Cremation has become increasingly common in recent decades—especially in Western countries—driven by practical concerns such as cost, land scarcity, and environmental impact. These shifts have made it a viable alternative to traditional burial for many families.

For Christians, though, cremation raises questions about faith and tradition—specifically, whether it is compatible with biblical teaching. While the Bible does not explicitly forbid cremation, it provides little direct commentary on the matter. In Scripture, burial is the predominant practice: figures from Abraham to Jesus were buried (not cremated), lending strong symbolic weight to burial as an expression of hope in bodily resurrection.

Historically, many Christians opposed cremation because of concerns that it dishonored the body—which is described as a “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19) —or because it appeared to contradict belief in the resurrection of the body (1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4). On the other hand, from a theological perspective, it’s argued that God is capable of resurrecting any body—whether it is buried, consumed by fire, or dispersed—even if cremated.

In modern Christian thought, many leaders emphasize that salvation and resurrection do not depend on the method of body disposition. The decision between burial and cremation is increasingly seen as a matter of personal conviction, cultural context, and family values—not as a doctrinal guarantee of spiritual difference. As such, believers are encouraged to choose what honors the deceased and aligns with their faith while being respectful of the body and hopeful of the resurrection.