[Proletariat]

Those who have been following Kenya's News, know that former C.P.K. 'Bishop' Manasses Kuria cremated her wife, and he said her wife requested it.

This issue has sparked off controversy, while Kuria argues that it is right since the Bible say "Ashes to ash?"

One person argued that even Abraham bought a piece of land to bury his wife, Sarah.

Another one argued that it is a way to 'enlightment' citing scarcity of land in Kenya, and also much work while digging the grave.

Now is there anybody here with a in-depth insight on Biblical view on Cremation?

I would love to know very much.

http://www.eastandard.net/sunday/letters/letter1.htm

[isso]

Proletariat

I once burnt my hand badly in a kitchen accident...and if that's anything to go by, No way Hose am I being cremated. :D

"As long as people will accept crap, it will be financially profitable to dispense it."

[Wakili]

Proletariat

I have just done an online search and have come up with a few sites that may help. I haven't read them yet so can not vouch for their accuracy but they should at least give you a rough idea of the Christian standpoint(s) (if any) on cremation.

[link:www.religioustolerance.org/crematio.htm|Cremation vs. Burial: Jewish & Christian Beliefs]

[link:www.scripturessay.com/q344a.html| Does the Bible say anything about cremation? Is it wrong to cremate? (Prescott, Az)]

[link:misslink.org/chapel/askaminister/future/cremate.html|Ask a Minister] This has abt 3 articles

[link:www.bibleinfo.com/Asp/DisplayFullFAQ.asp?FAQid=23|Cremation: Does the Bible say anything about it?]

I shall return to post my thoughts after I have researched some more.

[kerubo]

I would advocate for a decent burial for Kuria's wife, but then again kenyans love importing foreign cultures, practices and ideologies.

NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE FEARED. IT IS ONLY TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

[Dem Gal]

Although the christianity (and the bible) has never universally condemned cremation, burial has long been their accepted practice. Its a long held traditional practice. I guess due to the association of cremation with pagan practices.

My take on this, whether one is buried or cremated, they eventually decompose to the same components...Carbon elements. It therefore is not that important how ones' body is disposed off, rather where ones' spirit goes off to.

[Labell]

AT THE LONG RUN WHEN IT COMES TO THE JUDGEMENT DAY ALMOST EVERYBODY WILL BE THROWN INTO ETERNAL FIRE-SO WE CAN AS WELL AS DO IT NOW!

[kerubo]

Rabell

>AT THE LONG RUN WHEN IT COMES TO THE
>JUDGEMENT DAY ALMOST EVERYBODY WILL BE
>THROWN INTO ETERNAL FIRE-SO WE CAN AS
>WELL AS DO IT NOW!


Correct me if I'm wrong but I would think the purpose of changing handles is to disassociate oneself from the previous identity and signature.

NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE FEARED. IT IS ONLY TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

[Labell]

LOL-I DO MAKE ROOM FOR CORRECTIONS BUT THEN I WILL ASK-WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?IT SEEMS THAT YOUR ARE BEHIND THE NEWS,MR.DAVID BLOCKED MY USER IP.AND HENCE I CAN'T USE RABELL-BUT AGAIN IT'S MY SIGN OFF.

[kerubo]

>LOL-I DO MAKE ROOM FOR CORRECTIONS BUT
>THEN I WILL ASK-WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?IT
>SEEMS THAT YOUR ARE BEHIND THE
>NEWS,MR.DAVID BLOCKED USER IP.

I must admit I'm really behind news, but thanks for telling me.

NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE FEARED. IT IS ONLY TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

[Chameleon]

I dont understand what the problem is.

If the Christians really believe that when someone dies, his or her soul goes to heaven then does it really matter how we dispose the useless body shell that is left behind?

As far as I know, there is nothing in the bible that stipulates how the body should be disposed.

And if I can recal, most of the people in the bible used to be buried in caves which were then covered with big rocks. A good example is Jesus Christ.

Therefore my conlusion is this, the way that the body is disposed really depends on the societies culture. And as we all know, culture and traditions change over time.

In this case I understand that certain African countries used to dump the dead body in the forest to be eaten by wild animals. Should we do this because its African?

Therefore we can conclude that burying of the body is unAfrican as Cremation.

And just like most of the rituals that are practised in the church e.g Burying of dead bodies, wearing of wedding bands (rings) and wearing of white dresses by brides.

None of them has anything to do with Christianity, their Origns can be traced back to the European cultures.


NB

By the way, I instructed my siblings many years ago,to Cremate my body incase I ever died out here in a foreign country.

I believe that it would be easier and cheaper for them to transport my ashes back home.