Bioethical Concerns for Christians: Treatment of Dead Bodies
Written by: Robert A. Pyne, Professor of Theological Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
Appears in: Understanding Christian Theology, Part VI: Humanity and Sin
Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck, General Editors
Our understanding of the body does not favor one method of disposing of human corpses over another, but it does suggest that dead bodies should be treated with respect. The resurrection will occur just as completely with cremation as with interment in sealed vaults, and the sea will give up its dead just as readily as will the dry ground (Rev. 20:13). The Romans did shift from cremation to burial about the time Christian influence was strong, but that change may have been unrelated to the spread of Christianity. Believers have practiced all kinds of burial practices over the centuries, and there seems to be no distinctively Christian method.
Medical schools have long profited from the use of human cadavers. Since the careful study of the human body young doctors develop an appreciation for its marvelous design and ultimately contributes to better care for the living, this practice seems justified. However, the bodies should always be handled with reverence for the life that was led through them.
Pyne, Robert A., (2003). Part VI: Humanity and Sin. In: Understanding Christian Theology. Swindoll, Charles R, & Zuck, Roy B. (pp. 699-701). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck, General Editors
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