Bible Discussion Thread

Please guide me as to the verses regarding cremation. Whether pro or anti. We have read Genesis 3:19. Need further direction as it pertains to the Catholic Church.

There's nothing indicated in the Bible about cremation, whether for the Jew or Christian. The only possible cremation event we have is in 1 Samuel chapter 31, where the dead King Saul & his sons (killed by the Philistine army) were found by the people of Jabeshgilead & they burnt their bodies & then buried their bones; so this was not a cremation in its fullest sense.

But from a Christian perspective, we have no commandment to prohibit cremation & this is often taken up as an option, given the higher costs of buying a plot & the burial. And not knowing the RCC position on this (one would have to ask their priest), I would think that they too would permit it, under certain conditions. The early Church of the New Testament, would have used tombs or sepulchres as the Jews did, & so we today, generally bury our dead. My preference is for burial rather than cremation, though this is purely a person's choice.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Genesis 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

Job 4:19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

Psalms 103:14, Psalms 104:29 , -- Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

We haven't cremated any of our family, no plans to. But I wouldn't think it makes a difference.