Where do Atheists get buried?

Question

OK y'all. Please don't be insulted. I mean no offense. I just curious. My question was prompted by another that asked "What happens when Atheists die?"

There are, of course, all sorts of ways to celebrate the life of the deceased which have nothing to do with religious ceremony. However, in terms of the actual burial, does it pose a problem? Pretty much all cemetaries are run by some religious organization or another so would an atheist object to being buried behind a church, or in a catholic or jewish cemetary. Am I mistaken altogether? Are there cemetaries that are not religiously affiliated?

Sheesh. How on earth can my question be interpreted to mean that I believe Atheists to be something less than people. We are all, no matter what our religious beliefs, human beings. AND that's the reason for my question. People generally tend to want their final arrangements to reflect what they were in life. Say you loved a particular location. You might want to arrange to be buried in the vicinity or have your ashes scattered there. So since non-believers, while living chose not to be religious, I was simply wondering if there would be any objection to having the final resting place be a place you avoided in life.

Answer 1

Many atheists would have no objection to being buried in a religious graveyard. As religion means nothing to us, its the same as being buried anywhere else

Answer 2

I couldn't care less where I am buried. I like the idea of becoming part of the earth. I think many cemetaries must be public ones, at least they are here in Australia. because years ago I went the the Muslim funeral of my boyfriend's younger brother. It was carried out traditionally, the body was not placed in a coffin, it was put directly into the ground and the women were not allowed to look at it. It was the largest cemetary I have ever been to so I would assume it was a public one, the funeral service was held at the funeral parlour, not at a church. Also the Australian natives (Aborigines) have ancient sacred burial sites here. Religion certainly played no part in the acknowledgement of a death with the aborigines yet they still buried their deceased.

Answer 3

There are many cemeteries that are not religiously affiliated. In fact, that is probably the majority of them today. They can be private companies, run for a profit, just like any other company. Are they can be owned and maintained by the local government.

They also have the option of being cremated, and the ashes simply scattered rather than buried.

Answer 4

I think there are special places where you can be buried or you could have the ashes spread in a place.

Answer 5

Buried or cremated. They still have a service too, but,it isn't religious in nature

Answer 6

Why would they object to being buried in a churchyard- six feet of earth is six feet of earth no matter where it is. If I'm buried I expect it to be in a cemetery like everyone else.

Answer 7

I'm not an Atheist, but I want my body dropped into an active volcano from a helicopter. I've always wanted that.

Answer 8

I'm an atheist, and I prefer not to be buried.

I would like to be cremated prior to any ceremony, and then prepared in green jello to be served at my funeral, unbeknownst to the attendees. It would be my last laugh from beyond the grave.

Answer 9

What difference would it make I'll be dead as long as my organs get to those in need I could care less with what they do with the rest

Answer 10

You wanna know something? We ARE people, just like others, so that means that we get buried or cremated -- just like anybody else.

Please put some thought into your next question.