Cremation Conclusions 1. Had it been sinful, God would have condemned it just as He did other misguided religious customs. It became fashionable among aristocrats throughout the Roman Empire and was the funeral mode of the Caesars.” “According to Cicero, in Rome, inhumation (burial) was considered the more archaic rite, while the most honoured citizens were most typically cremated–especially upper classes and members of imperial families.”, Hinduism The Americana relates that cremation was first practiced extensively in India, where the custom may have been introduced along with Hinduism during the second millennium before Christ. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. The New Bible Dictionary states that “Cremation was NEVER a Jewish practice.” (p. 172). Life magazine reported that by 2017, one out of two Americans will choose cremation over burial, and stated that “Historically, the U.S. has been a majority Christian nation, and Christianity favors burial for a … The Church once spurned cremation as a pagan practice, and made no official statement regarding the Bishop’s decision. With the spread of Buddhism as a universal religion, cremation also spread into the lands of the Far East.” (Cremation, pg. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28-29. But in our time, we have witnessed a rapid revival of this practice. Burning, accord­ing to pagan belief, prevents the possible return of the ghost, purifies the soul, and wards off evil spirits. The practice of cremation on open fires was introduced to the Western world by the Greeks as early as 1000 bce. The spirit then returns to God who gave it (Eccl. When the body is fairly burnt, convey the spirit to the ancestors. Cremation was foreign, not only to conservative Christianity, but also to western culture. What is the Church’s modern view of cremating the dead, since in the past cremation was considered a pagan practice? And it is frightening to see Americans who in recent years commonly considered cremation wrong, now accept the abominable practice even with the blessing of their church leaders. First, historically cremation of the dead was a pagan practice. The practice of cremation is of ancient origin. In Orthodoxy, cremation is perceived by some a rejection of the dogma of the general resurrection. Cremation is the practice of Hinduism and is not in the Bible or in accordance with the biblical teaching: ... Cremation was always looked upon in pagan times as a method for the soul to escape from. Great respect and care was given to the bodies of the deceased. Why Cremation Is Pagan, Burial Is Christian. Centuries ago, cremation was a pagan practice, and has since been associated with pagan religious beliefs. By the 8th century B.C., it was the predominant practice, as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey tell of the cremation of the bodies of Greek gods Achilles and Hector after death. For this reason, Jews and early Christians avoided it and buried their dead. Holy men and children are exceptions to this funeral mode as Hindus believe holy ones are supposed to have attained a high degree of detachment from the body already in life, so do not need to be cremated. Cremation is the chosen from of release. Yes, cremation is pagan and that is why it was regarded as paganism given that the practice was seen as opposing the Christian belief in the resurrection of the body. The following represent some of the more common nonbiblical reasons given to support the practice of cremation. All the dead will rise on the great Resurrection Day, and even the scattered ashes of those who were cremated will obey the voice of the Almighty when He calls us all to judgment on this great and terrible day! I believe cremation has gotten a bad rap for many reasons. Unfortunately, burning a person on a pyre is illegal and frowned upon these days, so the pyre is probably not an option. Our body and soul belong to God, our Creator. For those who understand the biblical prophecies, this is not surprising. It is a subject that most people would rather avoid, but in recent years it has become quite an issue. Since the body belongs to God, how can one glorify Him in his body at death? Is cremation a pagan practice? Since Agni, their god of fire, is seen as a link between matter and spirit, the seen and unseen, and a messenger between men and gods, dead bodies were disposed by cremation. David and Solomon were buried in the city of David (I Kings 2:10; 11:43). I suspect that was because such a practice was rare—perhaps nearly nonexistent in conser-vative churches. Pagan roots. In recent months, a number of people have asked me if cremation is Scriptural and acceptable to God. Here we see Abraham making provision for the interment of his loved ones. The Church of God (Restoration) also forbids the practice of cremation, believing it to be a pagan practice. Yes, cremation is pagan and that is why it was regarded as paganism given that the practice was seen as opposing the Christian belief in the resurrection of the body. Life magazine reported that by 2017, one out of two Americans will choose cremation over burial, and stated that “Historically, the U.S. has been a majority Christian nation, and Christianity favors burial for a number of reasons. Many felt the body was a burden not letting the soul harness its full potential. It’s impossible to disconnect cremation from paganism and heathenism. of the deceased to immerse the cremated remains in the holy river Ganges, preferably at one of the holy cities of India. Yoga is now an accepted form … Is cremation for the laity only, because it seems that popes, bishops and priests are never cremated? Pagan or Wiccan funerals may take place outside, to acknowledge the importance of nature in Pagan … Cremation Conclusions 1. What made the company's offering more than just another expensive burial plot was what happened afterwards. By the 5th century, the practice of cremation had practically disappeared from Europe. Decisions on how to treat the remains of loved after death ones seem to be largely guided by the culture in which one lives. New Catholic Encyclopedia: “In the course of the early persecutions, the bodies of martyrs were sometimes cremated by their persecutors and the ashes scattered in an indication of contempt. This is not evidence of cremation performed after his son’s death, because in this ritual, the children were burned alive on the pagan altar. 726.) As Chuck Colson said, our worldview determines how we live. In second place, cremation is contrary to funeral liturgy. They were grieving because a close relative (child, sibling, etc.) It is informative to me about the practice of cremation. “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord…whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” Rom. I only hope to have the opportunity to help others understand. Any practice, regardless of its nature, that is contrary to God's Holy Word is to be shunned by all conscientious believers. There is nothing in Scripture that indicates that the modern practice of cremation is inappropriate. 20:14 “If a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.”. Cremation is of heathen origin and therefore is unscriptural and non-Christian. Cremation Is More Economical. This same field later received the remains of Abraham (Gen. 25:9-10), Isaac, Rebekah, Leah (49:30-32), and Jacob (50:13). Hence the Greek and Roman custom of burning the corpse was repugnant to Christian feeling and the sacredness of the body. No hearse, no body, and no entourage to a cemetery. Jainism and Sikhism also strongly prefer cremation. At the time of the cremation a “Puja” (ritual worship) is performed. 15:42). By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. Many felt the body was a burden not letting the soul harness its full potential. The Redemption of the Body Christianity provides for the redemption of the body as well as the soul (Rom. Join over 250,000 others to get the top stories curated daily, plus special offers! Some supporters of cremation claim the Church is the enemy of the crematorium, because incineration is against doctrine. Human burial devel­oped from the belief that the dead rise again. By 395 A.D., cremation was widely practiced, being considered more ‘prestigious’ than traditional burial. Do you want award-winning journalism with a, Black Texas megachurch pastor cuts ties with SBC over seminary presidents’ statement on CRT, 'When Calls the Heart' co-creator gives season 8 sneak peek: Serving up ‘hope, faith, love’, US evangelist hopes to reach millions with Russian, Spanish Christmas livestream, A pastor encounters Jesus amid grief losing 37-y-o son. Hinduism obliges the closest male relative (son, grandson, etc.) Cremation is a subject I have often been asked about in 21 years of ministry. Answer to: Is cremation a Pagan practice? 3). Also, with biblical examples of cremation being indicative of God’s wrath and contempt for sin, surely it would not be a consideration for His children. The first commercial transaction recorded is that of Abraham’s purchase of a burial place: “I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.” Gen. 23:13. The corpse was first washed (Acts 9:37), then anointed (Mark 16: 1), wrapped in linen garments with spices enclosed (John 19:40), and finally the limbs were bound and the face covered with a napkin (John 11:44). This is evidenced in numerous ways; the pagan practice of cremation is one of them. 21:9 “And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.” Lev. As he pointed out, "Christianity has traditionally regarded cremation with — at best — some suspicion. Is this not demeaning to the sanctity and value of the human creation? Paganism and Cremation The New Catholic Encyclopedia men­tions this pagan practice among the Aztecs, Hindus, and Buddhists: “The Aztecs were the first to introduce the burning of corpses in Central America, and from there it spread northward. Members of the Jewish faith often prefer burial to comply with religious beliefs about ownership of the body, the soul’s connection to the human body and the mourning process. Is cremation a pagan practice? So even though it was a practice with origins from pagan people, it was still acceptable to Jesus and His family. The Hope of the Righteous Schaff’s church history declares that “The early church differed from the pagan and even from the Jewish notions by a cheerful and hopeful view of death, and by discarding lamentations, rending of clothes, and all signs of extravagant grief. The practice of cremation does not show reverence and thoughtful care for the bodies of the dead, especially in light of the previous two points. Cremation is a heathen custom, meaning a practice of people who do not have the Bible, or else have rejected its authority. By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. Cremation removes the healing process that takes place naturally through a Christian burial. Every life has a sunrise and a sunset in this world, “for it is appointed unto men once to die.” “All are of the dust, and all turn to dust again” (Eccl. The Encyclopedia Britannica reported, "The pagan Scandinavians favoured cremation, believing that it helped free the spirit from the flesh and also that it kept the dead from harming the living. 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