Regarding cremation and ash scattering...

hatrickpatrick

I've read a lot of quotes which discourage or outright ban the scattering of ashes after cremation, on grounds that it will hinder the physical resurrection of the body when the time comes for that.

Is this not a bit unrealistic? My gut instinct is that if God is almighty, capable of creating the universe from nothing and working all kinds of other seemingly impossible wonders, reconstituting ashes into a new body would be no trouble for him at all. If anything, it might be regarded as disrespectful to the body, but surely if that IS wrong, it's a wrong on the part of those who cremate and/or scatter, which the deceased has no say or choice in, and therefore will not affect the deceased's position in heaven at all?

I realize I'm going against a fairly consistent doctrine here, but it puzzles me greatly that anyone could suggest that this would "hinder" resurrection, considering we believe God to be capable of anything, regardless of physical constraints.

What of those who meet tragic ends in conflicts or major natural disasters, whose bodies may be completely destroyed? The people who died rescuing others from the 9/11 attacks for instance? Surely they have as great a chance as anyone of enjoying the next world?

Sorry if this question seems bizarre, it just struck me as strange to see a suggestion in Christian doctrine that God's will could be in any way hindered by our actions here, such as cremation and/or scattering. Any opinions?

maguffin

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I've read a lot of quotes which discourage or outright ban the scattering of ashes after cremation, on grounds that it will hinder the physical resurrection of the body when the time comes for that.

Is this not a bit unrealistic? My gut instinct is that if God is almighty, capable of creating the universe from nothing and working all kinds of other seemingly impossible wonders, reconstituting ashes into a new body would be no trouble for him at all. If anything, it might be regarded as disrespectful to the body, but surely if that IS wrong, it's a wrong on the part of those who cremate and/or scatter, which the deceased has no say or choice in, and therefore will not affect the deceased's position in heaven at all?

I realize I'm going against a fairly consistent doctrine here, but it puzzles me greatly that anyone could suggest that this would "hinder" resurrection, considering we believe God to be capable of anything, regardless of physical constraints.

What of those who meet tragic ends in conflicts or major natural disasters, whose bodies may be completely destroyed? The people who died rescuing others from the 9/11 attacks for instance? Surely they have as great a chance as anyone of enjoying the next world?

Sorry if this question seems bizarre, it just struck me as strange to see a suggestion in Christian doctrine that God's will could be in any way hindered by our actions here, such as cremation and/or scattering. Any opinions?

This from The Irish Times in April of this year....

"THE CATHOLIC Church in Ireland would prefer that cremated remains of the faithful be buried in consecrated ground or installed in the kind of memorial wall found at most crematoriums.
Fr Paddy Jones, director of the National Centre for Liturgy at Maynooth, told The Irish Times last night that either burial of the ashes or their installation in a columbarium or memorial wall was preferable to their being scattered or kept for distribution among relatives. He was replying to questions after new guidelines in Italy appeared to rule against the scattering of ashes.
He did not know “of any guidelines, as such” on the church’s part in Ireland where cremations were concerned. “A primary concern was not to upset people” on such a sensitive matter, he said.
“The ashes should be treated with the same respect as the body ... I’ve heard stories of ashes being left on a mantelpiece, or being distributed among relatives. This is inappropriate,” he said. “Cremation is very common and accepted; there is no difficulty about that,” he said.
On March 31st, Italy’s Catholic bishops issued revised funeral rites which said the scattering of ashes should not be allowed. A spokesman explained that although the church “does not oppose the cremation of bodies”, it “continues to maintain that the burial of the dead is more appropriate, that it expresses faith in the resurrection of the flesh, nourishes the piety of the faithful, and favours the recollection and prayer of relatives and friends”.
In 1963 the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith lifted the ban on cremation, while expressing a preference for burial.
In 1997, the Catholic funeral rite was modified so church funerals can take place when the body has already been cremated before the ashes are brought to the church.
According to the website RIP.ie, “All of the Christian denominations allow cremation. It is also the normal method used by practically all Eastern religious sects for disposing of human remains after death. Orthodox Judaism and Islam forbid cremation.”
Cremation in Ireland has risen from 8.13 per cent of the deceased in 2006 to 10-12 per cent of the almost 29,000 deaths a year now."

Nothing really to do with 'hindering the resurrection'.

Fanny Cradock

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Sorry if this question seems bizarre, it just struck me as strange to see a suggestion in Christian doctrine that God's will could be in any way hindered by our actions here, such as cremation and/or scattering. Any opinions?

Yes, it's a most strange limitation to place on God's power. Upon what is such an argument justified?

PDN

I don't see how it matters at all.

After all, if you're buried then you become worm food and sooner or later end up scattered around the place.

homer911

I would have no problem with being cremated (after I die of course!) and having my ashes scattered on the potato plot!

The bible tells us we will have new, perfect bodies in Heaven - goodbye to my bad back, wonky teeth and extra large big toes (and only God knows what I'll be like, ehem, below the belt...)

Peregrinus

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I've read a lot of quotes which discourage or outright ban the scattering of ashes after cremation, on grounds that it will hinder the physical resurrection of the body when the time comes for that.

I honestly don't recall ever having seen this argument advanced. Can you link to any examples?

KatyMac

No hope at all for me so! I've donated my body to science and don't expect much of it to be left by the time cremation comes about.

im invisible

remember you are dust, and into dust you will return

maguffin

PDN wrote: »

I don't see how it matters at all.

After all, if you're buried then you become worm food and sooner or later end up scattered around the place.

Absolutely.....and here's a song about it...the 'Hearse Song'...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3qIBHStUc0