Funerals - what do agnostics/atheists do?

mactbone · January 26, 2003, 14:29

Since I'm relatively new to the whole not subscribing to any specific belief, and my grandfather died recently, I've been wondering, what do agnostics and atheists usually have done to them?

The question sounds odd but I'll put it like this -
Christians have body put in casket - priest/pastor or whatever talks to a group of people who care and then they bury the person.
There's also the whole burial at sea, flaming pyre, and long voyage down the river ceremonies.

What kinds of things do athiests/agnostics usually do?
Casket/cremation?
Funeral service/not?
What!?

loinburger · January 26, 2003, 14:33

My grandpa was an agnostic/atheist, and my grandma is a Catholic, so my grandpa was given a casket burial so that my grandma can be buried next to him when her time comes. He really didn't care one way or the other what happened to his corpse, and my grandma had Opinions on the matter, so he acceded to her wishes.

There are benefits to a funeral service and/or burial that are quite independent of one's religious beliefs -- basically, they're for the benefit of the family and any other mourners, so that they can have their cry and lay flowers by the deceased's grave etc. It's not a topic I've broached with my family (since I intend to outlive them all), but if I ever find it necessary to write out a will (or whatever) it will basically say "Donate my organs, and with the rest do whatever floats your boat."

Caesar the Great · January 26, 2003, 14:44

i want a comedian, and some beatles songs at my funeral

i don't like sad people

mactbone · January 26, 2003, 14:51

I can see it now.

Comedian at Caesar's funeral "Hey! Did you hear the one about the corpse?"

MRT144 · January 26, 2003, 14:54

im christian but basicly i want a new orleans type of funeral...with dancing and celebrating. i want my life to be celebrated with an actual celebration.

Gatekeeper · January 26, 2003, 15:10

Quote:

Originally posted by loinburger
... but if I ever find it necessary to write out a will (or whatever) it will basically say "Donate my organs, and with the rest do whatever floats your boat."

The organ donation part is good, but you'd best be careful with that last part. I mean, what if they decide to clone you? Your soul would be sucked back into this life or, perhaps, another soul would inhabit your former body.

Gatekeeper

(Put in a clause about "no cloning allowed.")

GePap · January 26, 2003, 15:24

Funerals are for the living, not the dead.

I think cremation is probably a very popular choice: saves on space and it is a much cheaper way of corpse disposal. And you can still have a wake for an Urn.

loinburger · January 26, 2003, 15:32

Quote:

Originally posted by Gatekeeper
(Put in a clause about "no cloning allowed.")

If they decide to clone me, then that's their problem to deal with, not mine. I'll still be corpsified.

Besides, it'd be cool if they cloned me -- I could increase my notoriety post mortem. "loinburger's clone robbed yet another bank today..." "The cheesecake factory has fallen prey to the loinburger-clone army -- this is the eighth confectioner to be sacked this week..." I'm gonna be famous!

Gatekeeper · January 26, 2003, 15:42

You'd put DS9's Weyoun to shame, Loin!

Mercator · January 26, 2003, 15:49

I'm with loinburger. Donate my organs, do whatever you please with the rest...

Being fed to the lions sounds like a very tasty affair. I'm not sure my family would appreciate it as much as the lions would, though.

Starchild · January 26, 2003, 15:52

Sometimes we atheists have deep, meaningful funerals that remember the person's life and their impact on the people who they loved.

Sometimes we leave the body near the side of the road until garbage collection day.

chequita guevara · January 26, 2003, 16:43

Donate my organs to charity and the rest of my body to science.

Have a really big party with the money you would have spent on funeral crap.

Jon Miller · January 26, 2003, 16:46

I am relgious and christian

but I want my body to be left out in the woods to decompose

I might be willing to let them harvest any needed organs first

Jon Miller

Wernazuma III · January 26, 2003, 18:10

I don't care at all, what happens with my corpse, but as I see it, a Christian doesn't have a religious reason to care either - it's only the body, right?

I'm an atheist but still think about how the world will be after my death, so I'd rather be cremated than possibly poison the water. I don't want a funeral, unless my relatives want it to feel better, then I don't care - after all it will be THEIR money...

Ben Kenobi · January 26, 2003, 18:23

Quote:

a Christian doesn't have a religious reason to care either - it's only the body, right?

Catholics have last rites. Orthodox churches may have something similar. Regarding cremation vs. burial, generally burial is done, not for reasons of doctrine, but tradition.

[edited for grammer]

Capt Dizle · January 26, 2003, 18:37

Funerals - what do agnostics/atheists do?

They go to hell of course.

The Andy-Man · January 26, 2003, 18:39

I can't really see why an atheist wouold care....

Neutrino · January 26, 2003, 18:54

As an atheist, I'd prefer that body be recycled back into the natural cycle or used for scientific research. Just playing my part in the life cycle.

Sava · January 26, 2003, 19:53

I don't think there is one custom that all agnostics/atheists follow. And usually, most of them come from families that do have some sort of religious background of some sort. It's up to the individual. And that's the key to being agnostic/atheist... each person has their own ideas and they don't conform to some overriding cultural or religious set of rituals.

Alexander's Horse · January 26, 2003, 20:05

Atheists and agnostics? Don't they just put the body out with the garbage?

Must be difficult to know what to do.

I'm catholic so I already know what to expect right down to the choice of readings. All in all its a very nice comforting ceremony for the bereaved.

Lorizael · January 26, 2003, 21:38

Make sure my body goes to good use and don't waste any money on me once I'm dead. If my family wants to celebrate my life or mourn my death in some way, then that's up to them. But no ritual, no thousands of dollars on caskets, none of that for my death...

Rex Little · January 26, 2003, 23:56

When my mother died, we had her cremated and held a (totally non-religious) memorial gathering. We'll most certainly do the same when my father's time comes.

My own case will be interesting, assuming I die before my wife does, because I'm an atheist but she isn't. I've told her that I'd like my skeleton saved and hung outside every Halloween, but I rather doubt she'll go along. . .

Goingonit · January 27, 2003, 00:02

I'm agnostic but I'm also Jewish, so I guess I'd have a Jewish funeral.

All that God talk wouldn't hurt anyone. After all, like Pascal says, if you pray to God and there isn't one, what's gonna happen?

Skanky Burns · January 27, 2003, 00:03

Quote:

When my mother died, we had her cremated and held a (totally non-religious) memorial gathering. We'll most certainly do the same when my father's time comes.

As with my grandfather. Was good*.

* As good as a funeral type thing could be, anyway.

Lorizael · January 27, 2003, 01:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Goingonit
All that God talk wouldn't hurt anyone. After all, like Pascal says, if you pray to God and there isn't one, what's gonna happen?

The problem with that theory is that God is omniscient, so he knows if you're just praying for a free pass. I think he'd be more pissed at someone that prayed just in case than someone that actually had some sort of conviction in life.

Alexander's Horse · January 27, 2003, 01:15

I think cremation is good - its neat. You don't take up too much space - or none at all if the ashes are scattered.

The only downside is geneology.

Lorizael · January 27, 2003, 01:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
The only downside is geneology.

Alexander's Horse · January 27, 2003, 01:22

Headstones are important for tracing geneology.

Zero · January 27, 2003, 01:29

Any of the options will do::

1. Be mumified
2. Blasted into space
3.cremated
4.get shredded

who gives a damn when ur dead?

I would hate to do a funeral cause for some reason I have this huge urge to laugh at a funeral and I let out a smirk once or twice. It really looks bad whena family member catches me doing it while everyone is sobbing. If this thing is genetic, I dont want my grandchildren suffering the same thing.

molly bloom · January 27, 2003, 01:42

Both my partner and I intend to be cremated when the time comes. He has stated he wants his ashes scattered off Gwennap Head in Cornwall- me, I think I'd like to be dunked in the Irish version of the Ganges- back to Anna Livia Plurabelle.

Although I'd much rather go to a good party before I die, I'm quite happy for friends and relatives to have a good time at my expense when I depart stage right. I even have a list of music to be played when I'm incinerating, starting with Martha and the Vandelllas' 'Heatwave' .