<p>Harmony Funeral Home offers traditional funerals, cremations and direct cremations. We often get questions that reveal some common misunderstandings about cremation. We will address some of those in this week&rsquo;s blog. <br /><br /> Stigma <br />There used to be a stigma around cremation, but that just isn&rsquo;t&rsquo; the case anymore. <br />Up to 42% of all body dispositions following death are cremations. <br /><br />Cremation is for Cash-Strapped Families <br />Actually, the opposite is true. The higher the income a family, the more likely it is that they&rsquo;ll choose cremation. <br /><br />Is this Uncle Joe? <br />Some people fear that the ashes they get back are not specifically their loved ones, or even that they might end up with a mix of multiple people. <br />Many crematoria allow witnessing so, if this is a concern, you can request to be present, but the incidents of this sort of thing is highly unlikely. <br /><br />It&rsquo;s Against My Religion <br />Many Christians, especially Catholics feel it is against their religion to be cremated. <br />They believe it will influence their fate at the time of Resurrection. <br />Protestant churches allow cremation and have for centuries. <br />The Roman Catholic Church lifted its ban on cremation in the reform-filled 1960&rsquo;s. <br />Catholics are allowed to be cremated as long as it is not an expression of their disbelief in the Resurrection of the body. <br />Eastern Orthodox Church does still forbid cremation <br />Cremation is prohibited in orthodox Judaism while Liberal Jews find it acceptable. <br />Hinduism and Buddhism prefer cremations to burial in the ground. <br />Islam also forbids cremation, instead mandating that the body be buried as soon as possible following death. <br /><br />You Can&rsquo;t Have a Funeral if You are Cremated <br />It is a simple thing to arrange a funeral service or memorial service. <br />You can have a viewing prior to cremation if you desire. <br />A direct cremation precludes a viewing, but a memorial service can be held at the family&rsquo;s convenience. <br /><br />If we can help clear up any other misunderstanding you may have about cremation, don&rsquo;t hesitate to call us.</p>