The Rise of Cremation: Benefits and Popularity

In the words of Robert Frost,

“Some say the world will end in fire.

Some say in ice,

From what I’ve tasted of desire,

I hold those who favour fire.”

The point that Robert Frost is trying to make here is that there is not much difference in how you depart from this world. It’s very subjective on its own. However, people have started preferring cremation over burial due to three main reasons, specifically cost, environmental considerations, and the declining influence of religion. 

If we talk statically, then in 2016, the cremation rate in the U.S. surpassed 50% for the first time, according to the National Funeral Directors Association, and it is supposed to hike up to 79% by 2035. Historically as well, cremation has been a part of the tradition for a very long time in South and Southeast Asian countries as a ceremony to honour their loved ones.

Nowadays, people choose cremation because they believe it is the right choice for them, not because everyone else is doing it. Let’s look at the reasons why cremation would be a better end-of-life option for you or your loved one.

1. Religious reasons:

In recent years, there has been a shift in the outlook on death and religious beliefs. People see cremation as a spiritual element of their passing of their physical body back to its origin, in the form of ashes. They don’t want to be burdened anymore by materialistic constraints.

Moreover, in many religions, as I mentioned above, cremation is compulsory, for example, in Hinduism, whereas Islam prohibits cremation completely.

What many people don’t know is that an individual can be buried as well as cremated at the same time. Cremation comes first, and then the ashes are buried in cemeteries or any other sacred place where they are to be taken care of periodically. For instance, Catholicism allows this.

2. Cost effectiveness:

It is quite difficult to focus on the physical aspects of arranging a funeral when someone very close to you has passed away, but it’s a necessity too. If you wish to honour the deceased in the right way, you have to look at the finances altogether.

Furthermore, as one is aware, an average burial is quite expensive, leaving the additional costs aside. Even if your loved one sets aside some of their accumulated resources, memorial bills will deplete most of them. This is because burials include various additional costs, such as headstones, embalming, and a casket.

Alternatively, urns are much cheaper in this sense. Cremation doesn’t give you a hole in your pocket. And you won’t regret the process because it is environmentally sustainable too. You can either store the ashes at your place, distribute them as a token of love to your familial relations, or scatter them in the air or open ocean.

But beware of its legal flaws, as scattering cannot be done anywhere or everywhere.

3. Environmental considerations:

The popularity of cremation has grown alongside the environmentalist’s movement, which supports more nature-friendly methods to give back to our earth. On the other hand, traditional burial methods are perceived as destructive. It would be a lie to showcase that cremation is a purely sustainable practice, but I assure you that it is certainly more advantageous than traditional burials. Here are some pointers to prove that: —

(a.) Reduced land usage:

Cremation is a very affordable alternative to burial because it saves replenishable resources such as land, which can be used for other useful purposes.

(b.) Lower carbon footprint:

Direct cremation generally requires very little energy and fuel, which is also nowadays substituted with green hydrogen. Therefore, cremation technologies are excelling in their arena and developing the most advanced mechanisms to reduce energy waste. Moreover, the carbon footprints released while cremating a body are less than those produced by an average burial.

(c). Limited Hazard to Wildlife

The practice of embalming the body during burial involves the use of chemicals such as formaldehyde, which can leach into the groundwater, causing biomagnification in animals after consuming the water resources.

4. Feasibility is ensured.

A memorial service can be directly arranged after the cremation, which is holistic and complete in itself. There is no rush to hold a memorial ceremony in the case of a cremated body, even if family members get late due to any financial or time constraints. Whereas burial in itself comes with a lot of time and effort constraints, most specifically, a human body starts decaying, which is always a concern. Hence, embalming and other chemicals are preferred.

Conclusion:

Therefore, cremation is not only a fancy trend; instead, it is becoming the need of the hour. Even if you are financially sound and can afford a proper burial, it would be a smart choice environmentally to cremate and carry the ashes as a memorial.

Despite all this, it is crucial to understand people’s choices and sympathise with them in their difficult times, no matter what their path is.

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