Posted on 09/22/2006 5:05:40 PM PDT by shrinkermd
A multi-faith cemetery will have all its graves aligned with Mecca, despite Christian burials traditionally facing east. CHRIS BIRKLE finds out how Christians and Muslims feel about the controversial council decision
In today's secular society you could be forgiven for not knowing which direction Christian graves face.
Ancient tradition shows they should look east in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
But all headstones at the new £2.5m High Wood Cemetery in Bulwell will be plotted to face north-east, in line with Islamic faith.
Muslims believe the dead look over their shoulder towards Mecca, towards the south-east
(Excerpt) Read more at thisisnottingham.co.uk ...
About had enough.
hmmm, I had heard that being on the southeast side of the cemetery was desirable. My plot has a great view... except that there's an old freight car that some farmer uses to store hay... just to the west.
That's "kind of East", and that has to do with optimizing light, and heat.
I don't recall a specific Christian tradition regarding the orientation of gravestones ~ after all, Jesus can arrive over any part of the horizon He wishes. He is not bound by the Sun.
Do Muslims practice conversion of ancestors the way Mormons do? It sounds rather convenient to lay out all the graves according to Muslim tradition. In a few generations, all Christian and other non-muslim symbols could be removed.
She worked with her DAV post in designing it.
The Son is not bound by the Sun?
First thing that crossed my mind, too! :)
I just mentally went over the 3 cemetarys I know, and amazingly, it seems to me that the gravestones face east.
What a great bar bet. ( like in, "I'll give you $1 for each grave stone facing either south, west, or north, you give me 25 cents for each gravestone facing east")
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LOL
The head faces east to meet the rising sun in most of our OLD cemteries. Spent years doing cemetery restoration.
It isnt bad enough that they kiss live Muslims on the ass, Now they are kissing the dead Muslims asses.
They have to calculate it.
Is it the direction which is the shortest distance to Hecca?
Yes, if you mean Mecca.
Do they factor the great circle route?
Yes.
"I don't recall a specific Christian tradition regarding the orientation of gravestone....." ,p.Yes, there is one, and it is just as this article states. Our pastor was talking about this about two Sundays ago in Bible class.
Conservatives should be buried face down. That way when the state of the world makes them roll over in their graves, they will come out right.
Of course, liberals should also be buried facing down, so that they can see where they are going.
Do Muslims also drive with the destination over their shoulder? I don't get it. Maybe camels work that way.
What is the best feng shui direction for a graveyard?
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