The Body is not a Shell

I find it hard to believe that so many Christians accept cremation of the dead. I also find it hard to believe so many Christians say things like, “They aren’t here,” in reference to the dead. I know grief has a way of clouding the reason, but faith is stronger than grief. The truth is that the dead bodies of our loved ones are not just shells ‘left over’ without souls.

As Orthodox Christians we honor the bodies of the dead, not because of the flesh but because of Christ. As Saint Paul reminds us, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Why would we just destroy the temple of God? That is exactly what cremation is.

This is not the first time I have written about cremation, and I trust it won’t be the last. Today is the commemoration of the Prophet Elisha (or Elisseus). We hear of a miracle associated with the bones of the dead prophet.

Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

4 Kingdoms 13.20-21

There are other stories of miracles associated with bones, and even handkerchiefs, of prophets and saints. There should be no doubt that the bodies of our dead family members are more than mere shells abandoned by the soul.