Christian Views on Cremation

The Christian view of cremation has evolved over time from a total ban on the practice to a general acceptance as an alternative to burial of the body. There are a few basic reasons why people consider cremation instead of burial. The most common reason is that the cost of cremation is less than that of buying a lot in a cemetery and the price of a casket. Christians have no more desire to spend money than anybody else. Ironically, however, the wealthier the person, the more likely they will request to be cremated after they die.

When Christians consider the possibility of cremation they logically look to the Bible for answers. First and foremost, the Bible does not specifically address the question. There is no passage in the Bible that clearly states that bodies must be buried or that it is against God’s will for believers' bodies to be burned after they die. Of course there are also no verses claiming that bodies should be burned, either. Many Biblical scholars will quote scores of Bible verses pointing to how God favors burial, but any concrete conclusion against cremation is unwarranted. There are two good arguments in favor of cremation being a valid option for Christians. One is that some believers die in fires, explosions or other means where their bodies are completely destroyed. There is no reason to believe they are disqualified from entering Heaven. The other reason is that, eventually, all bodies completely decompose and end up no different than if they were burned.