Is memorial jewelry against my religion?
Is Memorial Jewelry Against My Religion?
Memorial Jewelry has been around for centuries but has become increasingly popular in the last couple of years. Memorial Jewelry takes many different forms, from symbolic jewelry to cremation jewelry, and ash-made jewelry. For many people it will be important to understand what type of memorial jewelry follow the laws of their religious tradition.
What If My Religion Requires Remains to Be Buried?
For some people having their dearly departed’s remains nearby can bring great comfort and peace. For others, it may be of greater importance to lay their departed to rest in a specific way that was described in detail by the deceased or their religion. In these cases, it is still possible to wear a piece of memorial jewelry in their memory. Some alternatives to bodily remains include soil from the burial site, dried flowers, or a fragment from a piece of the deceased’s clothing.
Buddhism
Different Buddhist traditions will approach funeral rites and treatment of the deceased's body differently. Typically, Buddhists will cremation is a favored way of preparing the deceased for the next stage of their existence because it is believed to be an important way to release the soul from the physical form. Buddha himself was cremated so followers tend to follow his lead. Because the body has no particular significance after death, the ash placement is considered to be a personal matter for the family. This means that for most Buddhist traditions, any form of memorial jewelry would likely be acceptable.
Buddhism
Judaism
Followers of the Jewish tradition may already know that Jewish law considers burial in the ground to be the only allowable funerary tradition. In Judaism the human body belongs to God, not to the individual. Cremation is considered to be destruction of God’s property. This means that memorial jewelry would not be allowable for followers of Judaism except for the following cases:
● Symbolic Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces may have an engraved message, name of the deceased, birth date, or death date. While they don’t contain physical remains of the deceased, they can still be a meaningful reminder to keep around
● Locket Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces can hold a picture of the deceased that can be kept close by at all times. Locket jewelry can also be engraved with a message instead, similar to symbolic memorial jewelry.
● Cremation Memorial Jewelry: While it would not be in line with the Jewish faith to store the deceased’s remains in the capsule, other meaningful pieces could be substituted. For example, you could insert a small piece of their clothing, or dirt from the burial site.
Judaism
Hinduism
Followers of the Hindu religion likely know that in most cases cremation is a sacred funeral rite, where a close family member will often light the pyre, or flame. The practice known as “antim sanskar” is a last rite to say farewell to one’s earthly remains, lead by a prayer of purification to lead the body to a better life. After cremation, it is expected that the cremains will be scattered in a sacred body of water. Preferably this would be done in the sacred river Ganges. If this is not a possibility, then it is still preferred to find a sacred body of water to scatter the ashes. Because of this we recommend the following options:
● Symbolic Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces may have an engraved message, name of the deceased, birth date, or death date. While they don’t contain physical remains of the deceased, they can still be a meaningful reminder to keep around
● Locket Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces can hold a picture of the deceased that can be kept close by at all times. Locket jewelry can also be engraved with a message instead, similar to symbolic memorial jewelry.
● Cremation Memorial Jewelry: While it would not be in line with the Hindu faith to store the deceased’s remains in the capsule, other meaningful pieces could be substituted. For example, you could insert a small piece of their clothing, or water from the river where the ashes were scattered.
Hinduism
Islam
Followers of the Islam religion are likely aware that funeral rites are prescribed by the divine law. The divine law makes it clear that the body must be treated with utmost respect both in life and in death. Cremation is considered to be a form of mutilation, meaning that the only acceptable treatment of the deceased’s remains would be burial without cremation. For Islamic faithful we recommend one of the following options:
● Symbolic Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces may have an engraved message, name of the deceased, birth date, or death date. While they don't contain physical remains of the deceased, they can still be a meaningful reminder to keep around
● Locket Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces can hold a picture of the deceased that can be kept close by at all times. Locket jewelry can also be engraved with a message instead, similar to symbolic memorial jewelry.
● Cremation Memorial Jewelry: While it would not be in line with the Islamic faith to store the deceased's remains in the capsule, other meaningful pieces could be substituted. For example, you could insert a small piece of their clothing, or a small piece of paper with a short message.
Islam
Memorial jewelry to keep those memories of your departed close to your heart forever.
Catholicism
The Catholic Church maintains that after death, the deceased’s body must not be scattered, divided, or kept at home. The reason that the Vatican only permits burial is because of the Christian belief in resurrection. A memorial jewelry piece that contains the remains of the deceased would definitely be out of the question since the church has only allowed cremation of the dead since 1963. For Catholics that hope to remember their deceased with jewelry, we recommend one of the following options:
● Symbolic Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces may have an engraved message, name of the deceased, birth date, or death date. While they don't contain physical remains of the deceased, they can still be a meaningful reminder to keep around
● Locket Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces can hold a picture of the deceased that can be kept close by at all times. Locket jewelry can also be engraved with a message instead, similar to symbolic memorial jewelry.
● Cremation Memorial Jewelry: While it would not be in line with the Catholic faith to store the deceased's remains in the capsule, other meaningful pieces could be substituted. For example, you could insert a small piece of their clothing, or dirt from the burial ground.
Catholicism
Christianity
Within Christianity there are many different doctrines that approach the remains of the deceased differently. This is complicated by the fact that the bible has no absolute teachings on the subject. Instead, the theology of what must be done with the body of the deceased is based on the interpretation of related topics. One example of this is the Christian belief in resurrection at the end of time. More traditional Christian denominations may oppose cremation, scattering, or division of the body based on the assumption that God will need the body of the dead to be preserved for resurrection to be possible. Other more modern Christian denominations may be more open to these practices on the basis that the bible tends to use symbolic and poetic language which should not be interpreted completely literally. This is further complicated by the fact that unlike the Catholic church that has the Vatican to give a final theological assessment for all believers, many Christian denominations do not have a central governing authority. This can lead to small differences in belief even within the same Christian denomination! We recommend that Christians consult with their local pastors to discuss modern alternatives to burial however, it should generally always be a safe bet to use any of the following types of memorial jewelry:
● Symbolic Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces may have an engraved message, name of the deceased, birth date, or death date. While they don’t contain physical remains of the deceased, they can still be a meaningful reminder to keep around
● Locket Memorial Jewelry: These jewelry pieces can hold a picture of the deceased that can be kept close by at all times. Locket jewelry can also be engraved with a message instead, similar to symbolic memorial jewelry.
● Cremation Memorial Jewelry: While it may or may not be in line with your Christian denomination to store the deceased’s remains in the capsule, other meaningful pieces could be substituted. For example, you could insert a small piece of their clothing, or dirt from the burial site.
Christianity
