Most people turn to religion for comfort and guidance when a loved one dies. One major question after a death is the significance of the body--what to do with it and what comprises a respectful method of treating it. It is no surprise, then, that different religions would have a stake in exhibitions such as the one that is coming to Pittsburgh in the fall.

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"The Catholic church has long supported the concept of using the bodies of the deceased for medical science," said the Rev. Ron Lengwin, a spokesman for the Catholic diocese of Pittsburgh. "If the exhibit can encourage knowledge and proper care of the human body, that is important."

Father Lengwin said that representatives from the Carnegie Science Center had consulted the Catholic Church in Pittsburgh about the exhibition.

"We haven't arrived at a final decision" about whether to support it, Father Lengwin said. He raised questions about the provenance of the bodies and whether permission was given by the deceased for their display.

Protestants largely share the Catholic perspective.

"We would basically agree that the remaining body is really empty," said the Rev. Jim Fullmer, of the Pittsburgh Chinese Church, "that the spirit has gone to be with Christ in heaven." So long as the body itself was treated with dignity, said Mr. Fullmer, there wouldn't be anything wrong with the exhibition.

Mr. Fullmer said that the topic of Chinese bodies hadn't been brought to the attention of his church, but that he might have a conversation with his parishioners about it.

While nothing in Christian teaching necessarily prevents the display of human bodies for educational purposes, Jewish traditions vary in their approach to such exhibitions.

"We believe that the body is a gift from God," said Rabbi Danny Schiff, a representative from the Agency for Jewish Learning in Pittsburgh. "Once the soul has departed, we don't gaze on the body," he said, noting the Jewish tradition of closed-casket funerals and bans on embalming.

Furthermore, "laws in the Talmud prevent any profit from the dead," he said. He also questioned the origin of the bodies.

Not all Jewish leaders agreed with Rabbi Schiff.

"The Reform movement is supportive of transplants to save a life," said Rabbi Art Donsky, of Allison Park's Temple Ohav Shalom. "Making an analogy, this sort of exhibit could be life-enhancing."

The Islamic perspective is similar, said Farooq Hussaini, volunteer director for interfaith relations at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh.

"The Muslim view on this is based on the teachings of the Prophet," Mr. Hussaini said. "When a person dies, his body should be buried in a dignified way." But for educational purposes, "if it can be helpful for humanity," Mr. Hussaini said, keeping the body is permissible.

"Mostly it's frowned upon when used for exhibition as art," he said.

The Carnegie Science Center is aware of the objections of some Pittsburgh religious leaders, but argues that the educational value is "enormous," said Ann Metzger, director of marketing and community affairs at the center.

"To those people who have objections, we say, don't come if you don't feel comfortable about that," Ms. Metzger said. "We feel that their not coming also creates an educational moment. It creates the opportunity for a community dialogue."

"We don't see that as a negative," she said. "That's part of the role of the museum -- to inspire dialogues."