I had opportunity to see some of this first hand in Tennessee in the 1950's, and they were drinking something they claimed to be poison. It was clear like moonshine (which it might have been I guess) but they claimed it was strychnine. Since their entire behavior was bizzare to me, I could not tell if they were getting loaded or not. I had no desire to ever see it again. I don't believe the Scripture verses are an invitation to put God to the test, which is expressly forbidden in the Bible, isn't it?
Of the three religions that CLAIM to worship the God of the Bible (note I said "CLAIM". Don't bombard me with anti-Islamic rhetoric) namely Christianity (in all it's forms, including Romanism) Judaism (even though the God of the Bible is a triune God who the Jews do NOT know) and Islam (already commented on that) there has traditionally been a prohibition against cremation. In the Old Teastament burning was reserved for the perpetrators of evil deeds as a sign of the curse of God's wrath upon them. Quick burial was and remains the proper return to the earth practiced by Orthodox Jews and devout Muslims and really, really Fundamentalist Christians. It used to be so with Papists as well. Sadly, most Christians have joined non-observant Jews in burning what Christians claim to believe was the temple of the Holy Spirit of God and the body which is to await the final resurrection in order to bow to economical concerns. Goes in line I guess with modern translations of Scripture, women worshipping with an uncovered head, church members belonging to the Freemasons, Deacons and Elders who are divorced and remarried, and all other straying from the tenets of Biblical Christianity.
11/16/07 11:01 AM
