Funeral rites.

[Frankie]

Apologies and a warning for a taboo and morbid subject being brought up. If you're easily offended please exit this topic now.








Funerals, as I know, are preformed by Vicars,with Gods blessing, Bible extracts and Prayers.That is fine and acceptable obviously for those who have faith. But what do atheists, agnostics and similar do?

By following the above well known ritual of passing, is it not contradictory to the above unbelievers?

Personally I never utter a prayer or sing hymns at a funeral. That does prick my conscience making me feel that I am disrespecting the deceased. However I do lower my face slightly as a prayer is read. I wince at a being given a blessing by the Vicar upon leaving the Chapel of Rest.

Is there any other way for a funeral to be preformed that does not include God, the Bible or a Vicar?

Am I wrong not to join in and guilty of disrespecting the dead, by not joining in?

How does an atheist or agnostic cope with such things?

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by Frankie
Is there any other way for a funeral to be preformed that does not include God, the Bible or a Vicar?
(Not that you would really care being dead and all...) I think you can get a God-free funeral by simply suggesting to the preist that you are non-religious and wish not to have any to god(s), Jesus, Bible, Heaven, or Hell mentioned or in any way referenced at your funeral.

(Vicars dont give last rites to people who wish to be stuffed and mounted on display... that's the way I always planned my funeral...)

[Skeptical Greg]

Funerals are for the living. Treat them ( the living ) as you always would.

Jesus said: " Let the dead bury the dead.. " Sounds like a pretty good philosophy....

[jimmygun]

I attend religious ceremonies with my wife from time to time. I stand when the others stand but do not bow my head, close my eyes, speak prayers or hold hands as is their custom.

I do not feel the least bit uncomfortable about doing this, people know I am an atheist and I expect them to respect that even in their place of worship. I do not accept blessings from priests or any of that stuff that others believe in nor do I make a big scene about refusing it. A simple 'no thank you' usually suffices and if any explanation is ever warranted (for example to a younger person) I wait till the appropriate time and place.

[geni]

If there is enough of you left to hold a funeral your life has not been suficently interesting (well that is my view).

[evildave]

Ceremonies like weddings and funerals are social things.

My relative died, I show up to support the surviving relatives. Give hugs. Maybe cry a little myself.

There are plenty of non-denominational and atheistic manners to have a funeral.

This search turns up lots of hits.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Atheist+funeral

For instance: "Just chuck my meat & bones in the cheapest crematorium oven at your earliest convenience, and get rid of the ashes any which way. I won't notice which. Spend the balance on a four-kegger.


Charlie had a massive heart attack and died. His body was delivered to the mortuary. He had been wearing an expensive, expertly tailored black suit at the time of his demise, so he really looked wonderful, considering the circumstances.

His wife went to the funeral home to make the final arrangements for his interment. She spoke to the mortician about what her husband would be wearing. The mortician pointed out that the man looked really nice in the black suit he was wearing, and that frankly it would be easier and less expensive to leave him dressed as he was. The woman noted that Charlie had always looked his very best in blue, and that she really wanted him in a blue suit for his trip to eternity. To silence the mortician's continued outcries, she gave him a blank check and said, "I don't care what it costs, but please have my husband in the very best blue suit money can buy for the ceremony."

The woman came back the next day for the wake. To her delight, she found her Charlie dressed in a gorgeous blue suit with a subtle chalk stripe; the suit fit him perfectly. She said to the mortician, "Whatever this cost, I'm very satisfied. You did an excellent job, and I'm very grateful. How much did you spend?"

To her astonishment, the mortician presented her with the blank check, indicating there was no charge for these extra services. "No, really, I must compensate you for the cost of that exquisite blue suit!" she cried.

The mortician responded, "Honestly, ma'am, the change to the blue suit cost nothing. Funny thing, a deceased gentleman of about your husband's size was brought in shortly after you left yesterday, wearing an attractive blue suit. I asked his wife if she minded him going to his grave wearing an attractive black suit. She indicated that it made no difference, as long as he looked nice....So I switched the heads.

[bjornart]

I've only been to one funeral, and that was non-religious. Some speeches, some music, flowers and wreaths, but no mention of gods or an afterlife.

[Cleopatra]

Originally posted by Frankie
How does an atheist or agnostic cope with such things?


He lobbies so as the Parliament of his country passes a Law that accepts secular funerals. Although I am not an atheist I participate in such a commitee in my country.

[BillyJoe]

Pretend you're an actor in a play. Ed Norton in "Keeping the Faith". Bow your head, genuflect, cross yourself with holy water, pray and sing with gusto, and graciously accept the blessing of the priest. What the hell. We are all actors on the stage of life.

[athon]

I think it would be disrespectful to do the opposite - to actually partake in prayers that you don't believe in. I went to a Catholic high school and learned the prayers, practiced genuflection and even partook in communion once (curious to see what the bread was like).

I quickly felt awkward and stopped doing it in year 11. Now, at funerals and other religious events, I stand, sit, and bow my head (as a sign of respect since I'm a part of the gathering) but I don't partake in anything else. I think it's where you draw the line, personally.

Athon

[LW]

Originally posted by Diogenes
Jesus said: " Let the dead bury the dead.. " Sounds like a pretty good philosophy....

Except that it may lead to a significant decrease in the quality of air.

[evildave]

Well, you could always leave the burying to the dead, but let the living do the moving to the morgue and sticking in the crematoriums.

Leaving the bodies out would hardly affect the air quality at all, really (other than in the immediate neighborhood). It'd just attract vermin and such.

[I'll_buy_that]

Originally posted by evildave
....So I switched the heads.

[/B]


That was funny. I wasn't expecting that.

funerals are for the living. as are cemetaries. I think the are a waste of real estate