The answer to this question is yes; cremations are allowed. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe you need a physical body to be resurrected. As such, there are no strict rules that state that Jehovah's Witnesses need to be buried. So, the choice of whether to have a cremation or burial is down to the family's preference.
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.
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.
The early Church strongly opposed cremation. Burial mirrored the burial of Christ and expressed hope in the resurrection of the person. Christians buried their dead as a public statement of faith, in contrast to pagan practices of cremation.
Cremation and the Resurrection Debate
Many believe that cremation prevents the resurrection of the body, but this is not a biblical teaching. The resurrection focuses on the soul and spiritual body rather than the physical remains.
The first example of cremation is that of Achan, described in Joshua 7. The Lord had explicitly instructed the Israelites that they were not to take spoil for themselves from the city which had just been conquered, but Achan took and hid expensive clothing, gold, and silver.
It's important to note that there are no explicit verses addressing cremation or the keeping of ashes.
Benefits of Cremation
Cremation is generally more budget-friendly than traditional burial. It eliminates the need for expensive caskets, embalming, and cemetery plots. Cremation has a smaller ecological footprint compared to traditional burial, as it requires less land and doesn't involve embalming fluids.
The body is seen as a vessel that contains the soul, and when the body is cremated, it is believed that the soul is released from the body and can move on to the next life. Cremation is also seen as a way to purify the body and make it ready for reincarnation.
The denomination requires adherence to a strict moral code, which forbids premarital sex, homosexuality, gender transitioning, adultery, smoking, drunkenness and drug abuse, and blood transfusions.
There are many overlaps between what to wear for a Jehovah's Witness funeral and other religions. Generally speaking, formal wear is best, and darker colours are common. You could wear a suit and tie, or dresses/skirts that are not too revealing.
The body no matter where it goes when you die whether it's cremated or in a grave, it don't go to heaven with you, your spirit does. But when Jesus comes back we will have have resurrected bodies, so no that doesn't send you to hell.
Of the 195 countries in the world, Japan is by far the country where people are most likely to be cremated. It makes sense given that the country is an island that's a little smaller than California with 80% of the land being mountainous. In other words, there isn't much space for burial sites.
Religious rulings on cremation in Islam
The body is considered a creation of God, deserving dignity and reverence even in death. Respect for God's creation: The human body is seen as a creation of God, deserving of dignity and respect in life and death. Cremation is viewed as a form of desecration.
Or when Jesus says that if the miracles performed in Chorazin and Bethsaida had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, “they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.” (Luke 10:13) Ashes show the acknowledgement of destruction.
This is because the high heat used to cremate the body is hot enough to kill bacteria and rapidly break down any substances that would decompose naturally over time. Therefore, you can keep cremated remains as long as you'd like.
By many, cremation is considered to be more environmentally friendly than burial. Burial often uses harsh chemicals to embalm the remains for a funeral service. This has led many people to believe that these chemicals can seep into the ground where it contaminates the soil and water.
How much do ashes weigh after cremation? As a general rule, ashes following cremation will weigh between 4 and 6 pounds, or around 3.5% of the person's original weight. In the case of children, ashes weigh about 2.5% of the original body weight.
Follows Religious Requirements
Another big reason why burial is chosen over cremation is due to religious beliefs. For Christian families, the concept of resurrection of the body is deeply held by many and makes burial an act of religious ceremony.
The Jewish people never cremated their dead; indeed, the idea horrified them, for they believed in the resurrection of the body. Cemeteries were required to be at least fifty yards outside of any town or village. The typical tombs of Jesus' day were a kind of cave or excavation cut into a rocky cliff.
While Christian tradition clearly favors burial, the Bible nowhere explicitly condemns cremation. Evangelist Billy Graham has noted (what Christians have always believed) that cremation cannot prevent a sovereign God from calling forth the dead at the end of time.
Cremation doesn't affect the body in such a way that it is beyond the reach of God's resurrecting power. Just as in cases of martyrdom, amputation, or the like, God can raise a body from the ashes.
The current legal alternatives to cremation in the United States are burial, alkaline hydrolysis, and terramation.