In "Lay Me in God's Good Earth," authors Kent Burreson and Beth Hoeltke simultaneously map a Christian theology of death and the technicalities one must confront in modern-day preparation for elderly living and funerals. The result is a somber yet hopeful proclamation that Christians need not fear death, deny its potency in all of life, or avoid preparing for its inevitable arrival. This work restates common theological points concerning death, such as in the Ars Moriendi and in the Holy Scriptures, but perhaps its most helpful feature is the practical guide for navigating burials, funerals, and medical considerations in the modern day. Whether you are young or old, this is a book worth reading; a theology of death governs much more of life than one might think, and the authors provide a practical and thoughtful work on how Christians reclaim the art and beauty of dying well.

This is a worthwhile read and I highlighted many sections. That said, it is my opinion that the authors fail to support their pro-natural burial premise. They pretty much say that “this is how it should be done” and throw in some why here and there. While I agree with their support of natural burial, their approach isn’t going to change people’s course of action. The status quo of the funeral industry is strong and we Christians need a more compelling argument if we’re going to change things.
The book seemed to be very repetitive and poorly organized. Several sections overlapped instead of organizing the information provided in the pertinent chapter.
I took particular issue with bringing up the Japanese art of kintsugi, saying that “The art of living after death comes from putting back together the broken pieces, accepting the pieces as they are, discarding some as needed, and creating new spaces and places for the rest over time.” I have no idea why the authors thought that mention of the Japanese art merited mention, especially after outlining repeatedly how modern burial practices aren’t based in scripture. Clearly the art of kintsugi is also not based in Christian scripture.

A thought provoking examination of burial practices and the Christian hope of resurrection from the dead. Gives a lot to think about regarding the ethics of burial