by George McNaughton
Member since:
April 30, 2006

Why Is Cremation Frowned Upon?

October 05, 2007 10:11 PM EDT
views: 137 | comments: 16
There is a doctrine or policy of the Church that I have never understood.  The Church frowns upon cremation of human remains except where it is mandated by law.  If a Church member is to be cremated they are to be dressed in their Temple clothes for the cremation.  I can understand that, but I do not understand the distaste for cremation.  Anyone have an answer?
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Comments: 16

My guess is that it likely has something to do with desicration of a persons remains.
Ann J. Oct 5, 2007, 10:19pm EDT
Perhaps because cremation ( FIRE) is accoiated with Hell (FIRE)
Dena Straughn Oct 5, 2007, 10:43pm EDT
I did not even know the church frowned on it.
Eric C. Oct 5, 2007, 11:01pm EDT
Good question, George. In addition to these great comments above, I feel like it might have become a tradition/law out of family request over the years. Many of my Catholic friends cherish the idea of the last moments by an (open) casket with a loved one.

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Debbie G. Oct 6, 2007, 12:25am EDT
Maybe this link will help.
Col. George W. Oct 6, 2007, 1:29am EDT
Churches teach the physical re-constution of the believer. They seem to think that God woud not be able to bring back to life a creamated believer. It is a bunch of Hooey
They teach an All Powerful God yet don't think he can do that? How many believers are now nothing but dust just as the book says. "Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return"
Jerry Kays Oct 6, 2007, 1:38am EDT
Maybe because that from the earth is meant to return to the earth ... ? (dust to dust)
capeach -. Oct 8, 2007, 11:40am EDT
George- I haven't heard that it is frowned upon by the church. My grandmother was cremated and my mother has said she would prefer to be cremated because she thinks the traditional funeral expenses are ridiculous. I know my parents consulted local authorities extensively before cremating my grandmother and it was not a problem.
George McNaughton Oct 8, 2007, 8:33pm EDT
Capeach -- I assume you are Mormon (many of the comments on this article are from non-Mormons). I do not currently have access to the General Handbook of Instructions, but it used to indicate that cremation was not favored except in countries where it was required (or something like that) and if a corpse was to be cremated, and the decedent was a Temple Recommend holder, then the corpse should be dressed in Temple clothing at the time of cremation. I have never heard the reasoning behind this, that is why I posed the question.
Kristine B. Oct 9, 2007, 4:49pm EDT
I have heard that in the past it was frowned upon, but I am not sure what the policy is now. I mean, in the resurrection the body should be able to get itself together no matter if it was decayed or cremated, right?
Kristine B. Oct 9, 2007, 4:51pm EDT
I think you were temple clothing whether you are buried or cremated because after you are resurrected you will be properrly attired, you know.
George McNaughton Oct 9, 2007, 9:35pm EDT
Kristine, you could be right on both comments -- but seems kind of...Egyptian or something don't you think?
Jerry Kays Oct 10, 2007, 4:03pm EDT
There is a lot of Egyptian influence in Mormon literature ... and rightly so, that being an important part of spiritual history.
Kristine B. Oct 15, 2007, 1:26pm EDT
George, I am not sure what you mean by Egyptian, I am refering to church teachings as far as I know...
George McNaughton Oct 15, 2007, 4:29pm EDT
What I meant was that the Egyptians went to great length to prepare the temporal remains of the deceased so they would be equipped with everything they needed in the after life. Requiring people to be dressed in a certain way before being cremated kind of has the same resonance -- perhaps it was an innappropriate comment for me to make.
Zachary M. Dec 24, 2007, 6:04pm EST
I think its because there is a dust problem in the spirit world...

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