Cremation's Rise in Popularity
Introduction. Since the 1960's, attitudes toward cremation in the United States have changed drastically. In 1960, cremation made up about 3.5% of all funerals in the US. This year (2024) it has increased to 61% and is projected to be over 80% by 2045. In Nevada, Oregon and Washington, cremation is over 80% of all funerals. That is an amazing change in attitude over a very short time.
Reasons cited are lower costs, less impact on the environment, and a movement away from religion. Religion doesn’t appear to be a true reason though, since the Catholic church removed its prohibition against cremation in 1963, although they still demand the ashes be buried. The general view of most “religious people” in America is that this is a personal decision left to each family to decide. So a movement away from religion may only be wishful thinking.
What do the Scriptures actually say? There are strong feelings and opinions, but what has God revealed about His feelings and His will toward this practice? Does the custom of burial and thus our feelings about it arise from a “manner of life handed down from your fathers” or is it a tradition which came from Scripture? Should Christians oppose, preach against, or discourage cremation? Should they be told to accept it and even begin practicing it? The key to this discussion hinges on the body at death. Since God defined and explained it at the very beginning, we must start there.
God revealed that life began when “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Yet God also warned them: “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Both life and death were revealed to Adam and Eve in their very first week of life. By rebelling against God, they chose to experience the penalty of death. At death, all “return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” God also revealed: “The dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it,” and “all are from the dust, and all return to dust." (Gen. 2:7, 17; 3:19; Ecc. 12:7; 3:20).
At the moment of death the soul returns to God by entering Hades. At that moment, “the body without the spirit is dead.” (Jas. 2:26). This lifeless body, now dead, immediately begins the process of returning to “the dust,” “the ground,” and “to the earth as it was.” As God's children, we must seek to learn what God has revealed about this moment. Those who loved one whose spirit is now with God want to do the most honorable, respectful and pleasing method to allow the body to return to dust.
There is no doubt that God accepted burial as a way to respectfully allow a dead body to return to the earth. God promised Abraham “Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. (Gen. 15:15). When Sarah died, Abraham immediately sought a place to bury her. He said “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” (Gen. 23:4). After purchasing the cave of Machpelah, Abraham buried Sarah there. Later, Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham; Jacob and Esau buried Isaac and Rebekah; and Joseph and his brothers buried Jacob, all in that same cave. (Gen. 25:8-9; 35:29; 49:30-31; 50:24-26). In the Exodus and wilderness wandering, those who died in the plague, Miriam, Aaron and Moses were all buried. (Num. 11:32; 20:1; Deut. 10:6)
After Moses died, God chose to “bury him” in a “grave.” “So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.” (Deut. 34:5-6). Since God could choose any method, the fact that He chose burial is important. At the least it proves that this is an acceptable method. Yet many feel that since God did it this way, they will too.
The remainder of the Scriptures continue to show burial was Israel’s custom. Joseph’s bones were buried, as were Eleazar’s, Joshua’s, and Samuel’s. (Josh. 20:20-33; Judg. 2:9; 1Sam. 25:1). David, Solomon and most of the kings that followed were also buried. The phrase “rested with His fathers and was buried” is used over twenty times in 1st and 2nd Kings. In the NT, John the Baptist, Lazarus, and Jesus were buried (Mt. 14:12; Jn. 11:17; Jn. 19:40-42), as were Ananias and Saphira and the rich man in Jesus’ parable. (Acts 5:1-11; Lk. 16:22). Jesus also said: “all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth.” (Jn. 5:28-29). For centuries, these truths strongly influenced Jesus’ disciples to bury their own dead out of their sight as Abraham did with Sarah. They also chose to bury them as God did with Moses, so that they would be in a grave.
Jesus did not mean those without a tomb could not be raised. Nothing limits God’s power! Who could believe that if Paul “gave his body to be burned” and was never buried by his persecutors (a common practice in that age to instill fear) that God could not raise him? Though never buried, all who died at sea will be found. “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged.” All spirits who returned to God regardless of what happened to their body will be raised. (1Cor. 13:3; Rev. 20:13)
Another element that has strongly influenced Christians is the resurrection. The Holy Spirit spoke of the resurrection in terms of a burial. He compared the resurrection of our body with sowing seed (burying seed in the ground). When asked “How are the dead raised up, the Holy Spirit immediately answered: “what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.” The resurrection is tied again and again to the fleshly body being sown (buried) and a spiritual body being raised.
Though this evidence points toward a burial, it doesn’t address the burial itself. The truth that cremation simply speeds up the process of the body returning to dust must not be overlooked. It does not hinder it and after it is completed, the body can still be buried and will in truth be returned to the ground and the earth. So nothing in God’s plan for death is affected by cremation.
Actually, there were several variations in the methods of burial. Jacob was embalmed after the custom of the Egyptians (which was tied to their idolatry, and also slowed down the body’s return to dust). Yet, there was no word of condemnation. At Joseph’s death, “they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.” His body was then left unburied for centuries until Israel returned to Canaan. Yet nothing is said about this practice being evil. It was simply accepted that as long as the body was buried, the preparations and time frame were unimportant.
There is only one clear example of cremation. When the Philistines killed King Saul and his sons, they left them unburied, hanging Saul’s body on the wall. When the inhabitants of Jabesh learned this, they traveled all night to show respect for the dead. Yet, without any explanation, they brought them back to Jabesh Gilead where they first burned the bodies and then buried them.
When we carefully consider these words what conclusions must be drawn? “They took the bodies to Jabesh...” “...and burned them there.” “They took their bones and buried them.” This was clearly an act of cremation. It was not done at the site of their death, but over 20 miles away. When David heard what they had done he said: “You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.” (2Sam. 2:4-5). David was no more shocked at this form of preparation, than Jacob or Joseph were with embalming. He did not see it as a heathen practice. If there were something evil about cremation, the Holy Spirit could have used this example to condemn it. David would have expressed his dismay if it was a desecration.
This creates the dilemma. Israel generally buried their dead, but under certain circumstances saw nothing wrong with either embalming or cremating the body before the burial. Many Gentile nations practiced cremation in various forms, some in time of war and pestilence, others as a general practice. Generally after a cremation, a burial occurred so nothing changed except the time it took to return to the dust. Greeks and Romans cremated soldiers in order to bring the body home. With so many Gentile nations practicing this, it is difficult to explain why there is no condemnation in the NT if it were evil or something God did not want done.
Conclusion. After reading many articles and considering many viewpoints along with carefully considering everything written in the Bible, it is still a difficult decision since in spite of strong feelings to the contrary, there just isn't any way to prove cremation is wrong.
For those raised in the culture where 96.5% were buried (those born before 1970), there is still a strong sense of propriety for a burial to show respect to the dead. Yet, others, raised in the changing culture of America where less than 50% are buried (those born after 1970), feel that cremation is also a fitting way to show respect, with the added benefit of not leaving a family with an added financial burden.
If the body of the cremated person is buried, the cremation can be understood as a simple preparation for burial. Scattering the ashes is a little more problematic. But many have even accepted this practice. In the end, the best conclusion appears to be that cremation would fit into the same context as those things listed in Romans 14. Although speaking of food, the principle is the same for all doubtful things.
Reasons cited are lower costs, less impact on the environment, and a movement away from religion. Religion doesn’t appear to be a true reason though, since the Catholic church removed its prohibition against cremation in 1963, although they still demand the ashes be buried. The general view of most “religious people” in America is that this is a personal decision left to each family to decide. So a movement away from religion may only be wishful thinking.
What do the Scriptures actually say? There are strong feelings and opinions, but what has God revealed about His feelings and His will toward this practice? Does the custom of burial and thus our feelings about it arise from a “manner of life handed down from your fathers” or is it a tradition which came from Scripture? Should Christians oppose, preach against, or discourage cremation? Should they be told to accept it and even begin practicing it? The key to this discussion hinges on the body at death. Since God defined and explained it at the very beginning, we must start there.
God revealed that life began when “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Yet God also warned them: “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Both life and death were revealed to Adam and Eve in their very first week of life. By rebelling against God, they chose to experience the penalty of death. At death, all “return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” God also revealed: “The dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it,” and “all are from the dust, and all return to dust." (Gen. 2:7, 17; 3:19; Ecc. 12:7; 3:20).
At the moment of death the soul returns to God by entering Hades. At that moment, “the body without the spirit is dead.” (Jas. 2:26). This lifeless body, now dead, immediately begins the process of returning to “the dust,” “the ground,” and “to the earth as it was.” As God's children, we must seek to learn what God has revealed about this moment. Those who loved one whose spirit is now with God want to do the most honorable, respectful and pleasing method to allow the body to return to dust.
There is no doubt that God accepted burial as a way to respectfully allow a dead body to return to the earth. God promised Abraham “Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. (Gen. 15:15). When Sarah died, Abraham immediately sought a place to bury her. He said “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” (Gen. 23:4). After purchasing the cave of Machpelah, Abraham buried Sarah there. Later, Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham; Jacob and Esau buried Isaac and Rebekah; and Joseph and his brothers buried Jacob, all in that same cave. (Gen. 25:8-9; 35:29; 49:30-31; 50:24-26). In the Exodus and wilderness wandering, those who died in the plague, Miriam, Aaron and Moses were all buried. (Num. 11:32; 20:1; Deut. 10:6)
After Moses died, God chose to “bury him” in a “grave.” “So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.” (Deut. 34:5-6). Since God could choose any method, the fact that He chose burial is important. At the least it proves that this is an acceptable method. Yet many feel that since God did it this way, they will too.
The remainder of the Scriptures continue to show burial was Israel’s custom. Joseph’s bones were buried, as were Eleazar’s, Joshua’s, and Samuel’s. (Josh. 20:20-33; Judg. 2:9; 1Sam. 25:1). David, Solomon and most of the kings that followed were also buried. The phrase “rested with His fathers and was buried” is used over twenty times in 1st and 2nd Kings. In the NT, John the Baptist, Lazarus, and Jesus were buried (Mt. 14:12; Jn. 11:17; Jn. 19:40-42), as were Ananias and Saphira and the rich man in Jesus’ parable. (Acts 5:1-11; Lk. 16:22). Jesus also said: “all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth.” (Jn. 5:28-29). For centuries, these truths strongly influenced Jesus’ disciples to bury their own dead out of their sight as Abraham did with Sarah. They also chose to bury them as God did with Moses, so that they would be in a grave.
Jesus did not mean those without a tomb could not be raised. Nothing limits God’s power! Who could believe that if Paul “gave his body to be burned” and was never buried by his persecutors (a common practice in that age to instill fear) that God could not raise him? Though never buried, all who died at sea will be found. “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged.” All spirits who returned to God regardless of what happened to their body will be raised. (1Cor. 13:3; Rev. 20:13)
Another element that has strongly influenced Christians is the resurrection. The Holy Spirit spoke of the resurrection in terms of a burial. He compared the resurrection of our body with sowing seed (burying seed in the ground). When asked “How are the dead raised up, the Holy Spirit immediately answered: “what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.” The resurrection is tied again and again to the fleshly body being sown (buried) and a spiritual body being raised.
- The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1Cor. 15:35-44).
Though this evidence points toward a burial, it doesn’t address the burial itself. The truth that cremation simply speeds up the process of the body returning to dust must not be overlooked. It does not hinder it and after it is completed, the body can still be buried and will in truth be returned to the ground and the earth. So nothing in God’s plan for death is affected by cremation.
Actually, there were several variations in the methods of burial. Jacob was embalmed after the custom of the Egyptians (which was tied to their idolatry, and also slowed down the body’s return to dust). Yet, there was no word of condemnation. At Joseph’s death, “they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.” His body was then left unburied for centuries until Israel returned to Canaan. Yet nothing is said about this practice being evil. It was simply accepted that as long as the body was buried, the preparations and time frame were unimportant.
There is only one clear example of cremation. When the Philistines killed King Saul and his sons, they left them unburied, hanging Saul’s body on the wall. When the inhabitants of Jabesh learned this, they traveled all night to show respect for the dead. Yet, without any explanation, they brought them back to Jabesh Gilead where they first burned the bodies and then buried them.
- Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (1Sam. 31:11-13)
When we carefully consider these words what conclusions must be drawn? “They took the bodies to Jabesh...” “...and burned them there.” “They took their bones and buried them.” This was clearly an act of cremation. It was not done at the site of their death, but over 20 miles away. When David heard what they had done he said: “You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.” (2Sam. 2:4-5). David was no more shocked at this form of preparation, than Jacob or Joseph were with embalming. He did not see it as a heathen practice. If there were something evil about cremation, the Holy Spirit could have used this example to condemn it. David would have expressed his dismay if it was a desecration.
This creates the dilemma. Israel generally buried their dead, but under certain circumstances saw nothing wrong with either embalming or cremating the body before the burial. Many Gentile nations practiced cremation in various forms, some in time of war and pestilence, others as a general practice. Generally after a cremation, a burial occurred so nothing changed except the time it took to return to the dust. Greeks and Romans cremated soldiers in order to bring the body home. With so many Gentile nations practicing this, it is difficult to explain why there is no condemnation in the NT if it were evil or something God did not want done.
Conclusion. After reading many articles and considering many viewpoints along with carefully considering everything written in the Bible, it is still a difficult decision since in spite of strong feelings to the contrary, there just isn't any way to prove cremation is wrong.
For those raised in the culture where 96.5% were buried (those born before 1970), there is still a strong sense of propriety for a burial to show respect to the dead. Yet, others, raised in the changing culture of America where less than 50% are buried (those born after 1970), feel that cremation is also a fitting way to show respect, with the added benefit of not leaving a family with an added financial burden.
If the body of the cremated person is buried, the cremation can be understood as a simple preparation for burial. Scattering the ashes is a little more problematic. But many have even accepted this practice. In the end, the best conclusion appears to be that cremation would fit into the same context as those things listed in Romans 14. Although speaking of food, the principle is the same for all doubtful things.
- For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls.(Rom. 14:2-4)