Cremation Law

Cremation has been judged by various, and ever-changing, governments and social beliefs across the centuries. In certain empires, cremation was considered such a status symbol that "everybody" wanted to be cremated when it was their turn to pass on. Of course, when the masses had access to the same end-of-life ceremonies as the privileged, cremation lost some favor among the rich.

Then, in the early days of Christianity, society began to reject cremation because it was considered a heathen practice. In fact, everything even faintly associated with other, ancient gods was targeted for destruction, including libraries. The other reason for rejecting cremation was that it raised the question that cremated remains might not be capable of being reunited with the soul during the Resurrection that many millions firmly anticipate.

Pandemic illness, such as the Black Death of the 14th and 17th centuries, brought with it mass burning of bodies. Old records indicate as many as 60,000 bodies were burned in one week in just one city in Italy. In more recent disasters, corpses have also been burned to stop the spread of dire diseases.

Not till the 19th century did western governments once again legalize the disposal of bodies by cremation. The Industrial Revolution and its overcrowded, unpleasant cities had much to do with that legislation. In any event, such new laws made it possible for mortuaries to offer cremation as an alternative to ground burial.

Today, the Federal Trade Commission has strict rules that the funeral industry must follow. Full information is available to the public on the Internet or on record at your local library. These regulations include the consumer's right to purchase select services, receive information, and preserve the dignity of their loved ones.