Cremation is more flexible by far, letting you choose whether to have a service at the crematorium or later on with the ashes. This can be helpful if you need more time to make arrangements or gather distant family members.
You also have a lot of options when it comes to the ashes. You can scatter them in a favourite spot, bury them, wear them in jewelry, put them in fireworks (or diamonds, or teddy bears, or coral reefs, or balloons … ) or even some combination of all the above.
Ashes can also be shared between family members, which is useful if you all live far apart and won’t be able to easily visit the same cemetery.
How do different religions feel about cremation vs. burial?
Specific groups within the main religions often have their own thoughts on whether cremation or burial is better, but we have a general guide here:
Hinduism: Hindus are usually cremated, as they believe that it helps the soul escape quickly from the body. Some families take the ashes to India to scatter them in the Ganges, while others will scatter them in a local river or the sea.
Sikhism: Cremation is generally preferred, but burial is considered fine when cremation isn’t possible.
Buddhism: Buddhists can choose cremation or burial. Cremation is more common, however, as it is believed that Gautama Buddha was cremated.
Christianity: Most Christian groups support cremation and burial equally, with a few exceptions. For example, the Eastern Orthodox Church forbids cremation. The Catholic Church does not, but the ashes need to be buried or stored in a sacred place.
Judaism: Jewish law asks that bodies be washed, dressed in the proper clothing, and buried (not cremated) as soon as possible. Despite this, a small number of Jewish people choose to be cremated.
Islam: Cremation is forbidden in Islam, as Muslims believe that the body should be honoured and respected as it was in life. Muslims are also prohibited from observing or aiding a cremation.
Instead, the body is washed, wrapped in a plain shroud, and prayed over before burial, ideally within 24 hours of the death.
