Cremation or burial ? What is your choice ?

A "body farm" (formally known as a Human Taphonomy Facility) is a specialized research compound where human corpses are left exposed to the elements. These outdoor laboratories allow forensic scientists and anthropologists to study the exact stages of human decomposition in various environments, ultimately aiding in criminal investigations and estimating time of death.
 
Cremation first peaked in ancient civilizations (like Greece and Rome) before earth burial became the standard, but it became popular again in the late 20th century. In the United States, cremation rates hovered around 4% in 1960 and have since surged, eventually surpassing traditional burial as the most common method.

Several factors and milestones drove this explosive modern popularity:
  • Religious Shifts: Historically opposed to cremation, the Catholic Church lifted its ban on the practice in 1963. Major Protestant denominations also began accepting it, which helped remove the cultural stigma.
  • Decreasing Costs: Cremation generally offers a more affordable alternative to traditional burials, which has become a massive driver in its growth.
  • Environmental Concerns & Flexibility: Many people today view cremation as an eco-friendly option that saves space and allows for highly personalized memorial services.
 
I think the difference is all about your faith. Please understand that I do not judge anyone on what they believe. In my case I knew my daughter wasn't there in the body I touched. I know, for myself, that one's soul is not the body. The physical remains, if you will, were not her. She was gone.
I have seen people alive, yet soul less. Their eyes say it all. My belief in God centers around the fact that when we pass the mortal life our soul comes to him.
So to me, my daughter was with God. I believe that. Not because I was brought up that way. I wasn't brought up with any religious belief. I have talked to God thru the years. He knows me, he castigates me. He shows me where I am wrong. He loves me but I will pay for my sins. No if, ands or doubts. Never the less I am his. He will always love me because that is his promise.
So I know my daughter is with God.
I am sure this makes no sense to anyone, intellect or otherwise that has other thoughts.
I just know.
Faith will never be a subject for debate. It will never be presented as a subject for a debate. Yet faith defies medical understanding. It defies science and all that we understand about the world and ourselves. Faith is tangible yet not able to be tested . So please tell me where I have gone wrong.
All that aside. Lose is grievous and I pray for Gods comfort with what you are going thru.
 
A couple of weeks ago, my daughter and SIL mentioned Power of Attorney. So we got that organised (well just the initial signing, not had completion yet).

Aside from cremation which I'd already told her, I want a direct funeral, ie they pick up the body, burn it and give the ashes to her. No remembrance service or anything like that.

I told them the route to take my ashes to and scatter them - an isolated place on top of the hills where I used to live in one of my previous lives, well before settling down. She knows around there as I used to take her near there when she was younger for walks and picnics.

But she doesn't know about my secret place further up, which saw me through a lot. Not a soul around for miles, just nature and so high up you feel you could touch the sky.
I let her google it to make sure it was the right place.

She asked what about after that? Do whatever floats your boat petal. Go back to work, whatever.
Carry me in your heart and if you see a crossed vapour trail (as in an 'X') that's me blowing you a kiss.
(When she was 4 or 5 we had to have our dog put to sleep and when we came out of the vets, I saw a crossed vapour trail, and said 'See, there she is blowing us a kiss' ).

I also want to do a living will and get a necklace for DNR, which I keep meaning to do but haven't got around to doing yet. Writing this has reminded to get onto it!
 
gruntlabor said:
:) We must take extreme care in this life not to lose our humanity. There is no shortage of ghouls, feeders on people, walking around pretending to be people.
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you are correct but take comfort in knowing that we only lose our humanity when WE decide. The power of good is much more powerful than the power of evil. That will always be true.
 
debodun said:
A "body farm" (formally known as a Human Taphonomy Facility) is a specialized research compound where human corpses are left exposed to the elements. These outdoor laboratories allow forensic scientists and anthropologists to study the exact stages of human decomposition in various environments, ultimately aiding in criminal investigations and estimating time of death.
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That's interesting, deb....where are those situated ?
 
In the U.S.:

  • University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility (Knoxville, TN): The original "Body Farm," established in 1981 by Dr. Bill Bass. It is the most famous facility and focuses heavily on forensic training and decomposition studies in a temperate climate.
  • Texas State University Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (San Marcos, TX): The largest such facility in the world, spanning 26 acres and specializing in decomposition studies within a central Texas environment.
  • Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC): Home to the Forensic Osteology Research Station (FOREST), which opened in 2007 to study human decomposition in high-altitude, mountainous terrain.
  • Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX): Features the Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science (STAFS) Facility, focusing on forensic investigation in a sub-tropical setting.
  • Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL): Houses the Complex for Forensic Anthropology Research (CFAR), analyzing clandestine burials and Midwest decomposition patterns.
  • Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, CO): The first facility to study human remains in a high-desert, arid climate environment.
 
debodun said:
In the U.S.:

  • University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility (Knoxville, TN): The original "Body Farm," established in 1981 by Dr. Bill Bass. It is the most famous facility and focuses heavily on forensic training and decomposition studies in a temperate climate.
  • Texas State University Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (San Marcos, TX): The largest such facility in the world, spanning 26 acres and specializing in decomposition studies within a central Texas environment.
  • Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC): Home to the Forensic Osteology Research Station (FOREST), which opened in 2007 to study human decomposition in high-altitude, mountainous terrain.
  • Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX): Features the Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science (STAFS) Facility, focusing on forensic investigation in a sub-tropical setting.
  • Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL): Houses the Complex for Forensic Anthropology Research (CFAR), analyzing clandestine burials and Midwest decomposition patterns.
  • Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, CO): The first facility to study human remains in a high-desert, arid climate environment.
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Once you have smelt "decomposing human remains " you will never forget it. As an Ambulance Attendant, I was very familiar with that odor. A typical example is the person who lives alone, who has died in their sleep, and who is not discovered for a period of time. JIMB>
 
jimintoronto said:
Once you have smelt "decomposing human remains " you will never forget it. As an Ambulance Attendant, I was very familiar with that odor. A typical example is the person who lives alone, who has died in their sleep, and who is not discovered for a period of time. JIMB>
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That is one concern of mine since I live alone and have a low community profile.
 
On another site I was on, a guy was telling a story about cremation. I read it and realized that I fit that profile, so, I filed it away for when the time comes to discuss my ending.
(can't wait to use it)... no wait, yes, I can wait. ;)


There was a local oval track racer who had been badly burned in a racing accident. After a long period of healing and recovery he was able to return to racing again for several more years. After he reached a certain age he decided it was time to get his affairs in order.

He sat down with a local funeral director and was stunned at the expense of prearranging even the most basic funeral and burial. He asked the funeral director if there were any more "budget friendly" arrangements that could be made. The funeral director asked, "Well, have you ever thought about cremation?"

The old racer replied, "Tried it once years ago. Didn't much care for it!" :) (I can smile about that now).
 
squatting dog said:
On another site I was on, a guy was telling a story about cremation. I read it and realized that I fit that profile, so, I filed it away for when the time comes to discuss my ending.
(can't wait to use it)... no wait, yes, I can wait. ;)


There was a local oval track racer who had been badly burned in a racing accident. After a long period of healing and recovery he was able to return to racing again for several more years. After he reached a certain age he decided it was time to get his affairs in order.

He sat down with a local funeral director and was stunned at the expense of prearranging even the most basic funeral and burial. He asked the funeral director if there were any more "budget friendly" arrangements that could be made. The funeral director asked, "Well, have you ever thought about cremation?"

The old racer replied, "Tried it once years ago. Didn't much care for it!" :) (I can smile about that now).
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Your story brought back a memory about racing. The Chevy V8's had the fuel pump on the right front corner of the engine ,so a hard wall crash would sometimes result in a fire because the fuel pump was broken and spilling fuel. Some race groups ruled that the fuel pump be replaced with an electric one, with a shut off switch within reach of the driver. JIMB>
 
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