Minnesota No. 1 in Midwest for cremation rate, but northwest Minnesota among lowest in nation

Minnesota has scored another No. 1 among Midwest states. Minnesota ranks on top for people choosing to be cremated rather than buried.

In fact, almost half -- 45 percent -- of all Minnesotans choose to be cremated rather than buried.

Over the past decades, Minnesota has enjoyed a long string of firsts -- our state has often been first in literacy, first in longevity, even first in number of Fortune 500 companies located within a state. But today, we're numero uno in cremations, but that's only among Midwest states, so don't get too excited.

The national average for cremation is 35 percent. In the New England states, it's common to achieve a 50 to 75 percent cremation rate.

What's interesting for my corner of the world, the northwest corner of Minnesota, is that the cremation rate is a scant 12 percent! Why are people in my remote, cold, snowy corner of the state so much less likely to opt for cinder and ashes, rather than a cozy coffin in which to spend the rest of eternity?

Even more interesting is the fact that, on the opposite side of northern Minnesota, in the Arrowhead region, the cremation rate is more than 50 percent. Why? Why do those of us on the northern, western prairies shy away from cremation while those in the rocky forests of northern, eastern Minnesota opt for it more often?

We do know that religion plays a role. The Catholic Church frowns upon cremation because it maintains that the human body is the vessel through which the Sacraments of the church are delivered and obtained, and thus to destroy the human body is not the best option. It should be noted that the Catholic Church does not strictly forbid cremation, but merely holds it as a much less desirable option.

What about all the Lutherans in northwest Minnesota? I don't know what the Lutheran policy on cremation is, even though my wife is a Lutheran, but I'm not going to ask her, and I'm too lazy to go look it up, so I'll let that issue lie for now.

It's significant to note that the first evidence we have a cremation comes from the remains found of a woman in Australia, whose remains -- or cremains, as the pros call them -- have been dated to 20,000 years ago. She is known as the "Mungo Lady" because her cremains were found near Mungo Lake in Australia.

So we know that cremation has been around a long time -- at least 18,000 years longer than Christianity -- and probably a lot longer.

But cremation is not merely a Christian do or don't. Just about all religions have very specific policies on cremation. Take Zoroastrianism, for example. This is an ancient pre-Christian religion which has few followers left today, although the famous rock star Freddy Mercury was a Zoroastrian.

Anyway, the Zoroastrians strictly forbid the disposal of a body through cremation -- yet that is precisely what the Queen front man chose for his body. I guess he was a rebel to the end, and beyond, you might say. Whatever the case, he sure could sing.

What about Scientology? Cremation is okay with them. How about Buddhism? Cremation is a go. Unitarians? Yes, burn the body if you want.

Those that strongly oppose cremation include the Neo-Confusionists, and the Bahá'í Faith. There are probably others by my intent here is not to make an exhaustive list.

You may be surprised to learn that cremains are not actually ashes, which is the popular belief, but rather, dried bone fragments that have been pulverized in a device called an electric cremated remains processor. It leaves behind something more akin to fine sand than ashes.

Cremains can either be scattered in a favorite location, according to the wishes of the deceased, stored in an urn within a home, or placed in something called a columbarium, which is a structure often located in or near a cemetery.

There are other factors beyond religion which influence the choice of cremation, including economics and education levels. But for now, Minnesota is No. 1 in the Midwest for cremation rates. That's the news.

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