The following is the introduction on the Ashes To Ashes Web Site (www.ashestoashes.org) which advocates what they call "Natural Burial". They recommend burial within 24 hours of death without embalming. What are your thoughts?

"The Universal Ethician Church believes that all humans should follow the Biblical principle of “Ashes to Ashes”, and thus has established America’s first family “natural” or “green burial” cemetery at Waterwood in San Jacinto County, Texas.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2004

Answers

Hmmm...the 24 hour rule is in line with other culture's burial principles....the only problem I see is that not all of the family members would get to see the departed before they were buried.

On a personal note, the wife takes ashes to ashes quite literally; she plans to cremate me upon my death :)

But "Biblically"? Consider Joshua 24:32 "And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants....

SO much for 24 hours, eh?

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2004