Lay Me in God’s Good Earth: A Christian Approach to Death and Burial

A Christian case for natural burial

The promises of the Christian gospel are never more precious or more beautiful than in the context of death and burial. And yet current burial practices in Western society are archaic and impersonal. They fail to confront us with the reality of death, and they make it harder to process death or to grieve properly.

Kent Burreson and Beth Hoeltke have been teaching a Christian understanding of death and natural burial for many years. They argue that natural burial--laying the body into the earth in a way that allows it to decompose naturally--is not only better for the environment but is also a more accurate picture of Christian hope of the resurrection. Grounded in sound Christian teaching about death and burial, they advocate for natural burial and offer practical instructions for navigating the complex questions around burial practices.

Lay Me in God’s Good Earth is not only an immensely practical guide to natural burial; it is also an application of the hope of the resurrection to those grieving the loss of their loved ones.

Kent J. Burreson (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is professor of systematic theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Together with Beth Hoeltke, he is the author of Death, Heaven, Resurrection, and the New Creation.

Beth Hoeltke (PhD, Concordia Seminary) is the retired director of the graduate school at Concordia Seminary and an adjunct instructor at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri. Together with Kent Burreson, she is the author of Death, Heaven, Resurrection, and the New Creation.