The first is:
Burial or Cremation: Does It Matter?
ISBN 0851518036
(ISBN13: 9780851518039)
Published
January 24th 2012
by Banner of Truth
Paperback, 32 pages
I'm not sure that he
entirely convinced me but he does make a very good case and if I didn't
already lean to burial I think I would now. As a Christian the
reminders of the Biblical teachings on resurrection were very
encouraging.
Mr Howard shares some of the history of burial and of views found in the Bible regarding death and burial, and then moves on to the origins of cremation. He discusses burnings of bodies in the Bible (not our modern cremation), and then the modern history of cremation. There are sections on the dignity of the body and on the need to grieve.
I agreed with his views in a further section that Christians ought to give thought to their death and the funeral arrangements that should follow. The last section was on Christian burial and he included a short account of how his wife's grandfather's burial allowed them to share Christian truths with their children. I think Mr Howard is probably correct in asserting that the emotions we feel and the truths we are able to contemplate at a burial are not as easily experienced at a cremation service.
Mr Howard shares some of the history of burial and of views found in the Bible regarding death and burial, and then moves on to the origins of cremation. He discusses burnings of bodies in the Bible (not our modern cremation), and then the modern history of cremation. There are sections on the dignity of the body and on the need to grieve.
I agreed with his views in a further section that Christians ought to give thought to their death and the funeral arrangements that should follow. The last section was on Christian burial and he included a short account of how his wife's grandfather's burial allowed them to share Christian truths with their children. I think Mr Howard is probably correct in asserting that the emotions we feel and the truths we are able to contemplate at a burial are not as easily experienced at a cremation service.
The second is:
Christians Grieve Too
Paperback, 30 pages
Published
October 1st 1991
by Banner of Truth
ISBN 0851513158
(ISBN13: 9780851513157)
I found this book
helpful and I believe that it helped prepare me more for future events.
Many of the things Mr Howard wrote rang true to my own experience of
losing a newborn many years ago.
I think all Christians who felt able to read this booklet, ought to, and that teaching on grieving and comforting the grieving ought to be more widespread in the church.
I think all Christians who felt able to read this booklet, ought to, and that teaching on grieving and comforting the grieving ought to be more widespread in the church.
Mr Howard begins his book by talking about the types of grief that one may experience and how that grief may be manifested in different ways. He goes on to discuss how grief is a process and it can be complicated by emotions such as fear, guilt, and anger. There are a couple of chapters on how people (both ministers and laymen) may be helpful to the bereaved. He concludes by reminding his readers of the hope the believer has in Christ, while acknowledging that there are some things which will always puzzle us.
I was reading this at a time when others wouldn't, I think. In January and February of this year my husband was waiting on the complete diagnosis of the cancer preliminarily diagnosed in December, and the possiblities were that he had a fairly "good" cancer (if you have to have cancer at all) or a really bad one. As it turned out, in God's mercy, he has the "good" kind, one that often causes no problems at all, but we weren't sure of it at the time. I'm the type of person that likes to look at all the possibilities and things that might have to be done, in order to meet them head on. And, death is no stranger to us as a couple, having buried an infant daughter in 1997. I really did find this booklet helpful. My husband and children will live for a long time, I hope, but there are others in our extended family, and in our community who will probably pass on before we do. It is good to be reminded of Scriptural truths and also to read of ways to be helpful to others who are suffering in grief.
I was reading this at a time when others wouldn't, I think. In January and February of this year my husband was waiting on the complete diagnosis of the cancer preliminarily diagnosed in December, and the possiblities were that he had a fairly "good" cancer (if you have to have cancer at all) or a really bad one. As it turned out, in God's mercy, he has the "good" kind, one that often causes no problems at all, but we weren't sure of it at the time. I'm the type of person that likes to look at all the possibilities and things that might have to be done, in order to meet them head on. And, death is no stranger to us as a couple, having buried an infant daughter in 1997. I really did find this booklet helpful. My husband and children will live for a long time, I hope, but there are others in our extended family, and in our community who will probably pass on before we do. It is good to be reminded of Scriptural truths and also to read of ways to be helpful to others who are suffering in grief.
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