Saying goodbye to a loved one is always difficult, and the process is even tougher because it frequently falls to relatives and close friends to oversee either the burying or cremating of the deceased. Making those types of arrangements is often emotionally wrenching, and there can be pressure to do right by your loved one in this last act. If possible, discuss plans with loved ones in advance and have a plan in place.
When it comes to cremation, many people hold a number of misconceptions and incorrect beliefs. Here are four common false beliefs people have about cremation, as well as the truth in each case.
1. Cremation is Less Respectful Than Burial
Some people hold the view that cremation is somehow less respectful than burial, but there’s nothing substantial behind this. A cremated body is treated with the same reverence and care that a buried body is, with a professional cremation service handling the preparation in each case.
In some ways, cremation allows for greater flexibility than a burial, as the more portable remains can be displayed or memorialized in any manner you choose. When it comes to saying last goodbyes, both burial and cremation offer a great deal of dignity and respect.
2. Cremation Means You Can’t Have a Funeral
There’s a belief that a funeral requires a physical body, but this simply isn’t true. The only thing necessary for a funeral is a congregation of family, friends, and associates willing to honor the life of the deceased.
After cremation, the remains can be displayed at the central point in a funeral home’s room, similar to where a body would be displayed. Many families choose to print out photographs of the deceased to sit beside the remains as a more tangible memory of their loved one.
3. Cremation Involves Setting a Body on Fire
When many people think of the cremation process, they imagine the body being engulfed in flames. However, this isn’t how cremation works.
A cremation oven uses intense heat to dispose of the organic material of the body, leaving behind bone fragments which are ground into a fine, powdery substance, which is then gathered in an urn or other receptacle. At no time is the body burning as though it were on a bonfire.
An alternative cremation technique exists called Alkaline Hydrolysis, or water cremation. With this method, a combination of an alkaline solution, high heat, and water accelerates the natural decomposition process and leaves behind bone fragments similar to a conventional cremation.
4. Cremation is Harmful to the Environment
Because cremation requires the energy needed to heat a cremation oven to between 1,400 and 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s a belief that it’s harmful to the environment. Some also worry about fumes being released during the process. In both cases, these objections aren’t accurate.
While it’s true that cremation does require energy, modern cremation chambers are engineered to be as eco-friendly and waste-free as possible. This equipment minimizes emissions and facilitates a clean, efficient process. Further, traditional burial involves the construction of a coffin or other burial receptacle, so each process requires the usage of a substantial amount of energy.