The Rev. Brian Baker, dean of Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento, California, and a member of the Episcopal Church\u2019s Executive Council, said that other than \u201cthe ick factor,\u201d\u009d there was nothing to prevent Episcopalians from participating in the Urban Death Project. Given the importance of environmentalism to his congregation, he wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see it gain traction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is much better stewardship of the Earth and human resources and land than putting up a cement crypt and a coffin that obligates people to care for it,\u201d\u009d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re not a doctrinal church. It\u2019s not like a church body would say yes or no, it\u2019s more like Episcopalians do it and so it becomes church practice.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
Muslims wanting to participate in the Urban Death Project may hit some theological obstacles. In Islam, while burial in a shroud and natural decomposition are consistent with the Urban Death Project\u2019s model, its compost harvesting might be seen as disinterment, considered a forbidden mutilation of the body. Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for Council on American-Islamic Relations, said that scholars may be able to argue around the issue.<\/p>\n