Historical approaches to dead bodies

[mindlight]

It seems that Jews liked to be buried rather than burnt and Christians have adopted the same mentality. Part of this is a faith in the resurrection and belief that our bodies will be rebuilt in their glorious form in continuity with what was buried.

But historically a great many Christians have not been buried. Some died in ship wrecks their bodies lost at sea. Plague victims were often thrown into a pit together or burnt in a big pile. The martyrs of Lyon in 177AD were literally torn apart by wild animals and burnt on a red hot iron torture chair and then torn limbs heads and other body parts scattered and mixed up. They were then burnt to ash 6 days later in thrown into the Rhone. The Legate who committed this genocide claimed that he eliminated all possibility of their rebirth or resurrection by the way he handled their corpses. But clearly no Christian really believes these martyrs who died confessing Christ in the worst of circumstances will not be resurrected to glory with Christ.

So if cremated martyrs can be raised why do Christians favour burial. In an increasingly crowded world why is so much space devoted to graveyards. Why do Jews and Christians crowd the Mount of Olives with dead bodies. One wonders who the Messiah will have to step on when he lands!?

In America my understanding there is a strong tradition today of using metal coffins that corrode into the soil and embalming bodies with chemicals that are not exactly eco friendly. So we poison the earth cause like Tutankhamun we want our bodies to be mummified in preparation for the afterlife. One wonders if it is a sort morbid Narcissism to be buried like this with a great big stone sarcophagus placed over us.

What is the historical attitude towards burial and Cremation. Which historical approach is the most Christian and why?

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

Indo-European peoples historically usually favoured cremation - for instance, the Hindus, Romans, Germanic peoples, etc. Semitic peoples tended to bury their dead, though there is some differences there, and it isn't universal. In the 1st century it had become common Jewish practice to allow the body to decompose, and then collect the bones in ossuaries for a family mausoleum.

As Jesus was buried, as well as the Jewish patriarchs and prophets, the early Christians favoured that as well. As a way to differentiate from the Pagans, it is quite effective. You can largely track the evangelisation of the Anglo-Saxons say, by where cremation gives way to inhumation. In the mediaeval period, burials were performed facing the east, as it was expected that the Parousia would occur from that direction - which is the same motivation of crowding the mount of Olives. No one thought the body was necessary, as it was common practice to bury hearts or such at different places than the rest of the body. On account of Jesus' example, and the power ascribed to relics of saints, burial became preferred and cremation discouraged. Concerns like poisoning groundwater or space are far more modern ones that no one back then had. Further, the body was thought sanctified by the sacraments, which would be defiled by burning.

So historically, Christianity has buried their dead; as had Judaism. I would therefore say the more authentically Christian method is burial, especially as cremation had strong Pagan associations in the past. While Pagans thought they harmed Christian resurrection by destroying the body, most Christians didn't think it mattered (aside from folk beliefs, obviously). It was simply the cultural usage, which even helped to solidify your membership of your group even in death. Any christian can do as they like, as far as I am concerned, but cremation came into vogue only as secularism spread - and has been requested as a statement of irreligion in the past.

 

[Hazelelponi]

It seems that Jews liked to be buried rather than burnt and Christians have adopted the same mentality. Part of this is a faith in the resurrection and belief that our bodies will be rebuilt in their glorious form in continuity with what was buried.

But historically a great many Christians have not been buried. Some died in ship wrecks their bodies lost at sea. Plague victims were often thrown into a pit together or burnt in a big pile. The martyrs of Lyon in 177AD were literally torn apart by wild animals and burnt on a red hot iron torture chair and then torn limbs heads and other body parts scattered and mixed up. They were then burnt to ash 6 days later in thrown into the Rhone. The Legate who committed this genocide claimed that he eliminated all possibility of their rebirth or resurrection by the way he handled their corpses. But clearly no Christian really believes these martyrs who died confessing Christ in the worst of circumstances will not be resurrected to glory with Christ.

So if cremated martyrs can be raised why do Christians favour burial. In an increasingly crowded world why is so much space devoted to graveyards. Why do Jews and Christians crowd the Mount of Olives with dead bodies. One wonders who the Messiah will have to step on when he lands!?

In America my understanding there is a strong tradition today of using metal coffins that corrode into the soil and embalming bodies with chemicals that are not exactly eco friendly. So we poison the earth cause like Tutankhamun we want our bodies to be mummified in preparation for the afterlife. One wonders if it is a sort morbid Narcissism to be buried like this with a great big stone sarcophagus placed over us.

What is the historical attitude towards burial and Cremation. Which historical approach is the most Christian and why?

Yeah I think it's just a way of differentiating ones beliefs from others, so Jews and Christians have always traditionally been buried.

I don't think bodies are necessary for resurrection... although some say if you aren't buried your showing a disbelief in the resurrection, I don't buy into that though.

Today, cremation is far less expensive than burial so you'll likely see the poor going that route more often.

 

[mindlight]

Indo-European peoples historically usually favoured cremation - for instance, the Hindus, Romans, Germanic peoples, etc. Semitic peoples tended to bury their dead, though there is some differences there, and it isn't universal. In the 1st century it had become common Jewish practice to allow the body to decompose, and then collect the bones in ossuaries for a family mausoleum.

As Jesus was buried, as well as the Jewish patriarchs and prophets, the early Christians favoured that as well. As a way to differentiate from the Pagans, it is quite effective. You can largely track the evangelisation of the Anglo-Saxons say, by where cremation gives way to inhumation. In the mediaeval period, burials were performed facing the east, as it was expected that the Parousia would occur from that direction - which is the same motivation of crowding the mount of Olives. No one thought the body was necessary, as it was common practice to bury hearts or such at different places than the rest of the body. On account of Jesus' example, and the power ascribed to relics of saints, burial became preferred and cremation discouraged. Concerns like poisoning groundwater or space are far more modern ones that no one back then had. Further, the body was thought sanctified by the sacraments, which would be defiled by burning.

So historically, Christianity has buried their dead; as had Judaism. I would therefore say the more authentically Christian method is burial, especially as cremation had strong Pagan associations in the past. While Pagans thought they harmed Christian resurrection by destroying the body, most Christians didn't think it mattered (aside from folk beliefs, obviously). It was simply the cultural usage, which even helped to solidify your membership of your group even in death. Any christian can do as they like, as far as I am concerned, but cremation came into vogue only as secularism spread - and has been requested as a statement of irreligion in the past.

In Germany today I was shocked to find your grave only last 50 years anyway before they reuse for someone else. You can pay for something more permanent but is rare.

Since martyrs were often burnt to ash yet clearly will be resurrected I do not think it matters. Also the pagan religions are different today the old ones having been displaced by Christians. One pagan position i heard recently is the idea of using your body as fertiliser - a sort of return to nature eco friendly naturalism. Is being buried a distinctively Christian view anymore when it might be confused with the new pagan naturalism?

Whatever we choose should be for the honour of God and good of families that may wish to mourn and remember us.

 

[mindlight]

Yeah I think it's just a way of differentiating ones beliefs from others, so Jews and Christians have always traditionally been buried.

I don't think bodies are necessary for resurrection... although some say if you aren't buried your showing a disbelief in the resurrection, I don't buy into that though.

Today, cremation is far less expensive than burial so you'll likely see the poor going that route more often.

Must admit I would not feel disrespected if my family did not bury me and cut the costs on my funeral and used the money for my kids education or to give them a start in life. Cremation is attractive in that respect. Historically after all the digital and photographic memories are clearer that the words on a gravestone.

 

[Hazelelponi]

Must admit I would not feel disrespected if my family did not bury me and cut the costs on my funeral and used the money for my kids education or to give them a start in life. Cremation is attractive in that respect. Historically after all the digital and photographic memories are clearer that the words on a gravestone.

I'm with you there..

 

[prodromos]

Since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Church has always treated that temple with honor and respect. Cremation does incredible violence to the body. Whatever is left after burning is then smashed up into small enough pieces to pour into the urn.