From Burial to Cremation: The Cultural Challenge for the Nepali Church

For centuries Nepali Protestant Christians have practiced in-theground-burialfor its dead because early Protestant missionaries taught this was the biblical way to handle those who had died. However recently the church has been denied access to the former burial sites it used by the owners and by persecution, particularly from Hindu neighbors and townspeople who believe Christians are untouchable and therefore their dead bodies will pollute the land. While cremation seems to be a possible answer, the Nepali church has been slow to adopt the practice. Concern about syncretism and its practice by Roman Catholic Nepalis has limited its consideration by the church as a solution. This article examines the problem, discusses the factors which impact the acceptance of cremation, and offers recommendations to the Nepali evangelical community, including critical contextualization as a way forward.