Benefits of Cremation

Benefits of Cremation

A popular on-going debate is cremation vs. burial and why cremation is better. The graph below depicts how the popularity in cremation has been on a steady rise in the United States over the past 50 years. In 2015, the cremation rate was higher than the burial rate for the first time. The forecast from the graph however, does not show the popularity in cremation slowing down. By 2035, it is predicted that more than 75% of Americans will choose cremation rather than burial
benefits of cremation chart
So why do people believe cremation is better? We have outlined 6 common benefits of cremation that have attributed to the growth.

1) Cost

If you look at the general price list for almost every funeral home, you’ll find that cremation costs are generally less than burial. On average, the price of a cremation service is roughly 45-50% cheaper than a burial service. This is because there is no need to purchase additional items like a headstone or casket. 

2) Environmental Concerns

Many view cremation as a “greener option” than burial. Burial often uses harsh chemicals to embalm the remains for a funeral service. This leads to concerns that the chemicals can contaminate the environment. Burial also takes up land space and the Earth is disturbed to bury a casket. While a crematory does release emissions, new equipment is constantly being developed to reduce the pollution and environmental impact.

3) Simplicity

A cremation service can offer a much simpler process than a burial service. Generally, when people choose to bury their loved one, they choose to have a traditional funeral service along with the burial. In this case, you must coordinate things with the cemetery, organize pallbearers, plan a visitation, and much more. While some people still choose to hold a traditional funeral along with a cremation, a celebration of life or memorial service are the types of ceremonies that are more commonly associated with a cremation. These ceremonies do not require as much planning in the days immediately following the death when your family is still grieving and reacting to the news.

4) Cemetery Availability

Cemetery plots across the United States are becoming scarce. As the supply of plots decreases, we have seen the price on burial plots increase. Cremation allows you to avoid the trouble of finding a burial plot and saves you the cost.

5) Flexibility

With burial, you have two options – interred underground in a plot or having the casket placed in a mausoleum. Cremation gives you more options in terms of what can be done with your loved one’s ashes. You can scatter the ashes at a special location, you can store them in a beautiful urn, you can keep a small portion in memorial jewelry, you can turn them into fireworks, etc. There are many creative things you can do with cremated ashes. Ask one of our professionals to get more ideas on things you can do with your loved one’s ashes.

6) A More Relaxed Stance from Religions

In past years, many religions were strongly opposed to cremation. However, many religions have adjusted their view on cremation and have taken a more relaxed stance on the topic. For example, in 2016 the Vatican issued new guidelines on cremation. It touched on Catholics believing the soul is immortal and that it does not rely upon the physical body. Therefore, since cremation only impacts the physical body, the Vatican does not have any doctrinal objections to cremation. If you do choose cremation though, the ashes should not be scattered; they should be stored in a scared place (Bryner, 2016). 

Cremation Myths

Over the past few years, cremation has rapidly grown in popularity. For hundreds of years, burial services were considered the norm. More recently though, cremation rates in the US are now exceeding 50% annually. In fact, some experts at the National Funeral Directors Association are predicting the cremation rate could climb as high as 75% by 2035. 

Even though cremations have surpassed burials in terms of popularity, there is still a lot of taboo and mystery surrounding the practice. Some of the more popular myths of cremation include that the practice is forbidden by most religions or that you could end up with so meone else’s ashes afterwards. Rest assured, most of the negative things you’ve heard about cremation are simply untrue. At our firm, we want to dispel some of the more popular cremation myths so that families can make informed decisions. 

Below are 6 myths of cremation you shouldn’t believe. 
Learn About the Cremation Process

Most Religions Forbid Cremation

Something we often hear from families when making funeral arrangements is that their religion forbids cremation. Depending on your religion, this may or may not be true. For instance, in religions like Judaism and Islam, cremation is not practiced. Over time, certain churches have changed their stance on the issue. The Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church for example allow cremation but still prefer burial. If you’re unsure about your faith’s view on cremation, talk about it with your religious leader for further clarity.  

Cremation Results in Ashes

Although the term ‘ashes’ is often used to describe cremated remains, what is left after cremation is not ashes. The remains themselves resemble coarse sand, with an off-white/ gray color. The cremated remains that are returned to your family are actually bone fragments that have been processed down to resemble ashes. The cremation process does not actually burn the body and reduce it to ashes like a fire when it burns wood.  

You Might Get Someone Else’s Ashes

The ICCFA has written guidelines which include: “The crematory authority should not simultaneously cremate more than one human remains in the same cremation chamber unless it has written authorization to do so by the authorizing agent of each human remains to be cremated.”  

The vast majority of funeral homes are members of associations like the ICCFA or NFDA and strictly follow the guidelines set out by these associations. During the cremation process, the remains are marked beforehand, and the family is also required to identify the remains before the cremation can begin.

You Can’t Have a Traditional Funeral

Just because you’ve selected cremation, doesn’t mean you can’t plan a traditional funeral. Many families choose to have the remains cremated and then hold a funeral or memorial service afterwards with the urn present. Another popular choice is to hold a traditional funeral before the cremation. Once the cremated remains have been returned to you, they can be buried or scattered at most cemeteries. 

Cremation Involves Lighting the Body on Fire

One of the most misguided cremation myths is that the body is set on fire. The cremation process uses flames to create extreme heat in a specially designed furnace. During the cremation process, the furnace (also called a retort) reaches temperatures around 1800° F. The heat in the furnace reduces the body to gases and bone fragments, which are then placed in an electric processor which converts them to the ashes. At no point is the body set on fire. 

Scattering Ashes Is an Illegal Practice

Some families will choose to forego cremation because they believe that spreading ashes is illegal. While there are certain public spaces where it’s illegal to spread ashes, there are also many public and private areas where it is permitted. If you’re interested in scattering your loved one’s ashes, make sure to consult with your local government and agencies about any restrictions or requirements. Likewise, if you plan to scatter ashes on private land, make sure that you receive written permission from the landowner beforehand.  
Sources:
Bryner, J. (2016). Vatican issues new cremation guidelines for ‘faithfully departed’. Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/56632-vatican-issues-new-cremation-guidelines.html 
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