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> An average cremation takes 28 gallons of fuel. An average American has a carbon footprint of about 20 tons per year, so the ~540 pounds emitted from crematio

> An average cremation takes 28 gallons of fuel. An average American has a carbon footprint of about 20 tons per year, so the ~540 pounds emitted from cremation (stat from that article) is a drop in the bucket. Not to be flip about carbon use, but this is people's final wishes we're talking about. Death is a big deal.

chmod775 7y ago
Yup. It also isn't strictly about the dead, but rather about the living who get peace of mind from knowing that their wishes will be respected upon their death. Not to mention the mental wellbeing of their friends and family.
- saiya-jin 7y ago
  I think this comes from purely emotional perception of, well, life. And pure emotions are bad advisers more often than not. Rational view would be, no matter what religion (or lack thereof) - body after death is just a pile of fast decomposing organic material, nothing important neither for living nor deceased. I have much more respect for some eastern religions like Zoroastrians or some Buddhists in Tibet/high Nepal who chop the bodies of their close ones and leave it to predators. That's a true expression of proper belief in their religions. People can't stand sight of their close one decomposing (apart from some remote tribes who have mummies/skulls of ancestors around the house), some would even be properly traumatized, but yet there is some obscure need to have the same biological matter confined somewhere where they can come and feel 'connected' again. Wouldn't a photo/3D model/hologram of the person achieve the same? I mean, I wouldn't care less if somebody brings some flowers to my grave or lights candles. Just remember me when convenient, some good experiences and I will be glad
  - viraptor 7y ago
    > Rational view would be, no matter what religion (or lack thereof) I think you have to decide on rational or religion. Religion is based on beliefs, not on rationality (whether they happen to match up or not) For example eastern orthodox church has very specific rules about preserving the body and still (I think?) doesn't allow cremation. > apart from some remote tribes You may want to check on the bone washing tradition in Latin America. That's far from "remote tribes".

chmod775 7y ago

Yup. It also isn't strictly about the dead, but rather about the living who get peace of mind from knowing that their wishes will be respected upon their death. Not to mention the mental wellbeing of their friends and family.

saiya-jin 7y ago
I think this comes from purely emotional perception of, well, life. And pure emotions are bad advisers more often than not. Rational view would be, no matter what religion (or lack thereof) - body after death is just a pile of fast decomposing organic material, nothing important neither for living nor deceased. I have much more respect for some eastern religions like Zoroastrians or some Buddhists in Tibet/high Nepal who chop the bodies of their close ones and leave it to predators. That's a true expression of proper belief in their religions. People can't stand sight of their close one decomposing (apart from some remote tribes who have mummies/skulls of ancestors around the house), some would even be properly traumatized, but yet there is some obscure need to have the same biological matter confined somewhere where they can come and feel 'connected' again. Wouldn't a photo/3D model/hologram of the person achieve the same? I mean, I wouldn't care less if somebody brings some flowers to my grave or lights candles. Just remember me when convenient, some good experiences and I will be glad
- viraptor 7y ago
  > Rational view would be, no matter what religion (or lack thereof) I think you have to decide on rational or religion. Religion is based on beliefs, not on rationality (whether they happen to match up or not) For example eastern orthodox church has very specific rules about preserving the body and still (I think?) doesn't allow cremation. > apart from some remote tribes You may want to check on the bone washing tradition in Latin America. That's far from "remote tribes".