Across Christian history, views on what happens to the body after death have been shaped by scripture, tradition, and cultural practice. In early Christianity, burial was the most common practice, inherited from Jewish customs and closely linked to the belief in bodily resurrection. Biblical accounts, such as Abraham’s burial of Sarah in Genesis and the careful burial of Joseph’s remains, reflect a deep respect for the body. Early Christians generally avoided cremation, partly because burial aligned with their understanding of the body as part of God’s creation and the hope of future renewal. As Christianity expanded, burial became even more...
Continues…