What's the point of burying dead people?

[thekavorka]

I just don't get it. I understand having something to remember a person by, and a tombstone is sufficient for that. But why bury the actual body in a coffin. wtf. It takes up a lot of needless space. For me, it seems pointless unless you believe the skeleton will eventually rise again as a zombie or something.

Cremation FTW

[MrAngryFace]

fuk cremation; viking funeral.

[drozmight]

mummification + a tomb + everything you'll need in the afterlife... that's they way people are meant to be buried.

[Powerslave]

when I die I want to be buried in a fucking huge pyramid/temple built for me

[Flannel Boy]

when I die I want to be buried in a fucking huge pyramid/temple built for me

Better start rounding up slaves.

[CurseoftheGods]

It depends on the culture and religion. Some cultures don't view cremation as disrespectful to the human body. All the Abrahamic religions (to my knowledge) prohibit cremation, declaring it as insulting to God's creation and will.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Dahmer had the right idea.

[Powerslave]

I mean fuck, is this asking too much? Im fucking dead. ITS THE LEAST YOU CAN DO FOR ME

[brawndolicious]

interesting fact: most graveyards last about 100 years (unless they're like a national graveyard for soldiers or something) and then the graveyard is sold and buildings are built on top of it.  while they do take up a shitload of space, it's not forever.  it is interesting how New Orleans graveyards have that bunk bed thing going on though.

[Himu]

interesting fact: most graveyards last about 100 years (unless they're like a national graveyard for soldiers or something) and then the graveyard is sold and buildings are built on top of it.  while they do take up a shitload of space, it's not forever.  it is interesting how New Orleans graveyards have that bunk bed thing going on though.

Um. That's freaky.

[brawndolicious]

well that's what happens.

another interesting fact himu, muslims have to be buried in cardboard boxes or something biodegradable because they're not supposed to slow down the decomposition.  also there's the thing where they normally are buried less than 12 hours after death but I don't know the reason why they do that.

[CurseoftheGods]

well that's what happens.

another interesting fact himu, muslims have to be buried in cardboard boxes or something biodegradable because they're not supposed to slow down the decomposition.  also there's the thing where they normally are buried less than 12 hours after death but I don't know the reason why they do that.

That's not true at all. Muslims are buried wrapped in a white cloth. I don't think the 12 hour thing is true either (my grandfather was buried a full day after his death).

[brawndolicious]

12 hours is an exxagerration but it's tradition to do it pretty soon.  I've only been to the actual burial of one and they used a cardboard coffin (if you want a "coffin" it has to be cardboard) although they did open the coffin for a minute so everybody could see him one last time and the guy was wrapped in the cloth (which I think but am not sure had prayers written on it).

btw, the reason he was in a coffin was that there was some sort of thing where they had to move him in a pattern and it was easier to carry if he was in a box.

[CurseoftheGods]

That's very interesting. I never heard about the cardboard box thing (or seen it for that matter), but coffins are usually only used as a means of transporting the dead body to the burial site. Did you know what the person's sect was by any chance? I am sorry I don't mean to be nosy, I am just curious.

Casualties of war are the only individuals who don't get the ceremonial cleansing (ablution) or "cloth wrapping". They are buried exactly as they were found.

[brawndolicious]

I am pretty sure the guy was shi'a.

[MCD]

That's not true at all. Muslims are buried wrapped in a white cloth.

this is true.

it's tradition to do it pretty soon.

this is also true.

I am pretty sure the guy was shi'a.

well, shi'a don't follow one set of rules, each follow their imam rules or something

but then again, the cardboard box is pretty new to me, they were probably playing too much MGS.

[brawndolicious]

imam?  most rules between sunni and shi'a are pretty similar so I wouldn't imagine there's a big difference between the two on burials.

it also might have been that the guy was buried in a box because of the graveyard's rules.  they use this little pulley thing to lower the coffin into the ground (about 6 feet so you can't just lower it down there by hand) and the family/graveyard felt it would be more respectable to lower him while he's in a box.  the box also was specially made for humans.

[CurseoftheGods]

Oh, that explains everything then. Shiites definitely have a different burial method than the Sunnis (the sect I am most familiar with).

McDragon: I think you are referring to Marjas (Shiite scholars), not Imams. There is only one "set" or rules for the sect, it's just that Marjas differ in the specifics and fine details of those rules. The general burial method should be the same for all of them. Shiites only use Marjas as a reference.  

[MCD]

yeah, marjas.

like i said, never heard about cardbox before but what do i know.

[Eric P]

i used to think about death a lot and the only thing i could figure was that this was started so that people wouldn't be followed by carrion eaters.

sort of like how a cat buries its poop to avoid being followed.

[Cormacaroni]

well, that and plague, surely. That's were most of the taboo surrounding corpses comes from in most cultures I think.

But now that we have fire technology and everything, I say let the dead fuckers burn.

[Mupepe]

I just don't get it. I understand having something to remember a person by, and a tombstone is sufficient for that. But why bury the actual body in a coffin. wtf. It takes up a lot of needless space. For me, it seems pointless unless you believe the skeleton will eventually rise again as a zombie or something.

Cremation FTW

I find the whole ceremony thing completely odd and kind of sick.  When they die, just cremate them or bury them asap.

[Powerslave]

Would you wish that same thing on your children or parents?

[Mupepe]

Would you wish that same thing on your children or parents?

yes.  both of my parents have the exact same view as me.

it's really a disturbing ritual.  The viewing and embalming.  yech

[xnikki118x]

I feel the same way about taking up needless space, so I want to be cremated as well.