What this page examines
Cremation is the reduction of a body to bone fragments through controlled heat. Burial places the body in the ground, usually in a cemetery or another designated setting. Resomation—also called alkaline hydrolysis—uses water, heat and an alkaline solution to separate organic material from the bones. Green or natural burial generally avoids embalming and uses a simple, biodegradable container or shroud.
These descriptions are factual rather than recommendations. Availability, licensing and funeral requirements vary by jurisdiction and can change over time.
A note about religious diversity
Teachings differ within every large tradition. A denomination, congregation, rabbi, priest, pastor, imam or family may interpret inherited customs differently. A general summary should therefore be read as an orientation, not as a ruling for an individual case.
Christian perspectives
Historically, burial has been especially prominent in Christian practice because of its connection with remembrance, the resurrection of the body and the communal life of cemeteries. Many churches today permit or accept cremation, while some communities continue to prefer burial or attach conditions to the handling of ashes.
Roman Catholic guidance has recommended burial while permitting cremation for legitimate reasons, with ashes normally placed in a consecrated or otherwise designated resting place. Eastern Orthodox communities commonly maintain a stronger preference for burial. Protestant and independent churches vary widely.
Jewish perspectives
Traditional Jewish practice generally emphasizes prompt burial in a Jewish cemetery. Reform communities and individual rabbis may differ in their responses to cremation, so a family seeking guidance should consult the relevant authority rather than rely on a broad internet summary.
A comparison of common options
| Option | Distinctive features | Questions to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Burial | Body remains in a grave or other approved resting place. | Cemetery customs, land use, maintenance and religious requirements. |
| Cremation | Heat reduces the body to bone fragments, which are then processed into ashes. | Permission, memorial location, storage or interment of ashes and family beliefs. |
| Resomation | Alkaline hydrolysis uses water, heat and an alkaline solution; the remaining bones are processed similarly to cremated remains. | Local authorization, facility availability, wastewater rules and public understanding. |
| Green burial | Simple burial with limited chemical treatment and biodegradable materials. | Certified cemetery standards, local conditions, markers and long-term care. |
Ethical and environmental questions
- Meaning and dignity: Families may connect a method with beliefs about the body, resurrection, nature or remembrance.
- Place and memory: A cemetery, memorial garden, urn, shared site or private ritual can shape how people grieve.
- Resources: Land, materials, energy, transport and maintenance all affect environmental discussions; no option has identical impacts in every setting.
- Evidence and regulation: Claims about emissions, groundwater or resomation should be checked against current local standards and qualified technical sources.
- Consent: Advance wishes should be recorded clearly, while recognizing that relatives and law may also affect the final arrangements.
Reading older statistics carefully
Earlier versions of this essay reproduced historical United States and Canadian figures from funeral-industry reports. Those figures are useful for showing a long-term shift toward cremation, but they should not be treated as current rates. Definitions, survey methods and projections differ between sources, and projected years are not the same as measured results.
The broad historical pattern is clear: cremation became more common in North America during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, while the balance between burial and cremation continues to vary by region, religion, age, cost and family preference.
Further reading
For current practice, readers should consult the relevant religious authority, licensed funeral professional and public regulator in their jurisdiction. The site's broader collection also provides context on morality and ethics, comparing religions and basic religious information.