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Answer:
Depending on your location, you may have legal regulations associated with scattering ashes. These are in place for the interest of public and environmental safety, along with respect for private property owners who may not want cremated remains on their property. Some families may choose to ignore these regulations and scatter ashes in places that bar cremated remains (such as Disneyland), but we heavily discourage this as it can be illegal and result in the undignified disposal of your loved one's remains as a biohazard.
Is it considered a sin to scatter ashes?
Educational Resources > Religious Views on Cremation, Educational Resources > Scattering Ashes
Answer:
For members of Christianity, scattering ashes is considered a sin. The Church believes that while cremation is acceptable, a person's cremated remains must be kept together so that they may be successfully resurrected in the future. Non-Christian religions and agnostic & atheist households are not subject to this belief.
Is it considered a sin to scatter ashes?
Educational Resources > Religious Views on Cremation, Educational Resources > Scattering Ashes
Answer:
For members of Christianity, scattering ashes is considered a sin. The Church believes that while cremation is acceptable, a person's cremated remains must be kept together so that they may be successfully resurrected in the future. Non-Christian religions and agnostic & atheist households are not subject to this belief.
Answer:
The Bible does not explicitly forbid cremation. In the Old Testament, 1 Samuel 31:12 mentions that Saul and his sons were cremated and buried, although this cremation occurs as a response to their bodies being dismembered post-mortem by the warring Philistines. On the other hand, Amos 2:1 describes God punishing the people of Moab for sins which include burning the bones of Edom's king. Burial is depicted much more frequently in the Bible, which implies that burial is the preferred method of final disposition according to the Bible. It is important to note that views on cremation are changing within Christianity, and many denominations today permit it.
Answer:
Cremation is not universally forbidden in Christianity, and it is becoming increasingly accepted among many denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church. A respectful Christian cremation must bury the deceased's cremated remains intact, and prohibits dividing the ashes or scattering them. Some traditional branches, like Eastern Orthodoxy and certain conservative Protestant groups, discourage cremation because they believe that the body must be intact in order for resurrection to occur.
Answer:
Religious views of cremation depend on the specific religion, spirituality, or culture. Some religions, like Hinduism and Buddhism, prefer cremation and see it as a way to release the soul from the physical body and facilitate its journey to the next life or state of being. On the other hand, certain branches of Christianity and Judaism traditionally prefer burial, viewing it as a more respectful way to honor the body, though perspectives within these religions are evolving.
Answer:
Depending on where you bury your loved one's ashes, an urn may or may not be a requirement. If you or your loved ones own the property where you’ll be burying the cremated remains, the decision to use an urn is entirely up to your preference. However, cemeteries often have specific rules on how to bury ashes, and public and private properties may also have regulations for burying ashes. Always ensure you comply with a location's set guidelines and local laws to avoid any issues.
Answer:
Cremation urns made from metal and stone are best for burying ashes, because these materials are strong enough to resist collapsing under the weight and pressure of soil. Urns made of wood may still be buried if the urn is enclosed in an urn vault designed for burial, but metal and stone urns are preferable because wooden urns may degrade over time from moisture.Biodegradable urns are also ideal for burial, because they are designed to break down in soil and water in an eco-friendly manner. You should decide if you prefer to bury an urn that will last for decades or centuries, or an urn that will break down and leave no environmental impact.
Answer:
Christianity has always practiced burial, but due to the rising popularity of cremation in modern times, most Christian denominations today permit cremation even if they encourage burial as a first choice. However, Eastern Orthodox Christians still don't believe in allowing cremation, and the Eastern Orthodox Church forbids it. Historically, this ban was enacted because cremation was viewed as pagan, and denied the value of the human body and creation by God.
Is it bad luck to keep ashes in the house?
Educational Resources > A Quick Guide to Cremation, Educational Resources > Religious Views on Cremation
Answer:
It is not bad luck to keep ashes in the house, and no bad luck superstitions about this exist. In fact, many families find comfort in having their loved one nearby. Apprehension or hesitation about keeping cremated remains at home is likely a cultural influence from Catholicism, which teaches that if a Catholic is cremated after death, their remains must be treated the same as an intact body and buried.
What do ashes or cremated remains look like?
Educational Resources > Collecting Ashes After a Cremation, Educational Resources > Understanding the Cremation Process
Answer:
Cremated remains are often referred to as ashes, but they are actually remnants of bone that have not burned during cremation. After cremation, the remaining skeleton is crushed into small particles that can vary in size, but usually resemble coarse sand or crushed seashells. These remains may vary in color from white to dark gray, and the exact shade can vary depending on factors such as the temperature of the cremation chamber, the duration of the process, and the composition of the individual's bones. Typically, higher temperatures and longer durations result in whiter or light gray remains, while lower temperatures and shorter durations can produce darker gray or even bluish hues.
Answer:
Cremated remains entering the United States have no permit or importation requirements. These "ashes," which are processed bone fragments left over from the cremation process, are sterile because any tissue, blood, or other decomposable material that can transmit disease has been burned away during cremation. Other human remains that require no permit for importation include clean and dry bones, hair, teeth, and finger or toe nails. A deceased person's body that is entering the United States for later burial or cremation must be accompanied by a death certificate and be cleared for entry.
Answer:
A temporary cremation urn can be any urn or container that is used to store ashes temporarily until they receive final disposition, whether that is placement in a different urn, scattering, burial, or something else. Because the container is temporary, any simple yet sturdy container can be appropriate, and a temporary urn can be made from lightweight materials like cardboard, plastic, or paper.
Answer:
To transport cremated remains to a new location for burial or scattering, you may choose to drive by car, fly by plane, or ship the ashes ahead of you. Traveling by car is the easiest way to transport ashes because there are no regulations or guidelines that you have to follow. If you are shipping ashes or bringing them on a flight, you will have to make sure your loved one's cremated remains are in a suitable cremation urn or other container for your chosen method, and pack the urn accordingly. The best mode of transportation depends on your specific needs, but any of these methods can get your loved one to their final destination safely.
Answer:
The Transportation Security Administration does not require paperwork for cremated remains, but your specific airline may request copies of existing paperwork or ask you to fill out their own paperwork. In any case, it's recommended to bring a death certificate or certificate of cremation with your loved one's ashes when you are traveling by plane. Make sure you are familiar with the protocol for your airline and have prepared any necessary documents beforehand to ensure a hassle-free flight.
Answer:
When you are arranging a cremation and funeral service through a funeral home, the funeral home will typically offer cremation urns for sale. However, urns sold by a funeral home are often priced extremely high in order to create profit. You should know that you are not obligated to purchase an urn from a funeral home, and you can use your own urn to hold your loved one's ashes. By United States law, a funeral home or crematorium must accept outside urns when transferring cremated remains into a container. Purchasing urns from a third party like In the Light Urns is often preferable to purchasing directly from a funeral home or crematorium, because it allows you more flexibility in pricing and urn customization.
Answer:
You can bury your loved one's ashes in a cemetery. To bury cremated remains within a cemetery, you will need to purchase one of the cemetery's burial plots. Burial plots for urns will typically cost less than burial plots for caskets because they take up a smaller area of land. Some cemeteries will have designated areas for urn burial, such as urn gardens, that are separated from the area for casket burial. If you are burying your loved one's urn within a cemetery, you may also wish to purchase a headstone to mark your loved one's resting place.
Answer:
Unlike a traditional burial, when cremated remains are buried, they do not decompose further in the ground, because they have already been reduced to bone through cremation. Some families may choose an eco-friendly or "green" burial by burying their loved one's ashes within a biodegradable urn that breaks down in the soil over months or years, eventually allowing the ashes to mix with the earth. More commonly, ashes will be buried within a permanently lasting cremation urn encased by a durable urn vault. This urn vault can be buried underground at a cemetery plot, designated memorial garden, or other chosen location. Burying cremated remains allows family and friends to give their loved one a final resting place in a memorial location that they can revisit.
Answer:
There is no best way to bury cremated remains, and it depends on you and your deceased loved one's preferences. You may opt to use a biodegradable urn if you prefer an eco-friendly option, or choose a traditional urn and an optional urn vault for a permanent placement. You may also consider burying the ashes directly into the soil. Any of these options are respectable ways to honor your loved one's remains, and you can choose whichever method you prefer. If you have a location in mind, they may already have made this choice for you depending on their conditions for burial.
