Turn Your Loved Ones Into Diamonds!

[Selah]

It was forbidden in the West too, until more recently.

 

I remember that. It was more of a backlash against Gnostics who said the body means nothing, so Christians were against destroying the body, because of a bodily resurrection, and the fact that it's disrespectful to treat the body that way.

[Nihil Obstat]

I remember that. It was more of a backlash against Gnostics who said the body means nothing, so Christians were against destroying the body, because of a bodily resurrection, and the fact that it's disrespectful to treat the body that way.

Basically, yes. While it is no longer forbidden to be cremated, I do think that a traditional burial is more in keeping with the mind of the Church through the ages.

[CrossCuT]

PS: It's been impossible for me to get the "Shine bright like a diamond" by Rihanna out of my head, since I saw the thread earlier today, thank you very much for this... privilege Crosscut. :|

Youre welcome! :)

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I would love to have my atoms spread across the universe, that would be pretty cool, but I think not yet possible. So I'll settle for a simple pine box and a humble marker.

 

PS: It's been impossible for me to get the "Shine bright like a diamond" by Rihanna out of my head, since I saw the thread earlier today, thank you very much for this... privilege Crosscut. :|

 

I attended the funeral and burial of the 18-year old daughter of a co-worker of mine who is an Orthodox Jew. (The daughter was jogging and was hit by a motorist.)

 

I thought the funeral and burial were both incredibly beautiful and respectful, and took into account the emotional needs of the family.

 

Orthodox Jews are buried as soon as possible after death--usually the next day. I think this custom comes from the climate of Israel where a body would decay quickly. From the time a person dies until they are buried, they are not left alone, someone sits with them. The daughter died in London, so the rabbi of the local Orthodox community came and sat with the daughter until her parents could get to London and take her home.

 

The deceased is not buried in fancy clothes, but in a simple white shroud. No fancy casket, but a plain wooden casket. (Although the casket was beautiful, and obviously made with love.) The body is not embalmed. Orthodox Jews also do not generally allow an autopsy on a body, although, in this case, because there would be a criminal trial involved, a very limited autopsy was allowed by the local rabbi and the parents so that the defense could not argue that the daughter had died of a heart attack or similar cause. (This would be unlikely in a healthy 18-year old girl, but the police wanted to be sure that the offender would be found guilty.)

 

At the burial, the casket is lowered into the ground, and the mourners take turns shoveling dirt over the casket. This is considered a good deed, so that the family does not have to bury its own loved one. As the family leaves the cemetery, the mourners line up on either side of the path, as a way of showing the family its support.

 

Then, the family "sits shivah." In orthodox Jewish communities, this is for seven days. The family tears their clothes (nowadays, they simply make ritual cuts), and put ashes on their head. Members of the local congregation bring food so that the family does not have to cook while sitting shivah. During the period of sitting shivah, the family essentially holds an "open house." Friends of the family come at intervals to come visit the family during the seven days, so that the family does not have to mourn alone.

 

Many of these customs were unknown to me before this, and of course, were different than what I was used to. But, I felt honored that I, as a non-Jew, was welcome to attend the funeral and burial, as well as visiting the family during the time of sitting shivah. It was also an education for me, because many of the rituals were carried out in a similar way to the way burials and mourning were handled among the Jewish community in which Jesus grew up. I'm sure Mary sat shivah for many friends and relatives, and most likely helped in taking care the needs of families sitting shivah.

 

Sorry, this is OT from diamonds, but I hoped you'd find it interesting.

 

 

Edited January 23, 2014 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[PhuturePriest]

Basically, yes. While it is no longer forbidden to be cremated, I do think that a traditional burial is more in keeping with the mind of the Church through the ages.

 

I think I've reached a problematic point when I read your post and the first thing that comes to mind is "Quidditch Through the Ages".

[CatherineM]

Question: Does the Roman Catholic church allow organ donation?

Yes so long as it is done for the right reasons, and in the case of heart, it is done with complete confidence that the donor is really dead.

[Nihil Obstat]

I think I've reached a problematic point when I read your post and the first thing that comes to mind is "Quidditch Through the Ages".

I have that book lying around somewhere. :hehe:

[Mary+Immaculate<3]

They say diamonds are a girl's best friend. That surely doesn't mean I want a diamond to be my best friend though. :cry:  That's sad to even think about for me to even think about! What would I do without my best friends?!

Edited January 23, 2014 by Mary+Immaculate<3

[Kateri89]

I would like them to cremate me and then send my remains into space :alien:

[Slappo]

The idea of cutting and shaping the diamond makes me think no it would not be okay. The remains of the diamond that are cut off would be disposed of I'm guessing, which in my mind would be the equivalent of throwing half of your cremated remains in a garbage can.

 

Also, if your remains were made into a diamond it would still have to be buried, or placed in a columbarium, or another permanent resting place rather than adorned as a piece of jewelry.

[Nihil Obstat]

The idea of cutting and shaping the diamond makes me think no it would not be okay. The remains of the diamond that are cut off would be disposed of I'm guessing, which in my mind would be the equivalent of throwing half of your cremated remains in a garbage can.

 

Also, if your remains were made into a diamond it would still have to be buried, or placed in a columbarium, or another permanent resting place rather than adorned as a piece of jewelry.

That is a good point. When you think about it, turning a body into a diamond sounds rather suspiciously like a pervasive objectification of the person's remains. Same goes for all those different 'weird' things people want to do with cremated remains.

[Slappo]

That is a good point. When you think about it, turning a body into a diamond sounds rather suspiciously like a pervasive objectification of the person's remains. Same goes for all those different 'weird' things people want to do with cremated remains.

I think hypothetically it would be permissible if the remains were simply made into a diamond for the sake of conserving space for example. I doubt humanity could ever get to the point that we're so low on space for burial that we have to resort shrinking cremated remains into something even smaller. Your entire extended family could fit into a single urn if they were all made into diamonds!

[Nihil Obstat]

I think hypothetically it would be permissible if the remains were simply made into a diamond for the sake of conserving space for example. I doubt humanity could ever get to the point that we're so low on space for burial that we have to resort shrinking cremated remains into something even smaller. Your entire extended family could fit into a single urn if they were all made into diamonds!

Hypothetically, yes. I agree. I will even admit that the mental image this creates is oddly appealing to me. :hehe:

But I will continue to believe that traditional burial is more of one mind with the Church. :P

[cartermia]

I just had my sisters read this article and they want to be made into diamonds. They love sparkles!!!

:princess:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited for spelling

Edited January 24, 2014 by cartermia

[Not The Philosopher]