Funerals - what do agnostics/atheists do?

[cavebear]

Originally posted by Starchild
Sometimes we atheists have deep, meaningful funerals that remember the person's life and their impact on the people who they loved.

Sometimes we leave the body near the side of the road until garbage collection day.

Arnold Via, of Virginia, used to tow atheist corpses behind a tractor for disposal. I've requested cremation, but if I could be sure I would be buried unprotected under a newly-planted tree, I would go for that. Trees are good.

[chequita guevara]

That would probably be illegal, cavebear. My first choice would be to be burryied in a pine box under a peach pit. Laws in the US, however, are rather specifc in the methods for disposing of human remains. It may even be the case that in your locality or state that you must be embalmed if you are not cremated. Thank the morticians lobby for that.

[cavebear]

Originally posted by Jack the Bodiless
Like most atheists, I don't really care. Most of us seem to have predominantly religious relatives who insist on giving us religious funerals.

Tempers might rise if the priest uses the funeral as an opportunity to preach about God rather than simply paying his respects to the dead. A certain amount of this is bound to happen, but if it becomes excessive: well, I'd like to think that one of my friends would step forward and punch the priest on the nose.

This actually happened recently. The priest stated that the dead person was going to Hell, and was immediately assaulted by the mourners.

Hmm, that sounds like a way to get one last shot at the theists. Maybe I'll design my funeral to set up some poor unsuspecting priest and have the mourners paid to attack him as soon as he mentions religious nonsense.



Ooh, I could have a casket built to raise the lid as soon as the first shovel of dirt hits the top...

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Jack the Bodiless
Like most atheists, I don't really care. Most of us seem to have predominantly religious relatives who insist on giving us religious funerals.

I predict a creationist sermon in your future