Pros And Cons Of Cremation

Cremation comes with benefits and drawbacks, which is why some people choose to be buried instead. Read on for a list of the pros and cons of cremation.

Pros

I. Cheaper than burial

When you opt for cremation, you save the money that would have been spent on a burial or a funeral. A traditional funeral can cost thousands of dollars. Not only do you get to save on the actual expenses but also on taxes and other miscellaneous fees. If you want, however, additional services such as a memorial service or urns can be purchased. To find cheap cremation services in your area, click here.

II. Convenience

Perhaps the biggest benefit is that it’s far more convenient than burial. You don’t have to worry about digging a grave or figuring out how deep to dig it. Funeral homes usually take care of all the details, including cremation and returning the ashes (in an urn) to the family. Cremation can also be performed quickly, usually within one business day. This is perfect for people who procrastinated on prearranging their own funeral or burial.

III. You can take control of what happens to your body after death

If you are interested in holistic medicine, mysticism, astrology, witchcraft, and other alternative therapies, you can make arrangements while still alive to use your body after death for scientific research. This may be helpful if you want to advance medical knowledge and help others through your sacrifice. In some cases, the ashes from a cremation are mixed with paint and used in art projects.

IV. Bequeathing one’s body to science

You can leave your body to be used for scientific research. Cremation is the most popular means of donating bodies, both whole and partial. The process must take place within 24 hours after death, according to the Anatomical Gift Act of 1968.

Cons

I. Emotional strain

For many, cremation is simply not an option because they want to be buried alongside their loved ones or in the same cemetery. Some religions require burial for their members, including Catholics and Orthodox Jews. Cremation goes against these religious beliefs. For some people, it’s just too difficult to imagine being placed into a furnace and reduced to ashes.

II. Lack of connection with the body

Not everyone sees a body as just a vessel, husk, or shell that will ultimately perish anyway. There are those who believe in an afterlife and the possibility of reuniting with their loved ones after death, even if they’re gone for several years or decades. When someone dies, it’s difficult for some people to leave the body and not ask questions such as “where are they now?” or “do you think they can hear us?”

As you can see, the pros and cons of cremation even out to about the same overall value. You get what you put into it; if you treat your body with respect and dignity before death, then that’s usually how it will be treated after death (with some exceptions such as donating your body).

Different Types of Cremation

Cremation is the process of reducing a corpse to its basic elements. These are typically ashes, bone fragments, and sometimes even metal implants. The process requires several hours at very high temperatures in order to ensure that no organic material is left behind. Modern cremation processes have been modified from previous methods used for thousands of years, but it remains one of the final acts of respect for the dead.

The process follows several major steps:

1. Preparation of the body – Before cremation, a coroner or mortician will prepare the body with care. This includes disinfecting and dressing it as necessary to ensure that its appearance is as close as possible to what it was in life (unless this would cause distress to the family). The person will also be positioned on their back with their arms at their side.

2. Insertion of the body into the cremation chamber – The corpse is inserted into an incinerator that is pre-heated to between 800 and 1,000 degrees Celsius (roughly 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit). At these temperatures, the corpse will be reduced to ashes, bone fragments, and metal implants within 90 minutes.

3. Removal of ash, bone fragments, and metal implants – After the remains have cooled down enough for handling, they are removed by an attendant. This individual will separate the metal implants (such as screws) from organic material on them before placing everything into a cremulator, which grinds the bone fragments into tiny particles. The ashes are then placed in an urn or other appropriate container.

4. Identification of ashes – It is important to make sure that the remains are those of your loved one and not another individual who may have died during the same time period .

Different Types of Cremation

There are many types of cremations. These come in two major forms: direct and indirect.

Direct Cremation

Direct cremation occurs when the body is placed into the chamber, reduced to its basic elements, and then allowed to cool. This process may be supplemented with additional steps (such as grinding) once the ashes are removed from the chamber.

Indirect Cremation

Indirect cremation occurs when the body is placed in a retort, where it is exposed to high temperatures for up to several hours before the ashes are removed and cleaned. The process may be repeated, depending on desired results. Once they are clean, these ashes are ground into particles as well before being placed in an urn.