It is a meaningless phrase that most peole say because they can not think of anything better to say and is accepted by society.

Well, there's this alternative:

You got no fucking choice but to rest in pease because your dead

Why can't we live in peace? Now that would be nice!

I never thought of that as a religious statement or a reference to afterlife.

Perhaps there could be an atheist version to reflect what really happens after death? RIP - Rot, Insensibility, Putrefaction.

It's just a made up phrase the living say to comfort the living

They're culturally vestigial. It has limited meaning. Goodbye is a contraction meaning god be with you. Should we stop saying goodbye?

I think it's ok to say, it's more a mark of respect and closure (for me at any rate) For example, if a celebrity or music star I particularly admired has died I would post a Youtube link on my Facebook page with RIP Joe Bloggs.

Would "remember in peace" be to wierd...

I see your point. However, in lieu of anything else that sounds better, it's nothing more to me than an inoccuous platitude. The believers are being pandered to by far worse than me, whenever I say that.

I stopped saying it because I feel it's pointless.

Absolutely not. It's a prayer. And the alternative to resting in peace is burning in hell (like hawking is now according to the xtians). I'm not part of that.

It's certainly better than that "In a better place" BS the religious like to trot out. Especially when I've just lost someone, even a cat! Not nearly as triggering, because the "better place" should be with me, and I'm sure my father, my 3 miscarriages, and my two most beloved cats would all rather still be here with me.

Eh, I'm not a purist here. My late 2nd wife and my son suffered in life in various ways, and at least they are beyond the reach of their suffering. In that sense they are "resting in peace". It is unfortunate that the only peace many people ever get is found in oblivion.

I just think nonexistence is a good form of being peaceful. No more suffering or fear, because there's no "insert person here" left to experience it.

The athiest god will strike you down if you do!

Nothingness I don't know how much more at peace you could be ...

I would say sorry for your loss amd wouldnt overthink it people expect you to say something comforting & I don't mind doing that because its ritual time and the whole ending of life is ritualised.

My go to response to someone dying is "So sorry for your loss" and/or "My deepest Condolences"

I have no problem saying "Rest in Peace". I won't say that 'I'll send prayers', but I will say 'your in my thoughts'. I'll offer my condolences and respect.
I also say gesundheit or bless you (though I do feel silly) when someone sneezes. And I wish people a happy St. Patrick's Day and Merry Christmas, even though I don't recognize 'Saints' or 'Christ'.
I have no issues with the simple things that express some sort of concern or well-wishes to someone else.
It's a little difficult to navigate the word as an atheist when Christianity is so engrained into societal norms.

Actually it could be anti religious

RIP, I hope those god botherers are wrong.

Yeah... why not? But I’m agnostic so it could never hurt.

It does bother me some, but it's better than any other religious platitude. Sometimes I think the expression may have originated due to the fear of ghosts or vampires.

I don't think it's bad to say. I have been dead. It was blissful. Rest in peace to me means, your fight is over you may lay down now. It doesn't necessarily mean "have a good afterlife". I prefer it to "well poof you gone!" Or "you're in a better place".