How we act sometimes betrays a bit of how we believe. The Jewish religion still believes in a resurrection (although many Jews do not). At the time of death, Jews do not embalm the deceased. That's why a Jewish funeral is almost always a closed casket. They want the body to be ready for resurrection. Likewise, that's why so many people are (or were) against cremation of remains. It seems to betray a lack of faith in the resurrection.
"The Catholic Church's practice of burial goes back to early Christian days. A strong belief in the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, as well as the belief in the resurrection of the body, support the Church's continued reverence for the human body. From early Christian days cremation was viewed as a pagan practice and a denial of the doctrine of the Resurrection. That's why cremation was expressly forbidden by the Catholic Church until recent years. "
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From www.americancatholic.org, I read the following:
"The Catholic Church's practice of burial goes back to early Christian days. A strong belief in the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, as well as the belief in the resurrection of the body, support the Church's continued reverence for the human body. From early Christian days cremation was viewed as a pagan practice and a denial of the doctrine of the Resurrection. That's why cremation was expressly forbidden by the Catholic Church until recent years. "