originated in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians believed that in order for the soul to pass into the next life, the body must remain intact; hence, to preserve it, they developed the procedures of mummification. The purpose of embalming in the United States is to prevent mourners from confronting the process of putrefaction, which can be seen as a related reason. This may also be a reason for the practice of cremation for some people (Iserson, 1994, p. 21).
The various methods used for disposal of the body in different cultures and historical periods are linked to religious beliefs, climate and geography, and social status. Burial is associated with ancestor worship or beliefs about the afterlife; cremation is sometimes viewed as liberating the spirit of the deceased. Exposure, another widespread practice, may be a substitute for burial in regions where interment is difficult, such as in the Arctic, where the ground may be frozen too hard to bury the dead. Less
...