The disposal of human bodies has always been closely linked to our religious rituals, traditions, and customs. Some cultures bury their dead in cloth or caskets, while others practice cremation, and some even take their deceased to the mountains to be consumed by wildlife. Why is there such a variety of practices when we are all human beings made of the same carbon, genetics, and connections to humanity and God?
From birth, we are universally given a name, but when we die, that name is no longer used to refer to us. The body is then called a corpse or a dead body because the soul is no longer present. The question of what happens to the soul after death is not our focus here; instead, we are concerned with what happens to the body.
Unlike any other creature on Earth, human beings are not recycled in nature. Not only do we fail to recycle, but we also claim a piece of land long after death, while living humans remain homeless. This points to a significant disconnect in our societal systems.
I believe we need to evolve to address our modern problems. Regardless of traditions, customs, or rituals, we must adapt to changing times. If we were to bury bodies deep in farmland or forests, nature would recycle them. Cremation might be an easier and faster solution, but recycling could benefit future generations and the Earth, similar to how fossil fuels, derived from the oil of plants and dead creatures, have sustained us.
Having a grave to visit a loved one or adhering to religious rituals is one thing, but the rapidly changing realities of the world are another. Emotional satisfaction for immediate loved ones is important, but a tombstone dating back hundreds or thousands of years is a different matter. Should we continue practices unchanged for thousands of years, or should we evolve with the times?
I believe in respecting our past but in evolving with changing times even more. Discussing dead loved ones is a sensitive and emotional topic. However, if we have living homeless people while the dead who died hundreds of years ago still occupy land, it is not ethical for society. What about our dead religious leaders and their tombs? Should we change and destroy all that?
The world evolves at varying speeds. For some, it is too fast, and for others, too slow. It is neither; we must continue evolving respectfully. When something no longer makes sense or causes problems in modern life, it is time to move forward.
We see people fighting over past monuments, changing street names, or even team names because they have become offensive. We witness inappropriate sexual behaviors out in the open, reflecting societal changes rapidly enough to spin one’s head. Living homelessness is a worse problem than any burial system. I am not against respecting the dead, but I would rather remember my loved one by giving money to the poor or feeding the hungry in their name instead of visiting a graveyard.
If you argue that dead bodies should not be buried in farmland due to disease fears, consider where our sewer systems end up. Our waste, and who knows what else, is in our fertilizers. People used to live an average of thirty-eight years, but today, despite wars and drug interactions, average life expectancy has more than doubled. Our food is grown over our waste, yet we are still evolving. Scientists predict that life expectancy will rise even further in the near future.
This evolution is not happening on its own; without human intervention, we would still be living in caves and bushes. Ideas of age extension are related to human imagination. While God’s will is with humanity, religions alone cannot change mortality, provide oxygen, or stop natural disasters.
From throwing virgins off cliffs to opposing life-saving blood transfusions and sending young people to kill and be killed in the name of God, these actions do not add years to our lives. While their teachings have elevated us from savages to human beings, the political aspects of religion have also caused setbacks. The damage caused by religious politics often outweighs the good they have done by hindering human evolution or opposing it. The scientific community has a similar history; drugs save lives but have also caused harm.
We must not prioritize the knowledge of humanity over the importance of living individuals. All religions are based on human knowledge, but none is as important as a living individual, who embodies the physicality of spirituality. Why do our traditions, customs, and religious rituals matter more than living beings? The hypocritical policies of religions and scientific communities often undermine the existence of God from both sides.
Religious people play the role of God, punishing and killing others in His name. When you believe in God, you need to understand His will, your personal free will, and the politically tainted will of your belonging groups. Only then can you appreciate the importance of loving humanity and other individuals as yourself.
All human knowledge, whether scientific or religious, guides us to be good human beings. However, our sense of belonging often leads us astray. Data can never become a computer, and a human being is not data. Personal justice, equal human rights, love, compassion, forgiveness, and the desire and ability to help the needy are the hard facts of humanity. These are your personal jewels to wear. If your guidelines strip you of these jewels, you must learn more about the politics of belonging. Even if promised the world or heaven, without your jewels, you may end up in a living hell.
I believe our evolution with time is imperative. Any group that hinders, blocks, or stands against it is opposing God’s will, regardless of their belief system. Your personal spirituality should guide you to be a good person, regardless of your belonging groups. Whether a scientist or a religious fanatic, you must understand that your jewels are tied to your spiritual side. At the end of the day, the politics of belonging tells you that your good is bad and their bad is good.
A scientist may kill millions for political reasons, or a religious extremist may kill or be killed, both having nothing to do with spirituality. The politics of belonging is the main culprit of war-related killings, going against personal justice and ethics. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
We all have a built-in personal free will and sense of justice, but we are often influenced by the politically discriminatory data of our belonging groups. By using your God-given free will and sense of justice, you will naturally learn to belong to humanity as a whole. Otherwise, you may sell your soul to the devil in the name of God.