According to a 2014 survey by the Southern Baptist Convention’s LifeWay Research, only 14% of Americans believe that cremation is wrong. Commenting on the survey, Scott McConnell, vice-president of LifeWay Research, had nothing to say against the practice, merely noting that “social taboos about cremation are fading” (“Few Americans Have Qualms about Cremation,” LifeWayResearch.com, March 27, 2014). The number of cremations in North America has increased dramatically over the past 40 years. In 1975, only 6% of the dead were cremated. By 1996, it was still only about 20%, but by 2010 it had doubled to over 40%, and it is estimated that by 2025, 56% of America’s dead will be cremated. In some states, the percentage is already higher than that: Nevada, 72%; Washington, 71%; Oregon and Hawaii, 69%; Montana, 65%; Maine, 64%; Colorado, 63%; Arizona, 62%; New Hampshire and Alaska, 61%. The states with the least percentage of cremations per death are in the “Bible Belt” -- Mississippi, 14%; Alabama, 17%; Kentucky, 21%; Louisiana, 21%; West Virginia, 23%. According to the cover story in the December 5, 1995, issue of USA Today, the rising acceptance of cremation has coincided with a drop in “religious barriers to cremation.” It is interesting that a secular newspaper sees the connection between religion and cremation. Historically, Christian burial has been a testimony of faith in the bodily resurrection, whereas cremation has been practiced among Hindus and others who deny the bodily resurrection and who believe in reincarnation. Historically, wherever the Gospel of Jesus Christ has found acceptance, pagan practices such as cremation have been rejected. The increase in cremation in North American society has paralleled the rejection of the Bible. As paganism increases its steely hold on American and Canadian hearts and as spiritual compromise and apostasy destroys the power of the churches, cremation becomes increasingly popular. (For more on this see Cremation: What Does God Think?, which is available as a free eBook from www.wayoflife.org.) (Friday Church News Notes, July 11, 2014, www.wayoflife.org, [email protected], 866-295-4143) Comments are closed.
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