Funerals are different in each religion because each religion has its own beliefs about what happens when a person dies, what the body is, and what the soul or spirit is. These beliefs shape everything about the funeral – how fast it happens, what is done with the body, what is said, what is worn, and even where the funeral takes place. It is not just about tradition or culture, although those play a big role. It is mostly about what the religion teaches about life, death, and what comes after.
In Christianity, for example, the body is seen as a temple of the Holy Spirit, and there is a strong belief in the resurrection of the body on the last day. This means that many Christian traditions, especially Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant groups, have preferred burial over cremation for a long time. The idea is that the body will be raised again, so it should be treated with great respect and not destroyed. In Catholic teaching, the body is buried in consecrated ground, and the funeral includes prayers asking God to receive the person into heaven, to forgive sins, and to raise the body on the last day [2]. The cemetery is seen as a sacred space, not just a place to put a body, but a place where the Church continues to pray for the dead and where families can visit and remember [2].
Even within Christianity, there are differences. In some Protestant traditions, cremation has become more accepted over time, especially as it became cheaper and more practical. But even when cremation is allowed, the ashes are still treated with respect. They are not scattered like dust or kept in a home as a decoration. Instead, they are placed in a cemetery, in a columbarium, or in some other dignified place where they can be visited and prayed for [2]. The funeral service still includes prayers, Bible readings, hymns, and a committal rite that entrusts the person to God’s care [2]. The main point is that the body, whether buried or cremated, belongs to God and will be raised again.
In Hinduism, the funeral is very different because the beliefs about death are very different. Hindus believe in reincarnation – that the soul, or atman, leaves the body at death and is reborn in a new body based on karma from past lives. The goal is to break free from this cycle and reach moksha, liberation from rebirth. Cremation is a key part of this process. It is not just a way to dispose of the body; it is a sacred rite that helps release the soul from the physical body so it can move on to the next stage [1]. In India, this is why so many Hindus are cremated, especially in places like Varanasi, where open-air cremations take place on the banks of the Ganges River [1]. The fire is seen as a purifying force, and the rituals performed by the family are meant to guide the soul and help it on its journey [1].
The timing of the Hindu funeral is also shaped by religious belief. It usually happens very quickly, often within 24 hours of death, because the soul is believed to be in a transitional state and needs the rituals to move forward. The body is washed, dressed in simple clothes, and taken to the cremation ground with prayers and chants. The eldest son or a close male relative usually lights the funeral pyre. After cremation, the ashes are often scattered in a sacred river, like the Ganges, which is believed to help the soul on its journey [1]. This is very different from Christian burial, where the body is kept intact and buried in the ground for a longer time.
In Islam, burial is required, and cremation is strictly forbidden. Muslims believe that the body belongs to God and must be returned to the earth in a natural way. The soul is judged after death, and on the Day of Resurrection, the body will be raised again. Because of this, the body must be treated with the utmost respect and must not be burned or destroyed in any way. Islamic law requires that the body be buried as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours, unless there is a strong reason to delay, such as waiting for family to arrive or for legal procedures [4].
The body is washed in a specific way by people of the same gender, then wrapped in simple white cloth called a kafan, with no coffin if possible, or a simple wooden one if needed. There is no embalming, because it is seen as unnecessary and possibly harmful to the body. The funeral prayer, called the Salat al-Janazah, is performed in a mosque or open space, and then the body is taken to the cemetery and buried with the face turned toward Mecca. The grave is kept simple, with no elaborate monuments or decorations, because the focus is on humility before God and the equality of all people in death [4].
In Judaism, burial is also the norm, and cremation is generally not allowed in traditional Jewish law. The body is seen as created in the image of God, and it must be returned to the earth quickly and with dignity. Jewish law requires burial as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours, unless there are legal or practical reasons to delay. The body is washed and dressed in simple white shrouds, and a coffin is used, but it is plain and made of wood, without metal or decorations. Embalming is avoided unless required by law, because it is seen as interfering with the natural process of returning to the earth [4].
The funeral service is simple and focuses on prayer and the reading of Psalms. The body is buried in a Jewish cemetery, and the grave is marked with a headstone. After the burial, there is a period of mourning called shiva, where the family stays at home for seven days, receives visitors, and says special prayers for the dead. This reflects the Jewish belief in the importance of community, memory, and the ongoing connection between the living and the dead [4].
In Buddhism, practices vary by country and tradition, but there is a strong emphasis on impermanence and the release of the soul from the cycle of rebirth. In many Buddhist countries, cremation is common, especially in places like Japan and Thailand. In Japan, over 99 percent of funerals involve cremation, which is deeply tied to Buddhist tradition [1]. Cremation is seen as a way to purify the body and help the soul move on to the next life or to a better rebirth. The funeral rituals include chanting, offerings, and prayers for the deceased, and the ashes are usually placed in a family grave or temple [1].
In some Buddhist traditions, the body may be kept for several days after death so that monks can chant and perform rituals to guide the soul. The family may also make offerings to monks or the temple as a way of generating merit for the deceased. The focus is not on the body itself, but on the spiritual state of the person and their journey after death [1].
In Sikhism, cremation is the standard practice. Sikhs believe in one God and in the cycle of rebirth, and they see the body as a temporary vessel for the soul. After death, the body is washed, dressed
