2007-03-01 23:48:45 · 19 answers · asked by Quickswitch79 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What happens to us atheists when we die is the same as what happens to everyone else; we die.
I've been to a few atheist funerals and they depend on who's organising it; they can either be very depressing, because nobody knows what to say, or they can be very interesting because people have been invited to share their memories of the dead person. However, that can get a bit boring after a while, if you didn't know the person.
I don't know about graveyards, but atheists are certainly allowed to be buried in public cemeteries. (Graveyards, unlike cemeteries, are on church property and it probably depends on the church in question whether or not they'll allow an atheist to be buried there. The atheist might not want to be buried on church property, also.)
Actually I'm a bit disappointed that I won't get a church funeral, as the one good thing about religious funerals is that all the rituals and the singing, if done well, can help people even if they don't believe in it (and few do, let's face it).
Having said that, the most insultingly awful funeral I ever went to was a Catholic one where the priest obviously didn't know the dead man, got the name of one of the man's children wrong (!), didn't say anything about what the guy was like (because he hadn't bothered to ask anyone) and just talked in general terms about what a good churchgoer he was (which was true but not what anyone cared about) and added that he was much better off in heaven away from the awful sinful ways of the world down here - which didn't help the family in their grief at all, and made me want to beat the priest up. I don't like the Catholic church but I particularly hated it right then.
2007-03-02 01:33:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since when do christians have the monopoly on funerals and cemetaries? An atheist can choose how they are buried just like anyone else. A funeral and final resting place does not have to be religious-based. Perhaps you are a Christian and have therefore only been to Christian funerals so I'll assume that is why you are so ignorant to the many ways that a death can be acknowledged. Considering that many or most atheists believe in death being so final (some believe in reincarnation), then surely a funeral would be even more significant for an Atheist than a Christian. Since a Christian and many other religious people believe in life after death, or heaven, then mourning at a funeral seems like a form of scepticism for a Christian.
2007-03-02 08:02:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well usually when a Christian dies then they cease to be, coincidentally that's the same as an atheist, the different being a 'believer' will think they are going to a higher place whereas an atheist knows the truth that they'll either be worm food or ashes.
They can still have a funeral only it won't be the usual crap about going to heaven etc etc it can be more of a celebration of that persons life. A funeral can be anything a person wants it to be.
Also why can't an atheist be buried?? last time I checked graveyards are not just for bible bashers.
2007-03-02 08:46:19 · answer #3 · answered by Bugs 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When an atheist dies, surely the funeral is more about the living people at it, some of whom may be religious. A Humanist funeral is a legal, non-religious funeral where people can pay their respects. And I personally want to be cremated, but anyone can be buried in a graveyard, I don't really see anything that religious about them anyway.
2007-03-02 07:58:32 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yup they may have a funeral for friends and family to say goodbye. Funerals arent religously attached they have been gonig on for tens of thousands of years. It would probably be a cremation as I cant see why an athiest would want to be buried.
2007-03-02 07:55:17 · answer #5 · answered by clever investor 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kind of silly this morning aren't you. When an athiest dies, he gets a new set of knowledge facts. There is a funeral and he/she can be buried, cremated or what ever.
2007-03-02 07:54:34 · answer #6 · answered by Answergirl 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
1. They die
2. Yes, if they want
3. Yes, if they want
I am going to be cremated, and every year someone is going to draw my name out of a hat at a party. The winner has to host my urn for the next year, when another drawing will be held. Why? I don't want my ashes to get too bored in one place!
2007-03-02 07:53:24 · answer #7 · answered by tombollocks 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say they are creamated, having a burial and a funeral makes no sense!
2007-03-02 07:53:49 · answer #8 · answered by Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow pretty insulting
Have a nice day & enjoy your weekend you obviously need a little break from reality
2007-03-02 07:57:40 · answer #9 · answered by hate 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They don't care, because dust will return to dust.
But their offsprings glorify them with traditional rituals or with the religions of their ancestors.
2007-03-02 07:57:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋