What I'm trying to find out is, at a Christian funeral there is always bible scriptures read and references to everlasting life and going to heaven to be with God. What do they do and say at atheist funerals?
I'm just inquiring so respectful and honest answers are greatly appreciated.
2007-02-12 05:40:11 · 15 answers · asked by BigDaddyRayinLA 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We talk about that person, our love for them, what we will miss, and their favorite songs, poems, readings. It's really up to the person who died, if they arranged it or their family and friends, if they didn't.
2007-02-12 05:44:40 · answer #1 · answered by Sara 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
As with any funeral it obviously varies. It's similar in that there are eulogies, speeches, and other standard things... They play some of the favorite music, poetry, passages from a favorite philosophical book, and so on. It's basically the same sort of thing just without a priest speaking.
I also think secular funerals tend to be smaller and attract smaller crowds - at least in the US. Maybe in part because not so many people feel comfortable with a secular funeral if they're religious, but also they need to keep a funeral small for publicity reasons. Walt Disney had his secular funeral very small and quiet because his atheism could've tarnished or damaged the company's name and reputation.
2007-02-12 06:17:44 · answer #2 · answered by Mike K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They look like any other secular funeral: friends and families show up, some close ones give speeches they've written, maybe some music, and a funeral director directs the way to the cemetary. Over all, you see people sharing their best memories and important accomplishments of the departed, rather than having a stranger try to tell everybody that he or she is "in a better place now".
(I take it you've never attended a secular funeral, regardless of whether or not the departed person was an atheist.)
2007-02-12 05:48:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've never been to one - i've been to funerals of family members that never once went to church or cared about religion, and it was a catholic funeral because of the person who arranged it. That's why I do not want to have a funeral, because my family is super-christian, they would make it into a religious ceremony
If I could have it my way, I'd have all of my family/friends come and meet, since my family doesn't know any of my friends and probably never will....Bad Religion will perform an acoustic set and then I'll be cremated while everyone watches....then it will start raining outside and the rain will fall onto the nearby cemetary where zombies will rise from their graves and eat the brains of all non-atheists.
2007-02-13 06:45:00 · answer #4 · answered by ALeC.... 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dawkins doesn't make atheism look bad. That is your own opinion. The reason the general public views his ideas negatively could be that the public doesn't agree nor do they want to agree with him. Dawkins has an amazing ability to make people seem stupid by using logic and reason. His methods of militant atheism may not be the most friendly way to prove his point, but at least he is doing something progressive. He wants to give atheists the same rights that theists have. For example, only 45% of Americans would vote for an atheist as president. This is primarily on the basis of the false idea that atheists have no morals. By giving facts to support his ideas, more people may be inclined to "de-convert."
2016-05-24 01:19:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never been to an atheists funeral. I dont think there is a typical one though. Nothing we do is typical!
I plan on donating my body to science. I find the whole expense and rigamarole of the modern funeral industry to be immoral. I wouldnt mind my friends getting together to talk about me. Perhaps they could plant a tree or something.
2007-02-12 05:59:46 · answer #6 · answered by sngcanary 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I've never been to one. I plan to be cremated so mine will be simple and not very long.
I would like my funeral to be in a garden somewhere. I would like people who know me to talk about my life, what I was like as a child all the way through my adult years. Also what contributions I have made to society. I would like George Winston music to be played in the background. No flowers. Donations to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in my name. Then later I would like my ashes scattered in Big Bend National Park...at the "window" during sunset. That's one of my favorite places to hike to. I don't want people to be sad. My life has been full and happy and that is all one can ever hope for.
2007-02-12 05:48:26 · answer #7 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's still conventional at most funerals to go through the motions of prayer, hymn singing etc. but it is only a convention and of no particular meaning to any atheists present.
2007-02-12 05:51:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on the person, or their family, and their wishes.
But it tends to not be all that different, it's just that the readings and songs aren't religious. Whoever speaks will talk about the person's life and how he or she will be remembered by the rest of us.
2007-02-12 05:53:53 · answer #9 · answered by The angels have the phone box. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't want a funeral. I want them to save the money, have me cremated, and have a party to celebrate my life instead of being sad that I'm gone.
2007-02-12 05:46:15 · answer #10 · answered by eri 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
My atheist friend just passed 2 weeks ago, and a couple of her family members and friends said a few nice things about her and how we will miss her and they played a couple of her favorite songs and then she was cremated.
The end...
2007-02-12 05:47:18 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋