Thus, it is believed that when a person dies, he leaves the physical body and his soul descends to Heaven based on his merit.

With Heaven, there has got to be its counterpart, that is, Hell which is meant for Satan and souls with bad deeds who do not believe in God or His authority. Hence, souls that are not fit to be transferred to Heaven are sent to Hell.

Another difference between the two is that there are varieties of pleasures and enjoyment in Heaven whereas in Hell, there are different types of punishments.

However, it is hard to believe in any sense of pleasure or pain after death without the body. This indicates that the soul must have senses in order to enjoy in Heaven or suffer in Hell.

Most religions unanimously state that there are numerous pleasures in Heaven and atrocities in Hell; the most popular being, the one in which the souls are cooked in boiling oil. Greek mythology, too, mentions similar places; they are called Elysium and Tartarus.

It is imperative to distinguish between the soul and the spirit soul as the soul is on a subtle material platform whereas the minute spirit soul is an eternal and completely spiritual entity.

Another important point to consider is that the Heaven we are discussing here is different from the eternal kingdom of God because when one resides in the latter, one selflessly dedicates one’s entire existence to God, and lives to please Him, not one’s own selfish and sensual desires.

The spirit soul is meant to have a relationship with God and this relationship is the source of bliss experienced in the kingdom of God where He resides with His associates. Heaven, however, is directed at providing pleasure for the soul.

Interestingly, some people have reported having spiritual experiences during near-death experience and coma.

At The Daily Beast, you can read an article explaining a neurosurgeon’s experience with afterlife. Similarly, you can read about Matthew Botsford’s experience of hell at The Christian Post.

Here are some scriptural quotes about heaven and hell.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
John 14:2

“Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:”
Revelation 21:11-12

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;”
2 Peter 2:4

“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Revelation 1:18

“and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:50

“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”
Luke 23:43

“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
Matthew 25:46

Accepting death and coping with grief of losing a loved is overwhelming. Thus, the bereaved family members need the love and support of their friends and relatives.

However, if you do not have any words to comfort the bereaved, here are some condolence, bereavement, and sympathy quotes that can be helpful. You can use these quotes on sympathy gifts and cards.

“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”
Thomas Campbell

“I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.”
Leo Buscaglia

“Life is eternal, and love is immortal,
and death is only a horizon;
and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.”
Rossiter Worthington Raymond

“Perhaps the stars in the sky, are loved ones letting us know they are near, by guiding us through the night”
Author Unknown

“As you comprehend this profound loss, let yourself cry knowing each tear is a note of love rising to the heavens”
Author Unknown

“You don’t get over it, you just get through it. You don’t get by it, because you can’t get around it. It doesn’t ‘get better,’ it just gets different. Everyday grief puts on a new face.”
Wendy Feireisen

“Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower, We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.”
William Wordsworth

“Those we love and lose are always connected by heartstrings into infinity.”
Terri Guillemets

“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”
Kahlil Gibran

“I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me, but I find I am grateful for having loved them. The gratitude has finally conquered the loss.”
Rita Mae Brown

“He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

“As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death.”
Leonardo Da Vinci

“There is no death. Only a change of worlds.”
Chief Seattle

“While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil.”
John Taylor

“May the blessings of love be upon you
May its peace abide with you
May its essence illuminate your heart
Now and forever more”
Sufi Blessing

“It is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life; ’tis rather an embrio state, a preparation for living; a man is not completely born until he be dead: Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals?”
Benjamin Franklin

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Psalms 34:18

“My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
and my portion for ever.”
Psalm 73:26

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13

When dealing with the loss of a loved one, it is essential to share your grief and emotions with someone you trust. So, you can encourage a bereaved friend to share his or her feelings and memories of the deceased with you.

In addition, you can give a soothing sympathy or memorial gift like memorial wind chimes, memorial jewelry, etc. to your friend.

Moreover, you can assist the bereaved family members make arrangements for the funeral service and final disposal of the remains.

Beautiful quotes can also be inscribed on headstones and gravestones to memorialize a loved one. In case you are wandering where to find headstones and markers then you may choose headstone designs from a funeral home, cemetery, or local monument company.

Besides, you can order the marker online through sites like www.monuments.com, www.buymemorials.com, www.memorials.com, and so on.

Apart from burial, you can buy a headstone (to be placed in a memorial garden) after cremation, too. You can find detailed information on cremation at www.cremationresource.org.

According to the historical teaching of Lord Buddha, nirvana refers to the achievement of perfect peace of mind and freedom from identity with material phenomena.

Hinduism defines this concept as Sayujya, Yogakshemma, Brahma-upalabdhi, etc. Buddhism, like Hinduism, believes in the concept of rebirth or reincarnation which emphasizes wandering through sams?ra due to craving and ignorance.

“Where there is nothing; where naught is grasped, there is the Isle of No-Beyond. Nirvana do I call it—the utter extinction of aging and dying.”

Rebirth means that when a person dies, he takes birth again due to previous karma and this cycle of birth and death continues until nirvana is attained.

Buddhists, however, do not believe in a permanent soul; rather they lay emphasis on the continuance of the mind, a stream of mental energy.

It is believed that on the night of His enlightenment, Buddha acquired three varieties of knowledge, including detailed knowledge about His own past lives.

You can read more about rebirth and nirvana, as per Buddhist philosophy, at www.buddha101.com and www.buddhanet.net. Moreover, there is detailed information on nirvana at Wikipedia.

Thus, according to Buddhism, death marks the transition from the current life to the next life. It holds immense religious significance because after death, the karmic forces become activated in order to determine the next birth.

Hence, the bereaved family members participate in death rites to assist the deceased in this transition on to an auspicious rebirth.

Furthermore, the death of a loved one reminds the bereaved near and dear ones of the teachings of Lord Buddha emphasizing impermanence.

As for funeral and disposal of the body, though, Buddhists are not very particular about cremation or burial. You can find information on the process of death, on this site. You can get details about death and dying in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, here.

Among the different cycles of death and dissolution, as the mind begins to dissolve, and the person eventually becomes unconscious, there is total emptiness or the mind of clear light which is considered as the final vision of death.

This vision is similar to that experienced by those who have had a near-death experience and seen a brilliant, peaceful light after passing through a black tunnel.

Inspirational Buddhist Quotes about Life and Death

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”

“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”

“Even the gorgeous royal chariots wear out; and indeed this body too wears out. But the teaching of goodness does not age; and so Goodness makes that known to the good ones.”

“Everything is changeable, everything appears and disappears there is no blissful peace until one passes beyond the agony of life and death.”

“To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.”

“Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true law.”

“Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.”

“Without health life is not life; it is only a state of languor and suffering an image of death.”

“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?”

Memorial gifts, also known as sympathy or condolence gifts, thus, can be useful in healing process. These gifts are usually aesthetic and thoughtful as they are meant to honor the deceased. Furthermore, when you present a condolence gift to the bereaved, it shows your support for the mourner.

Most common memorial gifts include memorial jewelry, key chain, memorial rocks, garden stones, ornaments, wind chimes, personalized memorial clocks, picture frames, candles, shadow boxes, and so on.

You can find a number of beautiful memorial gifts at The Comfort Company, Memorials.com, Heart to Heart Sympathy Gifts, Gift Tree, and other online stores.

Some people prefer to give condolence cards, food baskets and flowers. You may also consider gifting a spiritual and inspirational book, a grief guidebook, or a grief support CD.

Besides, gifting a memorial tree to be planted as a living memorial or making a donation in the deceased individual’s favorite charity or some other non-profit organization is another brilliant idea.

Furthermore, you can create a homemade memorial gift for a friend, neighbor, family member, etc. To get more ideas for sympathy and bereavement gifts, read this.

Given Below are a Few Memorial Gifts that you may find Interesting

In Loving Memory Comfort Candle

This is a beautiful gift that includes a gift boxed candle holder and tea light. The candle holder features a nice memorial message, “In memory…Of a Life so beautifully lived…A Heart so deeply loved.” You can find this wonderful gift at Planet Gift Baskets for $21.99.

Memories of you…Stepping Stone

Available at www.thecomfortcompany.net, this soothing hand cast stepping stone works as a great outdoor memorial. The inscription on the stone reads, “Memories of You fill my mind like thousands of Bright Stars in the sky.” It is priced at $49.99.

Sympathy Angel Holding Star

This is a Pavilion Gift Company Elements 9-Inch Sympathy Angel Holding Star. It is prepared from resin and includes hand-painted details.

There is a message on the sympathy angel that reads, “Perhaps they are not Stars in the sky, but rather openings where our Loved Ones shine down to let us know they are happy.” You can find this charming yet affordable memorial gift at Amazon at a price of $27.86.

Baby Booty Keepsake Jewelry

Opting for cremation jewelry is increasingly becoming a popular way to memorialize a deceased loved one. Thus, you can purchase a memorial pendant, locket, bracelet, bangle, etc. for yourself or for a bereaving friend or relative.

For instance, when looking for a piece of cremation jewelry for infant loss, you may consider buying the Baby Booty Keepsake Jewelry (shown above) made of silver sterling.

It is crafted by a skilled artistic jeweler. You may keep up to one teaspoon of ashes, a lock of hair, or some other small belonging of your child in this unique pendant. It is available at Memorials.com for $97.95.

You can also find fabulous pet memorials and keepsakes on this site. Shown below is a huggable brown teddy bear urn which can hold about 10 cubic inches of cremated remains.

In case your pet is buried, you can store a little soil from the place of burial. This memorial gift is perfect for a kid dealing the loss of a beloved pet. It shall cost about $47.95.

Solar Memorial Wind Chimes

Solar memorial wind chimes from Heart to Heart Sympathy Gifts are hand sculpted and painted. The wind chime features a solar panel at the top that charges during the day and lights up the chimes at night. The product is made of polyresin and comes with rechargeable battery. It is available at a price of $33.45.

This religion originated in the Hebrew Bible. There are three large groups, denominations, or Jewish religious movements. They are: Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism, and Reform Judaism.

The Jews treat their dead with respect. They light candles next to the body of the deceased and do not leave it alone at any time, until the body is buried.

Thus, a Shomer stays with the departed person while a family member or a Chevra Kaddisha member recites psalms.

Generally, Judaism discourages autopsies but it may allow the procedure (should be minimally intrusive) if absolutely necessary or required by law.

The Jews regard the process as desecration of the body. Judaism forbids suicide and does not approve of active euthanasia, too.

Furthermore, Jews believe in simple yet significant funeral practices adhering to the Jewish tradition. Judaism requires burying the deceased as soon as possible because until the proper burial, the soul remains in turmoil.

In addition, it considers holding an open casket viewing as disrespectful for the deceased and thus, forbids this ceremony. When the body is prepared for burial, it is washed with warm water and dressed in white burial shrouds.

You can get detailed information on traditional Jewish customs concerning death and mourning at www.aish.com.

Moreover, at the Chevra Kadisha Mortuary website, you shall find details on Jewish laws and customs of mourning.

On a deeper level, according to Judaism, the soul is theocentric, that is centered around G-d because the soul originates from Him and finally returns to Him. They have a firm faith that life and death are a part of G-d’s plan.

Jewish Quotes and Proverbs About Life and Death

“Whoever enjoys his life is doing the Creator’s will.”

“The only truly dead are those who have been forgotten.”

“When you have no choice, mobilize the spirit of courage.”

“The dust returns to earth, as it was, and the spirit returns to God, who gave it!”
Ecclesiastes 12:7

“You are to remember everything of the way in which Adonai led you these forty years in the desert, humbling and testing you in order to know what was in your heart — whether you would obey his mitzvot or not.”
Deuteronomy 8:2

“A Psalm of David. the Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He guideth me in straight paths for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
Psalm 23:1-6

The incident is likely to have a lasting impact, leaving you with innumerable sleepless nights and bouts of extreme emotions.

The symptoms may manifest differently in different individuals as some may be disturbed for several days, weeks, and months but again return to normal while others may not show these symptoms in the beginning but maybe a few weeks after the incident.

It is even worse when you witness the loss of a loved one as it tends to make you ponder over the futility of life itself. More often than not, initially, people find it difficult to accept the reality of death.

After all, it is never easy to see someone take the last breath. Breathing is such a routine activity for us that we simply ignore it. Thus, after witnessing a living being’s last breath, we tend to realize about the flickering nature of this life.

Suicide is another similar event that is hard to get over with. It is extremely difficult to recover from this grief and shock all by yourself.

So, it is suggested that you discuss your experience and share your feelings with a close friend or relative. In fact, avoid being lonely after witnessing the event.

Being with someone who you can talk about your experience shall help you unburden yourself which, in turn, can be useful, to some extent. Here is an article explaining how to help people who have witnessed violence and death.

When you recover from the initial awe and shock, you can give yourself time to think deeply about the importance of life and death instead of lingering on the idea of death as the end of everything and being fascinated only with death.

After all, though frightening, death is basically a transition from one realm of existence to another as the spirit soul never ceases to exist.

The entity being discussed in this context is different from the ethereal soul, which is a subtle covering of the spirit soul apart from the gross physical body.

You can read about the subtle body and causal body at Wikipedia. On this page, you shall find a diagrammatic representation of the various covering of the spirit soul.

So, make an attempt to relax and accept the inevitable death with spirituality. If everything had to culminate in death, there would have been no reason for having life.

However, Mother Nature is not irrational. There is always a valid reason behind each of her activities. Therefore, do not underestimate the value of life.

Try to learn from your experience instead of getting stuck in it and reliving it again and again. This, however, is not as easy as it sounds as it can take a long time to put things behind.

You can seek help from a therapist or psychiatrist, too. Here is an article from www.namiut.org explaining how to recover from the grief of losing a loved one to suicide.

Christianity, for instance believes in the continued existence of the soul that is ideally meant to reach Heaven and they eternal life there in the presence of God. Islam, too, believes in this sort of afterlife of the soul in Paradise or Hell after the Day of Judgment.

Moreover, accounts of near-death experiences also hint toward an afterlife as many people have seen an indescribable yet soothing light and even met their deceased loved ones there.

According to Buddhism and Hinduism, though, the soul tends to take birth again after death. In fact, as per these religions, the spirit soul’s next birth greatly depends upon the state of mind in which a person dies.
You can read about the Tibetan Buddhist teachings on death and rebirth on this page.
 
“Life, death and rebirth are inevitable.”- Rig Veda

Moreover, it is stated in Bhagavad Gita, “As person abandons worn-out clothes and acquires new ones, so when the body is worn out a new one is acquired by the Self, who lives within.”

The same Gita explains the spirit soul as, “It is only the body which dies, and not the soul. The soul can never be perished, burned by fire, or cut by a sword. The soul is eternal, and one who attains the knowledge of the self, know him to have attained me.”

The Hindus believe that the soul changes bodies just like we change clothes. Hence, throughout its existence, the soul takes birth and dies numerous times. These various rebirths are also referred to as the reincarnations of the soul.

Thus, simply put, the changeless spirit remains the same but its subtle covering, that is, the ethereal soul, is filled with desires and has a number of karmic debts, it takes birth in different species of life, whether as a micro-organism, animal, tree, or human being.

Unless these desires and karmic reactions are exhausted, transmigration of the soul from one body to another does not end.

The cessation of this cycle of birth and death is called salvation or ‘nirvana’ as per Buddhism. In case you are not sure about the concept of karma then suffice it to know that karma refers to one’s deeds and actions based on one’s intentions.

However, one does not tend to remember one’s previous births. Incidents of NDEs, though, give us a glimpse of what happens after death. Furthermore, individuals have reported unusual experiences during coma, too.

In addition, though not proven, some people have also reported remembering tits and bits about their past lives.

The phase between death and next birth is not clear but according to Spiritualscientist.com, during this time, the soul which is not spiritually advanced is prone to be attacked by negative energies.

Moreover, it is attached to its physical body even after death. Thus, it is recommended to follow the funeral rituals, cremate the body, and disperse the ashes and the urn in holy waters to help the soul move to its next destination instead of continuing to linger on the earthly plane.

Thus, the concept of death and repeated births emphasizes the importance of life and makes one inquire about its actual meaning and purpose.

As we all know, life, especially human life is a special gift from God because humans are endowed with much better intelligence than other beings. Thus, it is one’s responsibility to lead this life in a suitable manner and use it constructively.

Thus, although death is a universal experience, it is interpreted in numerous ways in all the cultures and religions. Consequently, there are different methods for disposing of the body of the deceased.

Religious Beliefs on Death and Dying

Christianity

Christianity believes in an afterlife in Heaven or Hell depending on one’s conduct on earth and belief or disbelief in God. The believers face death without fear and gain eternal life in Heaven in the presence of God.

It is believed that the body itself is also a gift from God. Thus, it has to be celebrated and honored. Therefore, elaborate funeral procedures are performed after death.

In general, Christians are free to either bury or cremate the dead body. The Catholics, however, prefer burial over cremation. You can read about the Christian beliefs on Afterlife at Religion Facts.

Islam

Islam believes in continued existence of the soul with transformed physical existence and a Day of Judgment (similar to Catholicism) deciding eternal destination of the human beings to Paradise and Hell.

Thus, when one approaches death, the family and friends give comfort to the individual and recite from the Qur’an, thereby reminding one of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Upon death, the near and dear ones are encouraged to stay calm and consider the loss as God’s will because He is the one who gives life and takes it away.

After death, there are no complicated rituals, and the body is washed and wrapped in a shroud for burial as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours, in order to avoid embalming.

Cremation is usually prohibited in Islam. You can get detailed information on the Islamic view on death at www.deathreference.com. To understand read about cremation, visit Cremation Resource.

Hinduism

According to Hinduism, the oldest known religion in the world, death is a natural process in the existence of a soul that takes several births and reincarnations on the basis of karma.

It explains the body like a set of clothes covering the soul. Hence, the soul changes bodies like one changes clothes.

Hindus think of prolonging one’s life artificially as interfering with karma and hence does not encourage it. More often than not, they prefer dying at home.

So, they mostly bring terminally ill loved one’s home so that they can die at home peacefully while family members sing, pray, and read the scriptures to help the dying individual focus on Brahman.

After death, Hindus generally dispose of the dead body by way of cremation (except for great spiritual leaders who are respectfully buried) and disperse the cremated remains in holy waters.

During the funeral, they prefer to wear white or dress casually but avoid black. To read more about Hindu beliefs on death, dying, and funeral rites, visit Hinduism Today. Plus, you can get information on traditional Hindu beliefs on this page.

Buddhism

Buddhist funeral traditions tend to vary because there are different types of Buddhism. Nevertheless, like Hindus, Buddhists also believe in rebirth, which is influenced by the state of mind in which a person dies.

Thus, while dying, a Buddhist is surrounded by family member, friends, and monks who chant mantras and recite Buddhist scriptures to help the person leave the mortal body in a peaceful state of mind.

After death, Buddhists can either be buried or cremated, as per their tradition. You may read about Bhuddist reflections on death, here.

Chinese Folk Religion

Chinese folk religion is among major religious traditions in the world with at least 800 million adherents. It is a combination of Taoism and Mahayana Buddhism.

According to this religion, it is believed that at the time of death, the spirit is taken to Ch’eng Huang, the God of walls and moats for a sort of preliminary hearing.

Those found virtuous in this hearing are allowed to go to one of the Buddhist paradises. Besides, they may go to the place were Taoist immortals reside. Furthermore, they can be sent to the Tenth Court of Hell, followed by immediate rebirth.

Sinners, on the other hand, are sent to Hell for a fixed period of punishment. Hell is located at the base of the cosmic mountain, Mount Meru.

After the punishment is over, the souls are supposed to drink an elixir of oblivion. It helps prepare them for their next reincarnation.

Thus, as per Chinese folk religion, death opens a gap between earthly and spiritual existence. It is believed that the sinners descend to Hell after 49 days.

Hence, there are ceremonies performed at least for 49 days, especially during the first seven days. You can read more about this religion at Faithology and Light Planet.

You can learn more about cultural aspects of death and dying at Dimensions of Cuture.

This faith, however, is not mere blind faith because it is backed with reasoning that proves the prowess of the Almighty Lord rather than knowledge gathered by limited sense perception and motivated by false ego.

Thus, relying on the knowledge and understanding derived from the revealed scriptures, strengthened by wisdom is highly beneficial.

It helps build trust and faith. Furthermore, you can take inspiration from famous quotes, proverbs, and sayings.

Faith and Death Quotes

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”
1 Corinthians 15:14-17

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Faith is believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.”
Voltaire

“Life is a great sunrise. I do not see why death should not be an even greater one.”
Vladimir Nobokov

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Corrie Ten Boom

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
James 1:2-3

“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Reason is our soul’s left hand, Faith her right.”
John Donne

“Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn perfect patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion.”
Buddha

“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?”
C.S. Lewis

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Romans 10:17

“Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark. If we truly knew all the answers in advance as to the meaning of life and the nature of God and the destiny of our souls, our belief would not be a leap of faith and it would not be a courageous act of humanity; it would just be… a prudent insurance policy.”
Elizabeth Gilbert

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Reinhold Niebuhr

“Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.”
A.W. Tozer

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”
J.R.R. Tolkien

Cremation, on the other hand, is an irreversible process because it involves subjecting the body to high temperatures to reduce it into its basic elements.

However, contrary to the popular misconception, cremation does not result in ashes as shards and pieces of bones still remain. Thus, these bone fragments are further pulverized to get a powdery consistency.

The complete process is carried out in a crematorium and takes about two to three hours time, depending on the weight of the individual being cremated.

In case you are wondering what exactly is a crematorium then read this article from www.cremationresource.org. You shall also find detailed information about the process of cremation on the same site.

Coming to the religious and cultural aspect, cremation is allowed is most religious systems. In fact, it was the most popular way of disposing of the dead during ancient times.

Archeologists believe that it was invented during the Stone Age. This process, nevertheless, is discouraged by the Eastern Orthodox Church, Judaism, and Islam.

Nonetheless, if you are planning to get a departed loved one cremated, you can get a simple or elaborate cremation urn from a store selling memorial products.

You can find different types of urns such as keepsake urns, companion urns, biodegradable urs, and so on at , www.amazon.com, www.urngarden.com, www.memorials.com, www.stardust-memorials.com, etc.

Spiritual Significance of Cremation

The term cremation is derived from the Latin word ‘cremare’ or ‘crematus’ which means ‘to burn up’.

Some believe that cremation helps the mourners in healing and recovering from the loss because unlike slow decomposition after burial, it reduces the body to its component elements quickly, thereby encouraging acceptance of death.

In addition, some religions believe that incinerating the body helps usher the departed soul to its next life. Moreover, it promotes the soul’s detachment from its physical body.

Cremation, however, may not be required for highly enlightened individuals who are not attached to the body. To explore the spiritual perspective on cremation and burial, visit this site.

After cremation, the cremated remains can be disposed of in a number of ways like scattering them in air, on land, burying them in a family plot, dispersing the remains in sea, etc.

Besides, some people prefer to store the ashes in a cremation urn and display the urn on a mantle at home. This, however, is often discouraged from the spiritual point of view.

Spiritually speaking, dispersing or floating the cremated remains in a moving body of water such as a lake or sea is considered the best way to dispose of the ashes. After all, water is regarded as a cleansing substance.

In fact, it represents the Holy Spirit, too. You may get more insight on the mysteries of water at www.2012spiritual.info. Furthermore, water burial serves as the fastest route to dispersal.

Besides, at Daily Independent, you can find an interesting article on cremation and spirituality. To understand more about the history of cremation and Biblical views on cremation and burial, you can read this article from Religious Tolerance.org.

Thus, cremation is discouraged in Christianity because it is associated with punishment while burial is associated with honor.