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Atheist Funerals
hesthefastest
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I have been thinking recently about an atheistic viewpoint and all that it entails. In that aim, Ive been reading threads, watching stuff on YouTube, thinking away my shift at Walmart, etc. I came across a video of an interview with Douglas Adams (author of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) discussing his 'radical' atheism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUfDWwWKXqQ
I had previously read this interview in the book 'The Salmon of Doubt' (an arrangment of his writings after his death) and enjoyed doing so, but at the end of the book there was an order of service from his funeral. During his funeral, which took place at a church, several old Christian hymns were sung, strong hymns in the vein of 'The Old Rugged Cross' and such. I wondered both why these hymns were included and would Douglas been upset that they were.
Another example that I remember is a news cliping about the burial of Charles Darwin. He was buried in a church and the article claimed that this removed all doubt that he was surely a good christian. This seemed to me to be intended to soothe the christians upset at his work.
Specifically, what are atheists' thoughts on what their funerals should/shouldnt include? How would they feel if friends and family chose a religious service?
Generally, what do you want your funeral to be like? What constitutes a 'good funeral'?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUfDWwWKXqQ
I had previously read this interview in the book 'The Salmon of Doubt' (an arrangment of his writings after his death) and enjoyed doing so, but at the end of the book there was an order of service from his funeral. During his funeral, which took place at a church, several old Christian hymns were sung, strong hymns in the vein of 'The Old Rugged Cross' and such. I wondered both why these hymns were included and would Douglas been upset that they were.
Another example that I remember is a news cliping about the burial of Charles Darwin. He was buried in a church and the article claimed that this removed all doubt that he was surely a good christian. This seemed to me to be intended to soothe the christians upset at his work.
Specifically, what are atheists' thoughts on what their funerals should/shouldnt include? How would they feel if friends and family chose a religious service?
Generally, what do you want your funeral to be like? What constitutes a 'good funeral'?
hesthefastest on
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Honestly, I think the idea of a funeral at all has to have some spiritual involvement, because, logically, the idea of sticking your body in the ground doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. I mean, why do we do that? So that one day we can...look at our loved one's bones? I have trouble even imagining a funeral without a priest reading some psalms or what have you, so I think if I were to be buried, I don't know what I'd do. It's not a problem, because I don't want to be buried, I want to be cremated. I want my ashes to be released either somewhere sentimental or into the ocean, I want anyone who has something to say to say it, and I want people to do whatever they feel appropriate in the event of my death. I don't want any sort of a religious man there, because I'm not religious.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Also, yes, a pyre would be fuckawesome.
Click image for my huge backlog
I suppose you will serve veal and elephant meat
I might request something fun like a Viking bonfire or some such, though.
It's purely a matter of poetics.
That said, if this fails to happen, I don't really care, since I'll be meat at that point anyways.
Or am I thinking of the Jains?
Seriously though I have not put any thought into how I want my funeral. I don't even know if I have a preference for being buried or cremated, or what.
and oh god don't let Yar see this thread
Then I explode.
That or some weird burial designed to confuse archaeologists 3000 years from now.
Just fill you with candy.
The fundamental reason for a funeral isn't spiritual, it's psychological; they serve as a memorial for the family of the dead, so the living can expunge their grief.
I'd be pissed if that was done for me. A funeral is for family and friends, but it should still be something representative of the person who died.
The only two things I want at mine are: Zero religious junk and for someone to bribe the organist to play "baby elephant walk" as they wheel me out. Extra money if the organist really gets into it, kicks the stool away and plays it standing, really hammering the keys.
took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
There's gotta be some patient, wealthy young necrophiles out there.
:roll:
Oh, so clever of you. I was wondering if some idiot would make that crack.
I meant that I don't think it'd be right to be misrepresented to your family and friends in what amounts to your goodbye to them.
took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
I mean I really don't understand the fuss, but that's just me. I mean, I really could care less what happens to my body after my death but I guess that's just me.
So. No bets.
― Marcus Aurelius
Path of Exile: themightypuck
I want Captain Planet at my funeral.
--
I wouldn't want a viking funeral. I'd rather donate all my crap to people who need it before I die, rather than have it burn and sink with me.
I went to a funeral a few months ago. Family wasn't religious but got a minster I guess out of obligation. The guy couldn't even pronounce the woman's name properly. Her son ended up interrupting him in the middle of his speech yelling her name at him several times. It was fucking painful to watch.
Why, what does Yar think about funerals? I'm having trouble coming up with an opinion on this that would be radical enough to get him notoriety like that.
most of all, most of all
someone said true love was dead
but i'm bound to fall
bound to fall for you
oh what can i do
When I die, I most definitely do not want any sort of religious service whatsoever, and I am horrified at the thought of my religious loved-ones trying anything like that. I would like to have the people close to me be close to each other. I would really like "Imagine" performed on the piano. I really love Langston Hughes, so maybe someone could read a few of his poems, and also maybe a short clip of Carl Sagan narrating Pale Blue Dot would be nice.
As for my body, donate it to science. I won't be needing it. Putting a rotting body in the ground is perverse. Cremation is selfish and wasteful. I think there is beauty and nobility to giving your body for the benefit of human knowledge.
I want to leave as much of my personality behind as possible, and having it obscured with some bullshit is kind of like taking a shit on my grave. It won't hurt me, but it's so very far from my wishes.