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Why People Choose Cremation
Over In-Ground Burial Burial Or Above-Ground Entombment
America's cremation rate is growing faster than projected by industry experts.
There are many reasons why people are choosing cremation over whole-body, in-ground burial or above-ground entombment. We'll look at the major reasons below.
It's important for you to know that the most valid reason for choosing cremation is your reason. You don't owe anyone -- not me, your funeral director, or your minister, priest or rabbi -- any explanation whatsoever.
Let's quickly look at some cremation statistics:
- National cremation rate (2004 confirmed): 30.88% of all deaths cremated
- State with the highest cremation rate: Hawaii (67.50% of deaths cremated)
- State with the lowest cremation rate: Mississippi (8.81% of deaths cremated)
- Top Five Cremation States (in descending order):
- Hawaii (67.50%)
- Nevada (67.26%)
- Washington (62.86%)
- Oregon (61.91%)
- Arizona (59.14%)
Cremation projections by industry experts: 38.15% by 2010 and 51.12% by 2025. I strongly disagree with both of these projections. I forecast the cremation rate to be at 42% in 2010 and 58% by 2025.
Okay, now that you know some cremation stats, let's look at why people choose cremation...
- The cremation rate rises as the educational level increases. College graduates are more likely to consider cremation than someone with a high school education or a high school dropout.
- Where personal income is high, so is the cremation rate. Wealthy people view cremation as a viable disposition option whereas people who have little (or no) disposable income tend to choose burial for their dead.
- As the family unit grows more distant, the cremation rate rises. "Big" families of twenty or thirty years ago, where everyone lived within 10 miles of one another, are going the way of those old roadside Burma shaving product ads. According to Rutgers University, the marriage rate has declined nearly 50% since 1970. It's "in" to be single today. Couples that do marry are either having one child or raising three small dogs. We also live far away from each other today. Years ago, when someone from Pennsylvania said that their family was from "out of town," that meant Hoboken New Jersey. Today, "out of town" means Los Angeles or Seattle. Given all of this, a simple cremation service with a memorial service that's held on a date that's convenient for everyone fits the bill.
- As dependence on organized religion decreases, the cremation rate rises. People who believe that the Bible (or any sacred textbook) is the literal word of God will almost universally choose burial over cremation. People who consider themselves "spiritual" or "other" on census forms or public polls will strongly consider cremation when a death occurs.
- The shameful death often results in cremation. I've italicized the word "shameful" for good reason: there are NO shameful deaths. Sadly, others think otherwise. Suicides, drug overdoses, and deaths from AIDS or diseases caused by certain addictive behaviors are often viewed as shameful by family members and they frequently request cremation to "get things over with as quickly as possible."
The Practical Aspects of Cremation
Here are some points to ponder if you're considering cremation for yourself or a loved one...
- A cremation service, particularly a direct cremation service, is 1/4 the cost of a traditional American funeral that's followed by whole-body, in-ground burial.
- A memorial service after a direct cremation can be arranged at a time that's convenient for you. There is no rush to make decisions in a matter of hours that will ultimately cost thousands of dollars.
- Some people find that a memorial service is more therapeutic than a funeral service because more people can get involved in the planning and its execution. You can conduct a memorial service 30 days after a death allowing family and friends plenty of time to gather meaningful scriptural passages, poetry, literary quotes, music, photos and videos. When you arrange a traditional funeral, there's barely enough time to get a new suit and arrange for a haircut.
- Modern cemeteries -- often called memorial parks -- are sterile, lack character, and are of no historical value whatsoever with their boring and bland flat bronze or granite markers. You can't even visit a grave during the winter because all of the markers are covered by snow.
- On a long enough time line, every cemetery in America will fall into disrepair. I know of community mausoleums that are falling apart now...what will become of these buildings in the year 2050? An acre of ground can accommodate approximately 750 burials. Large cemetery corporations are already selling unused cemetery acreage for residential and commercial development. Here's a link to an interesting article concerning a small cemetery in the city of Hazleton Pennsylvania - click here.
- Will future generations respect cemeteries like we do? The pharaohs of Egypt believed that their burial tombs would provide safe shelter forever; meanwhile, most burial chambers were plundered by grave robbers within a matter of weeks after the interment and in the 1800's, mummies were actually dismembered and used for fuel! Not a very pleasant prospect to consider, is it?
- I don't want my DNA available to anyone after my death. The only way to safeguard this is through cremation.
Okay, so now you know why people choose cremation over burial. The statistical information on this page was gathered from health department abstracts and data available from The Cremation Association of North America.
I want you to think and to be armed with knowledge. A knowledgable person who thinks and employs reasoning skills generally makes solid decisions in life.
When you think about it, in the grand scheme of things, whether we bury or cremate the dead has little impact on world events. Do what feels right for you, not anyone else.
Comments? Questions? Visit the Contact page and drop me e-mail. I'd love to hear from you!
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