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At a atheist funeral do they say any last words or do they just talk to each other and then go have drinks afterward?
This not a religious&Spirituality question but that's where you'll find atheist so I post it here for your convenience!
8 Answers
- 7 years ago
There really isn't an accepted practice for atheist funerals. Since atheists make up a fairly small portion of the population and it has only been acceptable/safe to be openly atheist in fairly recent history, there really hasn't been enough time for a norm to emerge. Many atheist funerals are pretty much the same as religious ones, just without the prayers/church. They often still have visitations, eulogies, etc. I have seen the religious content, such as prayers, replaced with poetry and/or music before.
That being said, atheists don't have a belief system that gives them a defined funeral process, so you will see significant variety in their funerals.
- Anonymous7 years ago
The two atheist funerals I've attended had memorial services, and in both instances people who loved them reminisced about the wonderful things they had done in their lives. One son got up at the end, and much to his family's and everyone's shock, bluntly revealed something that they had not dared to. That his dad had been a closet heavy drinker his entire life. I'll never forget what he said next as his step-mother and brothers slowly turned the color of eggplant. "You all spoke of how amazing my dad was--and he was. But few know Dad was troubled by his dying. He didn't want to die and become nothing but dust, knowing we all who remember him will die in our turn, and all evidence of him will be erased, all but a tombstone that no one will notice. I tried to reassure him that our children would bear part of his legacy to their children and on and on, so it really doesn't matter if he was remembered. He would live on in them. It didn't stop him from drinking, so I guess that just wasn't enough. But it is for me. Maybe my being a Christian negated any measure of hope that thought would bring him, but I'm glad I tried."
I doubt there was any drinking after that service.
- harpertaraLv 77 years ago
I have attended the memorial service of several atheist friends who were also Unitarian Universalists over the years. As these were church-attending people (although not your typical church, I will grant you) what they had was a great service with songs and poems and several short eulogies. After the service refreshments were served and at at least one there was wine available, but toasts were made in his name and it all very lovely, much nicer than many Christian funerals I've attended.
- NousLv 77 years ago
Oh they have far more moral and decent things than the nastiness of Christian ideas about them!
That must be why England's Archbishop of Canterbury has said that Christianity is now known for it's hatreds and not about god!
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- Why Hello?Lv 47 years ago
The funerals of non-believers I have attended are just like every other American Christian funeral, sans prayers. Also, I don't drink so rule me out on the drinks afterwords.
- rowlfeLv 77 years ago
A "service" does NOT have to be associated with a religion. A "memorial" can be secular and have NO religious connotation. In MY case, it will be a party. Where everyone will drink huge amounts of alcohol to my passing. It will be a remembrance of good times shared among friends. Though I am NOT Irish, it will be like an Irish wake... NO ONE gets to CRY at my passing, only good times with copious drinking of prime microbrews... I have set aside $4000 in my will for a venue and refreshments...