How does God want us to dispose of our earthly shell?

This is a question that bothers me...To tell you the truth.. I think being cremated and my ashes scattered to the wind
(because I'm a free spirit in life;so shall I be in death) sounds right for me.My question thou is some religions feel you should be buried into the ground...Now if this is so, years from now someone can dig up my DNA and clone me, and that is how I will awake from the dead...Count me out...I just wander what people feel Gods want us to do with our earthly shell ?

Very interesting question.
Glad to see the thread and I hope to hear a lot of back and forth on the subject.
Personally I've come to the conclusion I'm going to donate my body to science.
But for those who so not, it's a great subject.
S&F!

peace

reply to post by zbeliever


I'd say do what YOU prefer. It's your body, do what you want! I'm pretty sure that with all the loads of people who have been cremated vs. buried that God wouldn't be such a jerk as to judge someone for that. If he is, then perhaps you don't want anything to do with him? If that the case I certainly don't! Think of all the people who were burnt to death in fires....are they to be judged for not being buried in the ground?

Interesting topic =)

But there is no real debate - if you want to know the "greenest", most eco-friendly way of disposing the dead, hands down it is by burying them without coffins - essentially, composting them.

Check out this link. There's lots of documentation on the practice though - it's growing in popularity along with the growing awareness that we can't treat the planet any way we see fit and expect no consequences.

....yah .. no matter how you die .. eternity is yours ... even Heaven ... just some will take longer to get there than others but all can get there ...all ...

reply to post by Son of Will


Interesting...If you think about it...The natural way is probably gods way...But I think they have laws against you burring your died in the garden...

reply to post by Vonour


This is someting I believe very strongly about...That YES there is a after this life...I just wondered if there is something in the bible or other religious text that states what we are suppost to do with our bodys?

reply to post by zbeliever

...it is your body .. and you do with it what you like ... you are not inside that body after you die.. and it ends in dust .. no matter what yoou do with it... so .. your choice ...

I think our earthly shell is just that, a shell.

I don't think God cares what we do with our earthly shell. It is what you do with your soul that matters. For your soul cannot be destroyed, eventhough your shell might be incinerated in fire, and the ashes sprinkled in the wind.

VVV

Excellent question and one that I have not seen asked anywhere else.

I personally think that "God" does not care of what is done with the body when its time has passed.

What is of interest to "God" is how the soul has developed in my view. Do you care how you dispose of a computer when it has run its course? The human body, in my view, is used as nothing other than that; A computer!

Whilst I do not buy into the whole heaven and hell, God and Devil thing, I do understand that there is a greater power, a spiritual being there that is the creator, but I also buy into the never ending life cycle.

Again good question friend..

S&F for you.

As a Christian, It has always been taught, and even written in the Bible that we will have a new body, a different body in eternity...if I remember right, in Revelation21...it talks about an almost angelic body...no more pain, the cripple will walk, the blind will see....

So what happens to this old body doesn't matter. That is why persecution, pain, torture, and physical death does not bother a Christian...yes, it will hurt in this life, but the body will fade away, Ashes to ashes...dust to dust....from whence ye came from, so shall ye return.

But the soul lives forever. Be it as light, as spirit, as an angelic being I don't know....but we will live forever.

reply to post by AlreadyGone


The soul doesn't live forever, at least thats not what the bible teaches. the scripture you were quoting is talking about a physical body.
What to do about our body's when we die... the bible speaks of god knowing and memorizing every tiny detail of your body so he'd recreate you from that.
Accompanying scriptures on demand...

reply to post by zbeliever


God has the pattern and can resurrect regardless of a house fire or whatever . . .

However, burial in the ground has always been the Hebrew way.

Cremation has been the pagan and particularly demonized pagan way for centuries.

There are some oblique, obscure Bible verses that some take as an exhortation to bury or avoid cremation but I don't recall what they are. And, IIRC (If I Recall Correctly), one can take them as not referring to that, at all.

I was going to choose burial at sea--a Navy Vet's right. However, that's a lot of hassle.

I have a plot paid for and waiting in the cemetary my great grandfather is buried in . . . Time will tell if I make it or get the FIRST ELEVATOR UP!

unfortunately it won't be my problem.

i tell my wife, whatever she wants to do.

build a pyramid, burn me along the ganges, viking funeral, keep my ashes next to our dog on the window sill, keep me in the closet and tell people i am away.

i slipped these surly bonds of earth, our mortal coils, i believe in recycling but am afraid my toxic body will do more harm than good.

it depends on your faith.

reply to post by faceoff85


Thank you for the correction. However since so much of the Bible is left to interpretaion...you say tomAto...I say TOMaTO. Based on what I have read...the soul does live forever.

However, if you believe in the bigger picture of God and Salvation....and I do too; then I'll see you when I get there and w'ell see who's right...and if I'm wrong, I'll buy you a Coke.

reply to post by AlreadyGone


hehehe... thnx for taking it lighthearted but IMO this specific subject isn't up for interpretation. taking into account ALL texts dealing with this subject there really is no way for a soul to live forever let alone wind up in Hell or heaven.

Since this thread is based on biblical teachings I will try to prove my point (I hope Im not annoying anyone here but scriptures will pop up now )

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 (American Standard Version)


5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6 As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.

Psalm 146:4 (American Standard Version)


4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.

The plot thickens with this:

Ecclesiastes 3:19 (American Standard Version)


19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

The bible is quite clear on what happens with the dead... they really are dead in any and all sences..

Just for the fun of discussion

Donate any of my body parts that are healthy to someone alive who needs it more to stay alive - for free. One particular function of the body part may had broken down, but the rest of the bodily parts should be functionable with advances made daily in medical science.

I have no need for this shell where I'll be going when I breathe my last, and may it help another of my fellow brother or sister in need. The rest of the body parts not needed should be safely disposed of that will not cause an environmental or geological issue to others.

Originally posted by zbeliever
.Now if this is so, years from now someone can dig up my DNA and clone me, and that is how I will awake from the dead.

I'm not convinced that cloning would have that effect. If you have a twin, that twin is still a distinct person. I think a clone would be a distinct person.
Anyway, the Biblical God doesn't specify, and presumably doesn't care. Burying was obviously the norm in that particular culture, so Old Testament people are normally buried.
The only instruction the Biblical God gives on the subject is "keep dead bodies away from me". He regards dead bodies and the people who touch them as unholy.

Originally posted by zbeliever
This is a question that bothers me...To tell you the truth.. I think being cremated and my ashes scattered to the wind
(because I'm a free spirit in life;so shall I be in death) sounds right for me.My question thou is some religions feel you should be buried into the ground...Now if this is so, years from now someone can dig up my DNA and clone me, and that is how I will awake from the dead...Count me out...I just wander what people feel Gods want us to do with our earthly shell ?

Even if someone clones you through your corps, it won't be you. You are more than this avatar, without your soul, you are not you.

If you can see and imagine that concept, it will answer many questions..

reply to post by faceoff85


I could misunderstand, but does this basically says there is no afterlife or is it only about the body ?