Athiest Funerals.
Has anybody been to one?
I've attended two. The first was for an uncle of mine. It was a fun affair. We planted 33% of my uncles in a woodland burial ground on the Isle of Wight, just uphill from the Garlic farm.
It was carried out by the Chaplain for the Royal Navy Portsmouth, a Church of Scotland Minister, doing an Athiest funeral. It was a great hoot. We didn't pray, but said something about the man we were about to feed to the worms.
The second was my beloved wife June. We had fun music, her music, and buried her not far from one of her favourite Scottish battlefields in a woodland burial ground. First tune was 'Tomorrow Belongs to Me' (Caberet) and lowered her to Bohemian Rhapsody. Good not to mention god, although it did rail her brother, who is also an atheist, but wanted god nonsence involved.
They are becoming more and more common here among the expat community.
Here is something I wrote as for my own funeral, but which others here have used.
For anyone else who likes it, please feel free also to use it.
[mojacar.ws]
Yes. Wonderful event. Everyone had to bring a little token, like a flower, feather, poem or photo, and these were put into a basket beside her casket as grave goods. Lots of songs, anecdotes, jokes, tears and poetry. Really warm feeling and very emotional.
Such a contrast to my mother in laws funeral, religious, cold and impersonal.
Never been to a funeral where the service was stated to be atheist, but I have been to funerals where there was no mention of religion. Given the prominence of God and the afterlife at most funerals, those could well have been services for closet atheists, or for people who were atheists who didn't want a religious service but also didn't want to put off their religious friends and family. Funerals are for the living, not the dead. If it gives people comfort to believe in heaven, what's it to me?
I like Jesus based funerals. Usually the snacks are better.
You've never been to a Church of Scotland funeral then? Sandwiches have to be especially dried an curled. Sweet 'pieces' must be of the lowest possible quality and nothing stronger than weak luke warm tea or instant coffee powder served
@Sofabeast Gross.
I held a memorial skate session at my son’s skatepark, about 300 people attended. No religion involved.
Bet he would have loved it though ? Sounds like a great celebration of life.
@Tilia yeah, he would have ?
I've been to a couple, and it's been the same basic format: a celebration of the person's life, and what they meant to all of us attending. There's always been a chance for people to stand up and say what they want about the deceased (and a few times there has been a person available to read the written words of those who are afraid of public speaking, or are too distraught to speak publicly), lots of their favorite music, lots of laughter, hugs and stories and crying and copious amounts of food and beverages.
Even if I wasn't a Secular Humanist, I would still want my funeral to be exactly that.
I haven't. But I planned mine in my will. My body is going to science. The event will be like an Irish wake, no body just a photo and little things that people will remember me by. Drinking and dancing.
I haven't been to one but have requested a humanist funeral for when I depart. No preists allowed.
I'm going to ask for attendees to wear informal attire, no black ties allowed. I want them to go out partying afterwards as if I was still there.
Sorry for your loss dude!
As a reverend with Universal Life Church, I was approached once for a funeral. My friend's son passed away suddenly. My friend is a Christian, but he knew his son wasn't religious, and he wanted to respect his son's beliefs by not bringing in a preacher. Technically, he didn't need to rely on my reverend credentials for giving a eulogy, but he knew I've done weddings, and his son and I were a little close--at least closer than some random pastor.
I posted my thoughts on that elsewhere, and I may post it here. I compiled the eulogy based on interviews with his family and his girlfriend. Naturally, I avoided any religious trappings, but I did insert two moments of silence so that the religious could silently pray and the nonreligious could simply reflect on the boy's life.