Module 4
Prompt
Erik Gokstad is about as Scandinavian as they come. Descended from Norse blood he was a proud boat builder and claimed he could trace his family back to 900 A.D. Both of you share an abiding love for the outdoors and you both have cabins about a mile apart from one another in the far north woods of Minnesota. The Gokstad’s property includes a small lake. Erik recently died, and his son Bjorn comes to you to make final arrangements. He sincerely requests that his dad wanted cremation but would like to have his dad’s body dressed in full Viking attire and disposed of in the ancient Viking ritual of placing his dad’s body in one of his boats, casting it into the families private, remote lake, and setting it aflame while the family gathers on the shore to sing “Up Helly Aa”, drink Jägermeister and brännvin. The family will gladly pay you whatever you charge.
You actually like the idea and it is befitting the lifestyle of your dear old friend. Your funeral home’s mission statement decrees that you will respect the wishes not only of the dead but the living as well.
The state of Minnesota is pretty particular about all 10,000 lakes. Although nothing prohibits burning upon the lakes per se, nothing can remain within the waters, and that goes for boats that sink, motors, poles, and no refuse of any kind of nature. Unfortunately, what the family has in mind would undoubtedly cast wood, cremated remains, and non-immolated body parts into the water. Arguably, these things are biodegradable and can be distinguished from an aluminum boat, metal motor with oil and gas, or a fiberglass fishing pole.
The family is solidly on board with this plan and want you to make this happen – sounds like a good time. They argue that if denied, it violates their right to religious freedom, full use and enjoyment of their land, and they have a permit issued by the county to burn on their land.
ISSUE
The issue is “whether alternate forms of cremation are permitted even where family members agree on the mode of disposition and where cremation takes place on private land.”
QUESTIONS
1. How will you counsel the Gokstad’s?
2. If a situation like the scenario were permitted, what implications might this have on funeral and cremation licensure in general?
3. Have the Gokstad’s rights or freedoms been abridged?