Ashes

[Guest]

Do ashes of deceased matter, or is it merely symbolic how we treat them? 

It matters to a lot of people. Yet Biblically, is the treatment of the body and ashes important? 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2022 by Melinda12

[Raven]

To me, I 'know' that though I have a body, I am not the body, but spirit and soul. Much like, though I have a car, I am not the car, but the driver of that car. When my car dies, I step out of it, not stay in and rot with it (unless I believe I am a car / body).

So, I personally don't care what happens to the dead body I used as a vehicle of expression...to express God's Love in this world.

[BibleStudent100]

5 hours ago, Melinda12 said:

Do ashes of deceased matter, or is it merely symbolic how we treat them? 

Great question Mel.  We are going to Lake Powell next month to spread out my father's ashes (he was always a lover of the water since youth).  But concerning this question, does anyone have any thoughts about this practice (spreading out ashes for a deceased relative) from a Biblical perspective?

[johnthebaptist]

16 hours ago, Melinda12 said:

Do ashes of deceased matter, or is it merely symbolic how we treat them? 

I wanted my father's ashes to scatter somewhere beautiful of my choosing but I cannot do so, for various reasons. 

It matters to a lot of people. Yet Biblically, is the treatment of the body and ashes important? 

 

 

Maybe this will help: 

But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Luke 9:60 RSV

[Waggles]

16 hours ago, Melinda12 said:

Do ashes of deceased matter, or is it merely symbolic how we treat them?

Ashes and cadavers have no spiritual value in themselves. But we who remain give value and meaning to the handling of the remains of our loved ones and others. And so we have rituals, such as funerals and burials; or ashes in vases or the spreading of ashes.

These are rites that we choose to do according to our religious culture. 

Spreading ashes into a lake or the sea or under rose bushes usually is done out of respect for the deceased who has indicated to us that this is what they want done. I suppose it is a measure of our love and respect for the deceased person that we care to follow their instructions.

Biblically we are to show respect to the remains of a deceased person and not to dishonour any corpse. Other than that I am not aware of scripture that directs any specific spiritual reverence to consider human remains as sacred.

Edited July 9, 2021 by Waggles

[Who me]

16 hours ago, Melinda12 said:

I wanted my father's ashes to scatter somewhere beautiful of my choosing

Why not of his choosing?

The ashes like his body are not him, they are merely a discarded cloak. The funeral and disposal of ashes are so the living can grieve and come to terms with there loss.

So long as you can do that what one actual does with the remains does not matter.