The Value of Life - A Challenge

I can’t believe I am going here. But I guess I am. I just watched a news report on human composting. Basically it was an infomercial for the compost facility. This, all while promoting the concept of it to a public that is for the most part unfamiliar with the whole idea. It was an ad made to look like a news report, in my opinion. Of course they made it look like it was the most wonderful, considerate thing one could ever do for their loved one.

But I want to take a look at some facts. Human composting has been illegal in 50 states until 2019, when it was made legal in Washington State. Five other states followed: Colorado, Oregon, (of course Oregon) Vermont, California, and New York. All wildly, liberal states. Washington was the first to legalize it, basically because that is where the founder is from, working diligently to perfect (?) and legalize the process. That there are only six states where it is legal in the year 2023, should tell us volumes!

I am frustrated. I am frustrated because it seems people just jump on the band wagon without doing any research. In this case, it involves flatly accepting that human composting isn’t any different than cremation where one is able to receive the ashes of a loved one and honor them as one pleases. I found the news report on social media; and it stirred lots of comments. As I read them, I was astounded. As with everything, it seems we just willingly believe whatever we are told. 

But the truth is, human composting IS different than cremation and certainly different than burial. Human composting, invented by Katrina Spade, a progressive "greenie" from Seattle, began as a "thought experiment" while she was in grad school, in 2011 - 2013. It has been billed as a "movement created by people who are not satisfied by the current funeral industry options." But her desire to create this process was also out of her concern for the environmental impact of traditional burial and cremation. Spade began the first company, Recompose, - "a licensed green funeral home" - to utilize this process. What started as an Urban Death Project in 2015, became Recompose, founded in 2017. They were instrumental in changing the law in Washington State to allow for this method of disposing of bodies at death. With the passage of Washington State Senate Bill 5001 in 2019, Recompose was soon ready to offer their services  to the public. Jay Inslee is the Governor who signed the legalization of human composting into law.

While Spade began her composting plan as mass composting bodies collectively, her foundation decided to limit that to individual vessels, which garnered more support and allowed for easier legalization. The human remains are placed in a steel box (A steel box by some reports, Recompose calls it a "vessel".) with biodegradable materials such as straw, wood chips, and alfalfa. This helps the body naturally decompose. The body is then sent through a type of oven, adding oxygen and heat that helps it degrade more quickly. I have seen a time frame of a month to four months reported. The Recompose website states it will be ready in about 8 - 12 weeks. This ends in the production of "soil" (or "compost"), which is given to family members, who may spread it or use it to grow plants. Yeah, it's compost. 

With their price, Recompose allows someone to receive a 64 oz. container of their loved ones "soil". It also allows clients to donate the compost to a preserved, forest land of 700 acres in southern Washington, called Bells Mountain. Or, one can purchase additional amounts for themselves.

From the Recompose website:

Recompose is part of a global movement of organizations working to:

• Advocate for climate healing, soil health, and environmental justice.

• Be anti-racist. Recompose is committed to advocating for and protecting the rights of BIPOC, religious minorities, and undocumented people.

• Engage with the work of queer feminist practices of inclusion and equity. Recompose is committed to advocating for and protecting the rights of women, transgender people, and gender nonconforming people.

So, there's that. But let me get back to my concerns with the process of human composting.

First of all, I believe there can be health issues related to this new process. There are no sanitation issues with cremation because the body is all burned away. There ARE problems with composting. There are some diseased bodies that cannot be composted; as one example tuberculosis. Ebola is another. These are diseases that will not decompose! And there are others; further, what about future diseases that have not yet been tested? 

Secondly, I believe the composting will end in composting en masse. Remember, it was initially started that way. As this avenue proceeds and gains acceptance, every state will frame their own laws regarding human composting. And too, as slippery slopes always begin rather benignly, they always end in more extreme measures. Your loved one may now go in alone; I am not sure they will eventually come out that way. Depending on each state law and facility, can we be sure our loved one will be the one received back should one choose the option to do so? It has already been reported that this is a mishmash and all DNA is lost in the process. Many think they are just going to pick up their loved one and plant a tree! Sadly, that isn’t the case. Regardless, after composting, it isn’t simply your loved one. It is a mishmash with the loss of all DNA!!! 

Third, the price should be considered. I can tell by many comments in the post, that people like the idea because they think it is going to be less expensive. I find it interesting there was no mention of price in the report. So I had to do a little digging. Contrary to what one might think it is double the price of cremation. Do we really think that a system like is required will be inexpensive? Heck, no. The equipment and process is spendy and time consuming. California has legalized it in 2023, but are saying the system won’t be ready until 2027. Washington legalized in 2019, but is just now getting the word out and activating. Time costs money. The New Yorker reported a price of $5,500.00 in 2019, when Washington first legalized. It is a lot more expensive than cremation. That is probably why a price wasn’t mentioned in the "news" report - the “infomercial”. It seems they may want to get people on board, before they lower the boom with the price and problems.

“The process, which will cost five thousand five hundred dollars, uses an eighth of the energy that cremation does. People who have suffered from prion diseases will not be eligible."                              https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/09/02/everything-youre-afraid-to-ask-about-human-composting 

For Washington State, the Recompose website now has the price in 2023, listed as $7,000.00. So, it is not at all cheap! And in fact, it is almost the same price as a full funeral. Each state, of course, varies in prices as in anything.

What other issues do I have with this new option for death? It is the terminology and where that will most likely lead. To state we are "composting" our dead bodies, would have previous generations turning in their graves. From compost to fertilizer; and on and on. There have always been health reasons for why this has not been allowed and it isn't a simple process. As I said, California is preparing in  2023, but not expecting anything to be ready until 2027. That's at least four years! Plus, it is going to require more red tape/laws. There will in fact, be just as many laws with more expense than cremation. It isn't what one thinks of at face value. Do a little research. It's actually very interesting and it's kind of scary.

Some that commented on the social media post, mentioned that they would support it as an act of freedom of choice. Less restrictions, less laws, less government telling us what to do. I don’t believe that for one minute. It is going to create a need for more laws and monitoring. Think! Those diseased bodies that can’t be safely decomposed will need to be excluded. Further, now legalized, how will it be monitored to prevent any Joe-Blow from adding Granny to the garden? From the New Yorker Magazine:

“But will consumers be able to overcome the psychological hurdle of putting soil made from Grandma into the asparagus patch? Lisa Devereau, the president of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association, said, “We’re hearing a lot of ‘That’s disgusting, we don’t want to eat our relatives.’ ” Devereau herself was skeptical until she saw that the Washington proposal recommends that the resulting soil be scattered in forests or in non-food gardens. A cubic yard of soil “is a lot of product,” Devereau pointed out. “Four large wheelbarrows full." https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/09/02/everything-youre-afraid-to-ask-about-human-composting [Bold emphasis, mine]

Fine. That will also require monitoring. But if you believe that’s where it will end, I have a bridge to sell you. This is how it starts...we will see how it ends. Remember; we were also told abortion would never end in partial birth abortions, or abortions up to the 9 month...but they most certainly did. In this case, there is no control of how people will use this, if they opt to take the compost home.

And just when will it become a lucrative market to sell the compost from the “forest” for other uses? Money talks. If you think that isn’t going to happen, I have another bridge to sell you.

For some of us, just mention the word “freedom” and we are all in without even critically analyzing or researching. For others, we’re all in simply with the word “green” or “eco-friendly”. Those are the ones that seem to me to care more for the earth than they do life…or at least until they think critically. Has sanitation issues really all been resolved? We need to do a little research on it. It isn't just the simple process to be taken at face value. And there will be just as many laws regarding it and just as much expense. In fact, as I said there will be certain diseases like tuberculosis that cannot be composted. It's a dangerous, sickening trend, in my view. Why do you think only six states have legalized it after this many years?? They are all liberal states. This isn't about freedom, and it isn't about your loved one. This is about the “green agenda”. 

All fifty states allow home burial. Each state has their own laws regarding that, which must be followed. There must be certain standards and requirements to keep things safe. Burial at home? I am not opposed to that. I am opposed to mass composting...as well as just the simple reference to the term, “composting” in regard to the human body! How low do we have to go in the devaluing of life? Because, in my opinion, that is what this is.

I believe it is a total disrespect for life; even to the point that puts the earth before God and human life. Just more “green” garbage from liberal states trying to do away with any aspect of God and faith. Making the point of how unhealthy cemeteries are for the environment, someone commented: “and all those toxins make cemeteries a super fund clean up site in the future.” I could only respond, “Thanks for making my point.” Do they not understand we cannot turn a cemetery into a “super fund clean up”? Nor should we ever!!! That is the type of devaluing of life of which I am referring.

This goes far beyond cremation. Human composting was illegal in all states until 2019, when Washington was the first to legalize it. Why do you think that was the case? Why do you think it was illegal for so long?! It was for a legitimate reason...out of respect for life, health and sanitation reasons. Bodies need to be buried to certain standards. I just feel like it is a dangerous slippery slope for disrespect of life that will even become more careless...as all things do once given an open door. We are allowing the government to call our loved ones "compost". That's a dangerous statement, I think. I think there is an ongoing trend to devalue life wherever possible. With our unborn babies; with our elderly, with a push in some states toward euthanasia. And now with bodies that are nothing more than "compost". When is it going to be okay to put the compost on a pasture like nothing more than fertilizer? I know that sounds extreme. It is not. It is the government disrespecting life by allowing this change in law. And that is why I believe it's been illegal until 2019. If it was merely cremation, they would call it that instead of getting us used to the idea that our loved ones are nothing more than "compost".

I am not judging anyone's decisions. I understand people when they're saying they're equating it to cremation and people should have a right to do what they want with their own burial decisions. But this is going beyond that. This is a step further. I am saying this was illegal until 2019 for a reason. And honestly for me, as a Christian, I don't think God looks kindly on that kind of disrespect of life. If someone wants to cremate their loved ones and do what they want in remembrance, that's a choice. But please don't let the government refer to them as "compost"! Because that is what happened when this was first allowed in 2019.

For some time I have meant to write a blog post about the importance of cemeteries to our lives. I never got it done, but it has always been so important to me. I had once read an article about their importance and it was extremely profound. I wanted to find that article again, before I wrote. I never found it, so I put off writing about it; but because of that I want to just briefly mention it here. Cemeteries are incredibly important to our history. They are a solid and tangible reminder of life. They are comprised of the importance of God and faith, often with a Bible verse on the headstone, or a simple cross. One cannot cancel out God in a cemetery. They whisper in breathtaking honor, the heritage and culture of our nation. They are a reminder of the importance we place on life.

How contrary this whole human composting concept is to a message I heard from my pastor several years ago. Just after 9/11 and the attack on the United States by hitting the Twin Towers, Pastor had gone to New York to be of service to the people working there; and also to be a comfort to the survivors and those who had lost loved ones. As pastor, he was well-qualified to bring consolation to those hurting; but he also had law enforcement experience, so he was able to be equally helpful to the First Responders there, who were working long, strenuous, emotional hours.

I will never forget  the first sermon he gave when he returned home. He told of his experiences with deep respect and awe. He told of how they searched and searched the rubble for any sign of life, but also any sign of a body at all. An arm, a finger; anything that would help identify a victim.

He explained how he had attended a funeral of someone who had been found. Standing there with others in attendance he told of how they listened and waited for the body to be brought out during the service. But when it was, he explained the shock of those in attendance when they saw it was only a small box...simply containing only a small body part that had been found. But yet, it represented a life. It was a life and this part allowed a human being to be identified. So they honored those remains just as they would in a regular funeral with a casket. He told of how that hit his heart. It hit mine, too. And I never forgot it.

I don’t remember all the details of his message; it has been 22 years ago now. But I will never forget how he ended his sermon. Two words. The words hit me deeper than I ever thought possible: “We dig.” And then his explanation. “We are a nation that honors life and we dig.” Think of the countless hours and number of people that took time out of their lives to dig through that rubble in the most dire of circumstances. That is who we are. Think about that when someone from around the world is beating up on us and calling us a selfish nation. We may have faults, but when it comes to life, we dig.

That’s the standard of our nation and our culture. That is who we are. I get that it’s changing. We left Americans behind in Afghanistan; and before that, we left them behind in Benghazi. That is something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. We kill our babies up to the moment of birth in some states. That was a slippery slope. We were told that would never happen. Some states have legalized euthanasia. We have lost the importance of care of our elderly – think putting COVID patients in nursing homes with the frail and elderly, carelessly exposed to death. We are changing. I get that. But I am going to fight to my un-composted death for a few of the principals that we once held as extremely important.

So I look like an idiot on social media spouting off again, about something I really know very little, but that just hit my heart as terribly wrong. So much so, that I had to comment...again. And I have to write! I don’t know how else to help. How else do we bring awareness, about something that we might find very harmful later? We were told abortion would be "safe, legal and rare", too. And then we saw states legalizing it up until the moment of birth. Everything is always a slippery slope. I don’t know how else to remind people of the things that are important...or at least once were to our nation. The things of God that seem to be under continual attack and lost under the guise of convenience…or a green message that makes the earth more important than life. God told us in His Word that we are to be in control over the earth! Not the other way around! We are that important.

And that is how I see this challenge which is minimizing the importance of life. We are not compost and we should never allow anyone to take us that low.

Follow up side note: I guess I did at one time write my thoughts about the importance of cemeteries to our lives. You can read that here.