If you or someone you love is nearing death, you may contemplate cremation. It is an inexpensive alternative to large funerals and cemetery burials. But Christians often wonder, “does cremation go against the Bible?” It boils down to wondering where your soul goes if you are cremated. So let’s look at some Bible verses to see what it says on the subject.
Where Does Your Soul Go If You Are Cremated?
When I was a funeral director, people asked me every imaginable version of this question. Where does your soul go if you are cremated? Does cremation go against the Bible? While I’m not a theologian, I have developed a theory. Here’s the bottom line: your soul’s destination is unchanged by your body’s burial, cremation, or being shot into space on a rocket.
So this is what I have come to believe. If you live a grace-filled life of compassion, one set of options is likely available to you in the afterlife. If you live a life of crime and violence, another set of options is probably headed your way. I firmly believe that how we live our lives holds more importance than what happens to our human remains after we are dead.
Does Cremation Go Against The Bible?
The Bible is oddly quiet on the topic of cremation. However, throughout the Old Testament, burial is referred to as the primary disposition of bodies. While there is no complete account of burial rites, it is written about often enough to have a good understanding of the practice. Below are common burial customs.
- Bodies were placed in tombs wearing their everyday clothing (1 Samuel 28.14; Ezekial 32.27)
- The most common practice was to reuse family burial chambers for many years, perhaps for generations. (Genesis 23:19, 2 Chronicles 16:14)
- The corpse was drawn together, knees to the chin, and laid on its left side. Or the body was laid out on its back. (Digging up Jericho (New York 1958))
- Every day articles were buried with the deceased: bowls, weapons, amulets, and lamps. (Biblical Archaeology (rev. Ed. Philadelphia 1963))
The Bible discusses burial more than cremation, so many Christians believe it is the preferred choice for a body’s disposition.
What Does The Bible Say About Cremated Remains?
1 Samuel tells of Saul and his sons being cremated after their bodies were mutilated, beheaded, and fastened to a wall. Saul’s sons died while fighting the Philistines and Saul chose to fall on his sword rather than face capture.
The next day the Philistines found the men’s bodies, and that is when they mutilated them as an example to others. Upon learning of this travesty, the Israelites marched through the night to get to the martyrs’ remains. First, they took the corpses of Saul and his sons to another city, where they burned the bodies. Finally, they buried the bones under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh.
So the Bible is clear that cremation is allowable. But, of course, the circumstances were far beyond normal since they died during the fighting, and the bodies were dismembered after death. However, it’s important to note that the Israelites still chose to bury the cremated remains. (You may remember that human ashes consist of bone fragments since all tissue burns away during cremation.)
Does The Bible Say That A Cremated Body Can’t Rise?
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that a cremated body can’t rise during the second coming of Christ. Believers of this philosophy know that God is all-powerful, so it stands to reason that he can raise a cremated body just as quickly as a decomposed and disintegrated body from the ground.
Would it exclude them automatically from Christianity’s afterlife if a person dies in a warehouse explosion and the body identification comes through tooth or bone fragments? No, it wouldn’t. So by the same reasoning, a cremated body can rise to be with Christ.
The Bible reference regarding the bodies of Saul and his sons occurred after the death of Jesus. So the Israelites had no concerns about the bodies being able to rise again when Christ returned for them.
Can Cremated Bodies Go To Heaven?
Since the Bible is relatively silent about cremation, the decision is more philosophical and cultural. I believe it comes down to your choice about what is best for yourself or your loved one. Discuss the situation with your family, a trusted pastor, priest, or spiritual advisor. Most importantly, talk it over with God. Share your fears and concerns with your maker.
1 Corinthians identifies the differences between our broken earthly and spiritual bodies. It doesn’t say that human bodies are raised. Instead, it says that our spiritual bodies will be. For me, after having many conversations with priests, pastors, chaplains, and family members, I believe that the body my soul currently inhabits is little more than a skin suit. Upon death, my soul will be free to cross to the other side where love exists.
1 Corinthians 15:35-55
“It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.”
What Does The Catholic Church Say About Cremation?
For those of you reading who may be Catholic, there are essential items to know. In 2016, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a document titled Ad resurgendum cum Christo (To Rise with Christ). It explicitly addresses all things “regarding the burial of the deceased and the conservation of the ashes in the case of cremation.”
Here is what you need to know:
- Cremation must not go against the decedent’s wishes.
- And the Church believes that cremation of the body does not affect the person’s soul.
- Cremation does not negate the soul’s immortality or the body’s resurrection.
- Burial is the primary choice.
- Cremated remains must be buried in a sacred place (cemetery), not scattered or placed in your home.
A more concise summary is below (borrowed from the Catholic Company’s summary of the document):
- In circumstances when cremation is chosen because of sanitary, economic, or social considerations, this choice must never violate the explicitly stated or the reasonably inferable wishes of the deceased faithful.
- The Church raises no doctrinal objections to this practice since cremation of the deceased’s body does not affect his or her soul.
- Thus cremation, in and of itself, objectively negates neither the Christian doctrine of the soul’s immortality nor that of the resurrection of the body.
- The Church continues to prefer the practice of burying the bodies of the deceased because this shows a greater esteem towards the deceased.
- When, for legitimate motives, cremation of the body has been chosen, the ashes of the faithful must be laid to rest in a sacred place, that is, in a cemetery or, in certain cases, in a church or an area, which has been set aside for this purpose, and so dedicated by the competent ecclesial authority.
What Do Protestants Say About Keeping Cremated Remains?
Since there are so many variants to the Protestant religions, I have never found conclusive documentation about keeping cremated remains. However, cremation is a well-accepted, popular choice for Protestant Christians, so I believe the keeping or the scattering of cremated remains meets with approval.
Protestants meet death with rejoicing since the deceased has now entered heaven. So the disposition of the human remains is less an issue than it is for the Catholic church.
Conclusion
You still might be wondering, “but is it a sin to keep cremated ashes?” The answer to that question comes from your personal beliefs and religious preferences. The Catholic Church requests that ashes remain together but stops short of referring to keeping them as a sin. Speak to your pastor for more clarification about this entire topic.
Cremation is a big decision, so do your homework before taking this step.
- Read articles.
- Read the Bible itself.
- Talk with your pastor, priest, or spiritual advisor.
- Have meaningful conversations with your family members to understand their preferences.
- Spend some time in prayer. Going straight to God with some of these questions is my best advice. So pray, meditate, and get in touch with your Creator.
Finally, talk to your funeral director to finalize your decision together. Having a good plan in place will ease your mind and give you peace.
