Posted on 03/27/2014 11:44:44 AM PDT by Graybeard58
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Cremation may be the new American response to death, according to a survey by LifeWay Research.
The study, which surveyed 1,036 Americans, shows that about 4 in 10 (41 percent) say they plan to be cremated.
Six in ten (58 percent) say being cremated won't keep you from being resurrected to live in heaven. And few (14 percent) say cremation is wrong.
The LifeWay online survey reflects the growing acceptance of cremation, which has become common in the United States.
About 4 in 9 (43.5 percent) Americans who died in 2012 were cremated, according to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). That's nearly double the rate from 1996 (21.8 percent).
LifeWay researchers found that few Americans have qualms about the practice.
More than 7 in 10 (71 percent) disagree with the statement, "I believe it is wrong to cremate a body after someone dies."
Only 3 in 10 (30 percent) disagree with the statement, "I plan to have my body cremated when I die." Forty-one percent agree, while 29 percent do not know.
Scott McConnell, vice-president of LifeWay Research, said cremation fits the way most Americans live these days.
"Few people stay in the same place all their lives, so they don't have strong connection to a place they want to be buried," he said. "Cremation is also often less expensive than burial. And many of the social taboos about cremation are fading."
The survey found that few Americans think cremation has any consequences for the afterlife. Fifty-eight percent disagree with the statement, "If someone's body is cremated, there is no way for them to be resurrected to live in heaven." Only 8 percent agree. One in 5 (20 percent) don't know. Fourteen percent say there is no resurrection to live in heaven.
Evangelical Christians have been wary of cremation in the past. And the practice does remain less common in the Bible belt. In Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, the cremation rate is among the lowest in the country, at 23.9 percent, according to CANA. By contrast, in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, the cremation rate is 60.3 percent.
In LifeWay's survey, self-identified born-again, evangelical or fundamentalist Christians are most likely (27 percent) to say that cremation is wrong and to disagree (42 percent) when asked about being cremated. They're also (70 percent) most likely to disagree when asked if cremation would keep someone from being resurrected to live in heaven.
Methodology: The online survey of adult Americans was conducted September 6, 2013. A sample of an online panel representing the adult population of the U.S. was invited to participate. Responses were weighted by region, age, ethnicity, gender and income to more accurately reflect the population. The completed sample is 1,036 online surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error from this panel does not exceed plus or minus 3.1 percent. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.
I used to be all for cremation...then I went to the funeral of a relative who was cremated. It’s weird but there’s no sense of closure...no chance to say goodbye in a sense. It was unsettling. Maybe not everyone feels that way but it was enough to change my mind.
LOL! The curbside pickup was my first choice, too.
That's the issue for me, I don't have a lot of family. My Dad passed a little over three years ago, my Mom has his ashes with her and she's in her eighties and poor health. Since I am in charge of her will and affairs after she passes I have already told her that I will bring my Grandmother's ashes together with her and my fathers in one place near us, and if my sister and brother can't deal with my spending money to do that tough beans.
You get it.
The mortal remains are not for the dead. We won’t care any more.
It’s comfort for the living.
Hitler didn’t give six million a choice!
Although the burning Viking longship funeral has some appeal, too.
I would also prefer cremation. I don’t think I’ve visited family resting places more than twice in the last 10 years.
With the advent of digital media, there will be plenty of memories of me to go around to anyone who cares. I won’t; I’ll be off waiting for the rest of you to join me.
I don’t think that is true. I went to the veterans website and all your family gets is a flag and some war disabled vets get a few bucks to help with the cost. If you have other information please direct me to it, I’m doing a living will.
I plan on being cremated. There are too many people who want to piss on my grave. I’m not giving them the pleasure.
A cousin of my points out another reason to have some type of marker, for future generations to answer questions about their heritage. I agree, it is a place to go to find solace.
I plan to be cremated and buried with my dog who passed a few years ago. He’s buried on the crest of a hill, under the pines.
I don’t know where you are from or what’s available in your area but my step father was recently buried at a military cemetary in Bloomfield, Mo. My mother will be buried there too. All that’s required is that you had military service. My step dad was a Korean war vet but combat is not a requirement. No cost either.
Cost for the funeral home, visitation, casket did require payment though.
My grandmother always insisted “land is for the living”.
Thanks as a genealogist, I’d like to mention that head stones are a means to help you ggggg grandchildren find out who you are. Who knows what paper and electronic records will survive 300-400 years from now.
Scattering the ashes you can still have someplace to visit, it’ll just be more generalized. We scattered my grandmother on her favorite mountain to look at coming home, all I need to do if I want to remember is look at Finger Rock. You could use the whole ocean.
If that works for you and others, that’s great! I can only speak for myself and like a little more local traditional place though I have friends ho have scattered their parents ashes in a place special to them.
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