What kind of a funeral do you have if you're an atheist?

Question

Kind of morbid, I know, but just wondering since I'm not religious.

Answer 1

one without any mention of God. No hymns or scripture reading. A lot of the funerals I've been to haven't really had a religous theme. People get up and talk, give eulogys and they play their favorite song..etc.

Answer 2

Funerals are all together a morbid thing. I don't understand it, and I hope I don't have one. I mean really, the person doesn't know that you are "saying goodbye", and why would you wan to look at a dead body. My great grandmother passed away a few months ago, and I loved her dearly. I went to her funeral, and being persuaded by my family, I viewed the body. That WAS not my grandmother, and now every time I think of her, I'll be attacked by that image of her body in that casket. Why would you want that to be your last visual of someone? For me it did not provide closure, only eternal sadness. So, to answer your question, none I hope, for me at least.

Answer 3

So long as I'm not left around cluttering the place up, I'm happy to leave it to the family.

I won't have anything religious at all. Any useful organs are there for whoever needs them, even smokers (even Fundie Christian smokers if they need them!). Just friends saying what they think fit (I won't know, my consciousness will be switched off by then). Into the flames.

I fancied one of those "flying burials", where they leave your body out for vultures, but there are no vultures in Britain. It's hard to get too worked up about what happens to my remains after I'm dead.

I don't suppose that helps much, but it's what I think.
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Answer 4

What a great question! I'm an atheist and my funeral is all planned. Direct cremation (no enbalming), no pitiful organ music. A celebration will ensue. My friends and family will gather to laugh and joke. Anyone who wishes to speak will be welcome to do so. Probably some photos of my life and some of my favorite music. I'm sure the drinks will flow freely and a good time will be had by all.

Answer 5

You can have any kind you want. You might consider more of a memorial type service if you aren't religious. I've been to a couple, and they were beautiful.

P.S. I'm a Christian and I still stand by my answer.

You have what you want. Just make sure it's in writing.

Answer 6

One that isn't religious. Me and my wife plan to be cremated.

I personally couldn't really care less what kind of funeral I have. I don't think I'll be around to enjoy it.

Answer 7

Well since atheists believe there is nothing after death, no point in living a good life because the only punishment you'll receive is jail for the documented crimes, and no reward for living a good life anyway... if I was an atheist, I'd probably be high on cocaine on my 'friend's' couch. Then, when I died, no one would really care. Therefore my funeral would be full of nothing. But since I'm not an atheist, hopefully my funeral will be joyful. But I really don't care about it because who cares about death? Christ defeated it. I care about eternal, never-ending life.

By the way, I'm not trying to insult atheists in general, I'm just saying what I would do if I was an atheist. Nothing personal. God bless.

Answer 8

A short service with all of ones favorite songs. No praying. No viewing. A quick cremation with the ashes spread over ones favorite spot.

Answer 9

A nonreligious one. You can prepare all the details ahead of time in order to have a nonreligious funeral.

If the grieving wish to have a religious one, I feel it should be sometime AFTER the recently deceased has had their wishes fulfilled.

Answer 10

A regular funeral.