Most of us just don't want to think about death, but as surely as you were born you will die. I once had 4 sons, my youngest died just short of his 22nd birthday. My 2nd eldest died a couple of months after his 31st birthday. Death is no respecter of age...
So as to not inconvenience 'your' surviving family 'you' really should contemplate what 'you' want to be done with your body after you die. The cheapest option is to leave it to science to do whatever they would do.
Alternatively, 'you' should contemplate allowing organ harvest after you have died. When that is done the body would be released for collection. So then what?
If you happen to be Muslim or like then there aren't any options, your body has to be wrapped and put in the ground ASAP. Of interest: organ harvesting is permitted, but autopsy is prohibited.
Muslim Funeral Traditions
For most of us, we have several options. The most common are: cremation, full body burial in the ground, full body internment in a crypt or dropped into the ocean...
Whilst when I die, I'll be dead and won't know what is happening to my body, whilst I'm still alive I'm not keen on the thought of being eaten by worms or fish, nor am I keen on the idea of rotting away in a crypt, so despite its ecological problems, like the majority of people in the world, I'll opt for cremation. In terms of land usage it is the most economical. Even more so if your ashes are scattered somewhere.
I'm RCC but am at odds with the Popes latest prohibitions concerning the remains of the dead. Officially, "Cremated remains must be buried, just like a body, in a cemetery, crypt, or other appropriate burial place. Scattering ashes or keeping them at home is not permitted" . Poooha, I say, remembering that for centuries the Church prohibited cremation and it has only been permitted since 1963 on the condition that "it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body”.
Changing Catholic Attitudes about Cremation
Of interest to me: the Romans, at times, after killing Christians would burn the bodies thinking that surviving Christians would be discouraged with the thought that the Romans had denied their friends any chance of a bodily resurrection. Poooha, I say, the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob is not that impotent!
One final thing to consider: worldwide there is a huge problem with finding space to bury the dead. The old ideas about Cemetary as a Necopolis (city of the dead) have had their day. Cities of the living need open space and trees. Think about the planning problems Sydney, NSW, Australia is having to confront...ithe same problems might be confronting your authorities...
Housing the dead: what happens when a city runs out of space?
I guess people need a place to mourn and a place to fixate on. I'll leave it up to whoever survives me. I might suggest they ask the local council for permission to dig a hole in a park, put my ashes in it and plant a tree on top and if they need to, at some stage nail a little plaque to the tree after it has grown a bit. Alternatively, just scatter my ashes in a flower bed or put them in the garbage bin. I won't care. I'll be dead! :
My youngest son requested that his ashes be scattered in the water at a beach over Manly way. So that is what I did and a great crowd of his friends came to say a final farewell...
I didn't know what my 2nd eldest son wanted, but he loved to surf down the south coast. So I scattered his ashes amoungst the waves.
There is an old saying in my family: we shed one tear for the departed and a hundred for ourselves. When you do your planning for your demise keep in mind those that will survive 'you'...
So as to not inconvenience 'your' surviving family 'you' really should contemplate what 'you' want to be done with your body after you die. The cheapest option is to leave it to science to do whatever they would do.
Alternatively, 'you' should contemplate allowing organ harvest after you have died. When that is done the body would be released for collection. So then what?
If you happen to be Muslim or like then there aren't any options, your body has to be wrapped and put in the ground ASAP. Of interest: organ harvesting is permitted, but autopsy is prohibited.
Muslim Funeral Traditions
For most of us, we have several options. The most common are: cremation, full body burial in the ground, full body internment in a crypt or dropped into the ocean...
Whilst when I die, I'll be dead and won't know what is happening to my body, whilst I'm still alive I'm not keen on the thought of being eaten by worms or fish, nor am I keen on the idea of rotting away in a crypt, so despite its ecological problems, like the majority of people in the world, I'll opt for cremation. In terms of land usage it is the most economical. Even more so if your ashes are scattered somewhere.
I'm RCC but am at odds with the Popes latest prohibitions concerning the remains of the dead. Officially, "Cremated remains must be buried, just like a body, in a cemetery, crypt, or other appropriate burial place. Scattering ashes or keeping them at home is not permitted" . Poooha, I say, remembering that for centuries the Church prohibited cremation and it has only been permitted since 1963 on the condition that "it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body”.
Changing Catholic Attitudes about Cremation
Of interest to me: the Romans, at times, after killing Christians would burn the bodies thinking that surviving Christians would be discouraged with the thought that the Romans had denied their friends any chance of a bodily resurrection. Poooha, I say, the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob is not that impotent!
One final thing to consider: worldwide there is a huge problem with finding space to bury the dead. The old ideas about Cemetary as a Necopolis (city of the dead) have had their day. Cities of the living need open space and trees. Think about the planning problems Sydney, NSW, Australia is having to confront...ithe same problems might be confronting your authorities...
Housing the dead: what happens when a city runs out of space?
I guess people need a place to mourn and a place to fixate on. I'll leave it up to whoever survives me. I might suggest they ask the local council for permission to dig a hole in a park, put my ashes in it and plant a tree on top and if they need to, at some stage nail a little plaque to the tree after it has grown a bit. Alternatively, just scatter my ashes in a flower bed or put them in the garbage bin. I won't care. I'll be dead! :
My youngest son requested that his ashes be scattered in the water at a beach over Manly way. So that is what I did and a great crowd of his friends came to say a final farewell...
I didn't know what my 2nd eldest son wanted, but he loved to surf down the south coast. So I scattered his ashes amoungst the waves.
There is an old saying in my family: we shed one tear for the departed and a hundred for ourselves. When you do your planning for your demise keep in mind those that will survive 'you'...
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