I don't get it

[chenge]

I have always wondered about this,many people die without believing in God,not gods,,im talking about the LORD..

and my question is,why is it when someone dies,some not all,their casket or coffin is taken to a church,where a priest or pastor conducts a seremony,and at the graveyard a Psalm 23 is read,,WHY??why can't the relatives do something else,especially in those situations where someone was very outspoken about their atheism,whats the point??

by the way,my point is the same heaven you refuse to look up to here on earh when alive,,you WILL do it eventually,,aren't ALL buried facing upwards???hmmmm,,

not willing to start an i hate you thread,,i really want to know from those who have an idea,,

Have you been drinking?

What about people who are cremated?

huh? sorry, I couldn't get past your first sentence. you lost me.

Or fed to the vultures?

Possible to have Humanist funeral if that is what is wanted by deceased and/or family/loved ones. And Psalm 23 not compulsory!

Sorry frog, x posted!

didn't read Psalm 23 at my grandfather's funeral, and he was a believer...

it isn't compulsory in any funeral!

Have been to several religious funerals- all for believers. Have also been to several non-religious funerals where the deceased was an atheist.

How many funerals have you been to where a firm atheist had a religious funeral? Seriously? And if so, what were the beliefs of the family?

what are you saying OP? that non believers should have non religious ceremonies for funerals - well, many do.

and many who have never expressed real christian belief will have always wanted a church funeral just as non believers want church weddings and christenings!

I cannot remember the figures but the number of people who when they go into hospital put their religion as C of E is huge - they want the church there when they need it, somewhere deep down they have some faith

Humanist ceremonies are extremely common for those who are free from religion. People can be cremated, or the latest thing is 'woodland' burials where you can be fertilizer.

Have you just lost someone and are you distressed that superstitous relatives are going to insist on a superstitious funeral that the deceased would have hated?

I've attended LOADS of funerals (religious ones)........and as yet to have encountered a religious funeral for a firm atheist

I know of a man who was buried head down on the top of Box Hill...

Give us a specific time when an atheist has had a fully religious funeral then. I have been to heavily religious funerals and humanist funerals all ofwhich matched the persons belief, but funerals are for the living, not the dead.

And what do you mean about being buried facing upwards? I won't be looking towards heaven, mainly because afaik your eyes stop working when you die. And heaven isn't Carealot, it's not on the clouds, haven't you ever been on a plane?

I've been to several humanist funerals.

I'm a Christian, but I'm planning on a woodland burial. Preferably under a tree. I am a firm believer in recycling.

a person can only be buried if they have a church funeral. (referring only to CofE, i have no idea what other faiths do)
is that what you're referring to?

If you are cremated, you go to the crematorium and you can have a secular service there (unlike weddings, you can include religious stuff)

psalm 23 is in the standard funeral service for use in churches. that's why it's read.

a staunch atheist would make it clear before they died that they did not want a church funeral.
but as someone said further up, the funeral is for the people who are left more than for the dead.
a religious person having a funeral for an atheist might choose a religious service because that's what comforts them. plus, you've got the belief that if they're atheist, and don't belief in an afterlife, then the theory is that the dead won't see the religious funeral that's been held in their honour...

Fuck me, it's a bit early for this kind of shit.

I think it might be a TV thing as well. I have not yet seen a movie, series with a burial where Psalm 23 has ne been read or sung!

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows, I think you would be recycled all the same anywhere you'll be burried

I think so - rarely had 23rd Psalm at any of the funerals I've been to .

My grandparents both had humanist funerals, as did my other grandmas dp. As far as I am aware, the rest of my family intend to have the same.

They were all cremated too.

Psalm 23 is rare at funerals I've been to. My uncle had a lovely Humanist guy at his funeral, it was a really good special send off. Better than some Christian ones where the Vicar/Priest/Minister doesn't know the person and/or has been fed some odd facts. And I am a Christian.

agree completely mummytime - DH's uncle had a humanist funeral and it was the nicest, most personal and loving funeral I've ever been to.

Although I'm a Catholic, 'our' funeral services leave me utterly cold/very angry that the person we're saying goodbye to seems almost irrelevant to the service. I'm wondering if I can possibly have both when I go...