Dust to dust

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At graveside services in many Christian denominations one of the last things said by the officiant is the phrase, "Dust to dust, ashes to ashes...". I've thought this odd since it seems 180 degrees from what the deceased had been taught regarding his disposition after life on earth is through. While still breathing, he was taught about his eternal life in heavenly streets paved with gold, with sapphire cathedrals, etc. Now that he has stopped aspirating, the pastor seems to have finally leveled with him. I've noticed the survivors take it well in reverent silence as the symbolic ashes are scattered in the wind.

What is the origin of that phrase and what is it in its entirety? I checked a bible concordance with no luck.

And what is your thought on the matter?

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Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Lillee don't get 'em, Thommo must.

<The Aussies and Poms will understand>

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tycoon- My first thought is that the phrase refers to the body, the soul being, in theistic thought, another matter entirely!

http://www.kencollins.com/question-27.htm

http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/meanings/48600.html

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Hi Phoenix,

Why the importance then of Jesus' resurrected body, the stone rolled away, nail holes through the hands, and other details in Christian thought?

regards

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tycoon- Sorry, I am not the one to ask about the intricacies of Christian thought. There are some folks here who are far more knowlegable than me on this subject.

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Gods don't die, or at least to prove that he was the son of god, he shouldn't die. Apparently according to the Passion, it takes a lot to kill a god.

Your physical body returns to dust, not your soul.

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Good question!

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The funereal phrase is "earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

Quote:

(Bartleby) NUMBER: 10398
AUTHOR: Book of Common Prayer
QUOTATION: Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection.
ATTRIBUTION: The Burial Service.

Ashes and dust are an important part of Christian and Jewish symbolism. They are signs of repentence and a knowledge of your sins. Ashes can also be used, therefore, in ritually cleansing.

Ash Wednesday is the day when good Catholics receive the sign of the cross on the forehead, drawn in ashes from the previous year's burning of the palms from Palm Sunday. Many burial services will include a bucket of ash that has been blessed with the intention of being used for ritual purposes.

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I agree it is the soul not the body that is being referred to.

If you have noticed that when people are blown to bits in Isreal the religious make every effort to retrieve all remains to be buried.
That is because of the belief, as it is written, that when the dead will arise and be whole again when the Messiah arrives. . And I suppose the dust will again materialize into a body?

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au1929 wrote:

... the religious make every effort to retrieve all remains to be buried.

Hi au1929,

That may also be why here in America we have the puzzling habit of burying our dead so pickled and well-preserved that it will take less of a miracle to reassemble and reconstitute them.

regards

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tycoon
And sometimes they are pickled before death Laughing

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au1929,

What does Joe Namath have to do with this conversation? Laughing

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ok - now you guys started this - think it matters bout organ donors? Wink

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Heck Husker, I expect to be an organ donor. Even if I don't get "eternal life" parts of me will get another few years Laughing

.

Frankly I suspect that that is a better deal than the one offered Christians and Muslims. Twisted Evil

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In my arm of the Christian religion, we are taught to believe (and I do) that the body is a shell that houses the soul.

Ipsofacto, I have no need for the body after death and plan to be cremated. Husk--donating organs should be a nice thing to do, with no repercussions on the afterlife--

However, WEIRD, my mother is afraid to be cremated...? What sense does that make? (She has same belief as me---)

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I always intended to choose cremation simply because it rules out the possibility of being buried alive. But since I'm also an organ donor, that's probably not a problem.

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Question: What is the white stuff in bird poop?
Answer: That is bird poop, too.

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Hmm, I am also an organ donor, but want to be cremated. I guess that what's left of me could be cremated.

Apologies, Tycoon; your thread has fallen into a vat of brine.....or Irish whiskey.

Sweet dreams, everyone.

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Just as ashes are good fertilizer, so is bird poop, Dys... Cool

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Wilso wrote:

I always intended to choose cremation simply because it rules out the possibility of being buried alive. But since I'm also an organ donor, that's probably not a problem.

LOL Wilso....You think it would be better to be burned alive as opposed to being buried alive?

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Dust to dust

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