What Role Is Religion Playing in the Rise of Cremations?
As you’ve probably heard by now, cremation is more popular than it’s ever before in the United States. More than 50 percent of people are choosing to be cremated these days, and over the next decade or two, that number is expected to climb close to 70 percent. It might not be long before almost everyone is choosing Powder Springs, GA cremations over traditional burials.
There are many reasons for this. One of the main reasons is that cremation is often a more cost-effective option than a burial. Families can cremate a loved one for just a fraction of the cost of a burial. Another reason is that cremations have become a lot more universally accepted than they used to be. The internet has busted many of the cremation myths and shown people that cremation might be a great option for them.
But it’s impossible to ignore the role that religion is playing in all of this. Religion has been a major factor is the growth of cremation—and not necessarily for the reasons you might expect.
As recently as just 50 years ago, most of the world’s major religions were against cremation. Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, and many factions of Christianity believed that their followers should be buried, not cremated at the time of their death. This led to most people choosing burials rather cremation services in Powder Springs, GA.
But over the last few decades, many major religions have changed course and come around to the idea of people being cremated. Some, like Judaism and Islam, are still steadfastly against cremation. But others, including Catholicism, now allow their followers to use cremation as a viable option. It has resulted in more people than ever choosing to be cremated.
And that’s not the only way religion has impacted the cremation rate. There are also a lot fewer people practicing religion in America today. Just 10 years ago, only about 15 percent of Americans weren’t affiliated with a religion. But today, that number has climbed to 25 percent, and it’s even higher when you look at the numbers for those under the age of 40. Americans aren’t as religious as they used to be, and that has led to a spike in cremations.
It’s going to be interesting to see how religion continues to play a role in cremation moving forward. If more and more people continue to move away from religion, it could cause the cremation rate to go up even faster than expected. At the same time, the fact that various religions are now allowing cremation could also have that same effect. It all depends on what people decide to do with regards to religion as we move into the future.
At Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory, we’re keeping a close eye on the cremation rate and making more cremation services available to those who want to use them. We also offer traditional burials in Powder Springs, GA for those who choose to go that route. Reach out to us at (770) 944-2900 or pay us a visit at 1975 E West Connector, Austell, GA 30106 to talk about which option might be the better choice for you.
