# What religions allow cremation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550 "2001-10-30T16:53:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tobytobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b3f665/32.png) [@tobytobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tobytobe)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/1 "2001-10-30T16:53:33Z")
What relgions prohibit cremation, or allow it? Why? ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/2 "2001-10-30T17:23:54Z")
Hinduism allows it and I think it is the preferred form of “burial” ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/3 "2001-10-30T17:30:27Z")
I don’t have a cite, but I’m pretty sure that while the Catholic Church formerly condemned cremation, they now accept it, though a funeral mass must still be performed. Again, I have no cite or proof at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/4 "2001-10-30T17:43:47Z")
The last time I checked the Catholic regulations for funeral and burial, they only required that the remains be treated “respectfully.” In the guide to Catholic burials in my area (other jurisdictions may vary) the questions is explicitly asked “does the Church allow cremation” and the answer is yes. My father was cremated and buried in a Catholic cemetary five years ago, so I suppose the guidelines have been in place at least that long. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/5 "2001-10-30T17:45:53Z")
Cremation seems to be the preferred method for Buddhists, at least in Thailand. Sometimes the easiest way to spot the temples is to see the chimney for the crematorium. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/6 "2001-10-30T17:58:47Z")
IIRC, the Catholic Church allows cremation, but the ashes must be buried in a cemetary - no scattering, and no keeping them on the mantle in a nice vase. Judaism (the Orthodox part, anyway) doesn’t allow cremation, and is very big on treating the body with great respect. Autopsies aren’t allowed, and the funeral takes place ASAP (within 24 hours of death if at all possible). ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/7 "2001-10-30T18:44:01Z")
Islam prohibits cremation. All Christian religions allow it. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/8 "2001-10-30T18:53:23Z")
As far as I know, Episcopalians can get cremated. We do both burial and cremation in our family; it depends on what you want. ---
**Author:** ![tobytobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b3f665/32.png) [@tobytobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tobytobe)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/9 "2001-10-30T19:42:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GilaB \* > \*\*Judaism (the Orthodox part, anyway) doesn’t allow cremation, and is very big on treating the body with great respect. Autopsies aren’t allowed, and the funeral takes place ASAP (within 24 hours of death if at all possible). \*\* Do you (or anyone else) know if the autopsy is required by law in the case of an unknown cause of death…how is that handled/dealt with by the church? ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/10 "2001-10-30T20:02:05Z")
Here’s a general overview that says that most, but not all, Western forms of Christianity do allow cremation: > **[“Is Cremation Against the Bible?”](https://probe.org/is-cremation-against-the-bible/)** > > I have become curious as to why certain Christian denominations claim cremation to be against the Bible. Is it?     Thanks for your e-mail. Although many Christian and Jewish groups DO pe… And here’s a page from someone who feels strongly that cremation is not Christian: [http://www.macgregorministries.org/cult\_groups/cremation.html](http://www.macgregorministries.org/cult_groups/cremation.html) You can find more similar pages by doing a Google search on “Christian prohibits cremation”. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/11 "2001-10-30T22:52:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tobytobe \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by GilaB \* > > \*\*Judaism (the Orthodox part, anyway) doesn’t allow cremation, and is very big on treating the body with great respect. Autopsies aren’t allowed, and the funeral takes place ASAP (within 24 hours of death if at all possible). \*\* > > Do you (or anyone else) know if the autopsy is required by law in the case of an unknown cause of death…how is that handled/dealt with by the church? \*\* The church? Wrong religion, folks ;j. Generally, they try to use really advanced scanning techniques (a friend’s father died in a train crash, and they released the body after a giant MRI determined the cause of death). If not, they try to make sure that the body is treated as respectfully as possible under the circumstances and that all of the body parts get buried. This is why if you ever see footage of the aftermath of a bombing in Israel, there are Hasidic-looking men crawling around with q-tips, trying to get every last bit of flesh so that it can be properly buried. ---
**Author:** ![tobytobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b3f665/32.png) [@tobytobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tobytobe)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/12 "2001-10-30T23:03:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GilaB \* > \*\* > The church? Wrong religion, folks ;j. > \*\* What is the correct term? Would I say temple or the rabbi ? Obviously I am not jewish. I am wanting to learn. THANKS TO EVERYONE ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/13 "2001-10-31T00:39:06Z")
A lot of generalizations: Tibetan buddhists generally have the sky burial (basically picked apart by vultures), but also can be buried in water. Burial is often not practical given the permafrost that covers much of Tibet for much of the year. Cremation is used in the case of some Lama’s but wood is scarce in many parts of Tibet. Thus cremation does occur but isn’t conducted for most deaths. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@The\_Mick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mick)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/14 "2001-10-31T02:15:12Z")
I’m sure that Norse mythology need not be mentioned, but they di cremations. My Grandfather, a Methodist, was cremated. My father wants to be cremated. I want to be cremated. I think it has something to do with our Danish heritage, but on-topic, AFAIK, Methodists allow it. PS: my Irish Baptist relatives look down on cremation, so it may differ between denominations. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/15 "2001-10-31T02:39:33Z")
My Wiccan friend says that cremation goes against her religion. She says that fire is unnatural (?!), and is horrified that I want to be cremated. She’s so very disgusted and creeped out by the idea that I’m not sure if she hates it for her religion or for personal reasons, but I guess witches and fire have an unfortunate history. She always said that if she outlived me, she’d override my wishes and make sure I was buried not burnt. Considering I find the idea of rotting away horrifying, I’m not leaving her in charge of my funeral! If you ask me, fire is more natural than embalming and sealing in a box and sticking in the ground. If we’re talking nature, she should have wanted her body left on the forest floor to be devoured by wild animals, and to rot away. That’s natural in my opinion anyway! ---
**Author:** ![FyreFiend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@FyreFiend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FyreFiend)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/16 "2001-10-31T04:19:38Z")
> [@](#): > > My Wiccan friend says that cremation goes against her religion. She says that fire is unnatural (?!), I’d say it’s a personal thing with her (though most of a Wiccan’s faith is). I’m Wiccan and have many Neo-Pagan friends and I’ve never heard anyone of them call fire unnatural. It’s a natural as water or air. As for desposing of my remains, I’m like to be buried, with out coffin or tomb, in the woods with a tree planted over me but seeing as that’s illegal I don’t know what I’ll have done. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/17 "2001-10-31T04:51:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nineiron \* > \*\*I don’t have a cite, but I’m pretty sure that while the Catholic Church formerly condemned cremation, they now accept it, though a funeral mass must still be performed. Again, I have no cite or proof at this point. \*\* The Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law, Can. Can. 1176 §3, provides: > [@](#): > > The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burial be retained; but it does not forbid cremation, unless this is chosen for reasons which are contrary to christian teaching. In this context, “contrary to Christian teaching” means any practice or belief that would deny the reality of the resurrection. This is further emphaized by Can. 1184 §1 2°, which provides that Church funeral rites are to be denied to those who for anti-christian motives chose that their bodies be cremated. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by reeder_ > **Islam prohibits cremation. All Christian religions allow it.** Actually, that’s not true at all. In general, Orthodox Christian faiths forbid cremation. See the [Greek Orthodox](http://www.goholytrinity.org/sacramental/sacramental13.html#3) position: > [@](#): > > The Orthodox Church, however, mindful of the fact that the human body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and inspired by the affection toward her departed children, refuses to deliberately destroy the body, and has adopted the burial of the dead, in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself as it appears in the Catacombs, and in the graves of the Martyrs and Saints. Cremation, therefore, is contrary to the faith and tradition of our Church and is forbidden to Orthodox Christians. A Church funeral is denied to a person who has been or will be cremated. The [Russian Orthodoxy](http://www.stjohndc.org/Homilies/homcremt.htm)’s comment: > [@](#): > > Already in 1932, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad resolved as a matter of principle not to permit the burning of the bodies of Orthodox Christians in crematoria, seeing that this custom has been introduced by the godless and the enemies of the Church. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religions-allow-cremation/90550/18 "2001-10-31T04:57:11Z")
Ok…all Christian Religions but one. Forgive me.