Came across this a while back...
Why is Cremation on the Rise?
I’d Rather Be Buried Than Burned
By Alex Chediak Published on July 24, 2017
https://stream.org/why-is-cremation-on-the-rise/
Preference for cremation among Americans has skyrocketed over the past few decades. In 1960, only 3.5% opted for cremation over burial. By 1999, it was one in four (25%). And in 2016, U.S. cremations outnumbered burials.
For Christians, this raises the question: Is it really a neutral choice between whether to be buried or burned? If so, it’s easy to opt for convenience. But there’s a long tradition among Christians that a burial is much better. Before going there, though, let’s get clear on why many are attracted to cremation.
Why Cremation?
A burial costs about three times as much as cremation. Cremations are also more flexible. They don’t need to occur right after the person dies. A service can be held at the most convenient time for those who attend. And ashes can be scattered in many places. (My wife’s grandfather had his scattered in the San Francisco bay.) Others might keep the ashes in their home.
There are also worldview reasons to prefer cremation. Wikipedia notes that “almost everyone adhering to Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism cremate their dead.” Why? Because these faith systems do not attach any lasting significance to the human body. Similarly, in ancient Greek religion, the human body was considered to be a prison for the soul. Death liberated a person’s soul from their body.
A Brief History of Cremation....