Cremation or burial?

[Alan Medic]

Having read a thread about some trees being felled to make more room in a cemetery, I just wondered why people choose one over the other. You?re basically going to rot and unless you believe you will rise on the last day, have you though about the state you might be in.

When I was growing up there was no such thing as cremation as far as I know. Given it's an option it seems the best bet all round. Take up less space and one less plot to be forgotten about in time.

Any views on this?

[red devil]

I think this thread will pass over and rise again in the Lounge...

[phobic3000]

Cryogenically freezing?

[DulwichFox]

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Having read a thread about some trees being felled

> to make more room in a cemetery, I just wondered

> why people choose one over the other. You?re

> basically going to rot and unless you believe you

> will rise on the last day, have you though about

> the state you might be in.

>

When I was growing up there was no such thing as

> cremation as far as I know. Given it's an option

> it seems the best bet all round. Take up less

> space and one less plot to be forgotten about in

> time.

>

> Any views on this?

Blimey, How old are you..

On 26 March 1885, the first official cremation in the UK took place in Woking. The deceased was Mrs Jeannette C. Pickersgill, whom The Times described as "a well-known figure in literary and scientific circles".

DulwichFox

[*Bob*]

(Irish) Catholic upbringing would be my guess?

They were late to the party / crematoria.

[James Barber]

Having studied archaeology I feel irrationally squeamish about some future archaeologist picking over my bones. So cremation for me.

[Penguin68]

I'd personally choose being left out in a black plastic sack for the bin men - but there are many people who psychologically or socially see ceremony and memorial as very important to them. Even the cremated can be then buried (as was always true - see excavations of Roman urns with ashes in them). Having somewhere to mourn (if that's your bag) is very important to some people - no reason not to choose something different for yourself, but I am against imposing my corpse disposal preferences on others. Hence my resistance to attempts to change an existing cemetery to a wilderness, when many people psychologically need cemeteries.

[srisky]

Cremation for me.

I want to make sure that I am definitely dead.

[steveo]

If you are a freeholder you can be interred in your own back garden in a cardboard box. However, don't go asking permission from the council because they will say no despite the fact they have no right to do so.

In shared freeholds neighbours' permissions are required and it is preferred that you do not take eternal sleep near a water main but otherwise you could be pushing up your own daisies

[DulwichFox]

This might help you make up your mind...

Python Undertakers sketch removed due to bad taste after watching it for the first time since 1970.

Cremation for me..

DulwichFox

[DulwichFox]

Blue - Green or Brown bin. ??

Foxy

[Mick Mac]

The advantage of cremation is you get to have your ashes spread somewhere nice, or you get to sit on the mantelpiece, where you have probably never gotten to sit before.

[Jeremy]

I'd like to be turned into compost, and "fed" to a fruit tree. Maybe cherry.

[Ridgley]

For me I prefer burial its seems less final and just in case they have made a mistake I will have a whistle to blow.

[Otta]

The claustrophobe in me absolutely shudders at the idea of burial.

But then the child who watched "diamonds are forever" in me is pretty freaked out by cremation too.

But I doubt I'll really care.

[EDOldie]

steveo Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If you are a freeholder you can be interred in

> your own back garden in a cardboard box. However,

> don't go asking permission from the council

> because they will say no despite the fact they

> have no right to do so.

>

> In shared freeholds neighbours' permissions are

> required and it is preferred that you do not take

> eternal sleep near a water main but otherwise you

> could be pushing up your own daisies

If you're on the Dulwich Estate so you'll probably need a licence.

My supposed Victorian relative (there's no proof just family legend) Dr William Price, was responsible for the reintroduction of cremation http://www.llantrisant.net/price.htm in the UK with his rather eccentric actions following the death of his infant son er, Jesus Christ. Anyway it's quite an interesting story if you've got ten minutes to read it

[Salsaboy]

Cremation for me. Or I'd like to be buried in a tree so people could look up to me when I've gone.

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The claustrophobe in me absolutely shudders at the

> idea of burial.

>

> But then the child who watched "diamonds are

> forever" in me is pretty freaked out by cremation

> too.

>

> But I doubt I'll really care.

I suspect you probably won't.

[uncleglen]

I thought the Vikings etc went in for ceremonial burning routinely...

[jollybaby]

Burial for me. Terrified of fire.

[edhistory]

The Southwark Woodfolk think burials contaminate our water.

[Seabag]

Smoked and then lightly brined please

[numbers]

I'm scared of fire too jollybaby. Yet also claustrophobic like otta. Dilemma!

[miga]

Maximum of pomp and ceremony for me. Full Orthodox, myhrr, men in dresses with big white beards, ancient incantations, women in black ullulating. Expensive coffin.

[Sue]

As long as somebody makes absolutely sure I'm not still alive (erm, in a non-killing way), I don't care what happens to my body .....