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non religious funerals

purple'n'gold

I have noticed on Boards, that a huge amount of posters are anti religion and anti clerical. And they seem to want to give the impression that Ireland is now a very secular country with Christianity just about hanging on. Why is it then that virtually every funeral, (deceased of all ages) takes place in a church? Is Ireland as anti Christian as some would like us to believe? I know of very few secular funerals in my part of Ireland anyway.

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aidan_walsh

Tradition?

Blisterman

Probably because a much higher percentage of older people are religious than younger people, and it is mainly older people who died.

Also, where else are you going to have a funeral?
TGI fridays?

MagicMarker

Only old people die, and they're the religious ones...

When i die, i want to be made into a coffee table.

Lands Leaving

I want a funeral like Hunter S Thompsons.

Thats how to bow out in style

xzanti

Blisterman wrote: »

Probably because a much higher percentage of older people are religious than younger people, and it is mainly older people who died.

Also, where else are you going to have a funeral?
TGI fridays?

purple'n'gold

aidan_walsh wrote: »

Tradition?

Maybe, but if they are as anti religious as they make out, they wouldn’t want a church funeral. I knew one old man personally that expressly forbid his relations from having any religious trapping at his funeral.

purple'n'gold

MagicMarker wrote: »

Only old people die, and they're the religious ones...

When i die, i want to be made into a coffee table.

Only old people die?

cornbb

I want to be mummified or better still fossilised when I die.

Anyway as the older generations die out I'm sure there will be more secular options in the future. The Catholic Church still has a near-monopoly on running the important milestones of our lives at the moment (birth, marriage and death) but I'm sure its slowly but surely decreasing.

[Deleted User]

the majority of the young generation, including myself seem to be anti-clerical. but i respect people's clerical beliefs and church burials.

purple'n'gold

cornbb wrote: »

I want to be mummified or better still fossilised when I die.

Anyway as the older generations die out I'm sure there will be more secular options in the future. The Catholic Church still has a near-monopoly on running the important milestones of our lives at the moment (birth, marriage and death) but I'm sure its slowly but surely decreasing.

I don’t think that is the case, I notice families with tenuous at best, links to cat holism are all over the church like a rash when someone belong to them dies,

WindSock

Even if young athiests die, it's the family that organises the funeral.

I went to a lovely Funeral overseas. They guy was about 50 something and was in a band. There was an open cask party in his house, the cask was inexpensive wood, there were photos of his life spread about the place and all of his homemade beer for us to drink. Everyone that knew him got said a small piece about him, then his fellow band mates played some tunes. It was beautiful, touching and so much more personal than a Mass said by a priest that has never met the deceased.

leninbenjamin

i've asked for a non religion funeral for whenever i kick the bucket but was politely told to f*ck off. anyway as long as there is a wake where everyone get's pissed i'll be happy.

purple'n'gold

WindSock wrote: »

Even if young athiests die, it's the family that organises the funeral.

I went to a lovely Funeral overseas. They guy was about 50 something and was in a band. There was an open cask party in his house, the cask was inexpensive wood, there were photos of his life spread about the place and all of his homemade beer for us to drink. Everyone that knew him got said a small piece about him, then his fellow band mates played some tunes. It was beautiful, touching and so much more personal than a Church said by a priest that has never met the deceased.

But if a young atheist dies, and he is a genuine atheist, surely his family should respect his life and not have a clergy man near his funeral?

david1two3

Lands Leaving wrote: »

I want a funeral like Hunter S Thompsons.

Thats how to bow out in style

I dont actually believe he wanted the funeral, it was forced upon him at the last minute.

biko

I wanna go out like Bernie in "Weekend at Bernie's"
That way I can go to my own wake

WindSock

purplengold wrote: »

But if a young atheist dies, and he is a genuine atheist, surely his family should respect his life and not have a clergy man near his funeral?

Funerals are for the living.

Dave!

1) most people who die are old, and older people are more likely to be religious
2) I'm not sure that too many young people actually specify where they want their funeral to take place

I know I've never had that conversation with my family. If I died tomorrow, they would most likely have the funeral in a church, because it would ultimately be up to the parents really.
3) I'm sure there's alot of ignorance about alternative funerals/locations. I certainly can't think of anywhere off the top of my head. If I bothered to research, I'd probably discover a few.
4) In times of grief and suffering, religious belief is often accentuated. The phrase "there are no atheists in foxholes" comes to mind. If a loved one dies, it might awaken religious beliefs in you that you didn't realise you had.
5) It's tradition. Most atheists (certainly the ones I know) celebrate Christmas, mainly because it's tradition. I even go to church on Christmas day! But then I'm not particularly anti-clerical, I just think it's all bullsh*t.

Can't think of anything else to say....

purplengold wrote: »

But if a young atheist dies, and he is a genuine atheist, surely his family should respect his life and not have a clergy man near his funeral?

I'm sure "better safe than sorry" is going through their (the family's) heads. It's irrelevent what the deceased believed or did not believe. It doesn't matter how "genuine" an atheist they are, cos it's the family that sorts it out.

purple'n'gold

WindSock wrote: »

Funerals are for the living.

Yes, but they are primarily a mark of respect for the deceased and the life he led.

david1two3

At my funeral I want them to play

Poker

watna

I'm coming back as a zombie anyway, so it doesn't bother me!

david1two3

watna wrote: »

I'm coming back as a zombie anyway, so it doesn't bother me!

a repeat performance?

L1011

Blisterman wrote: »

Probably because a much higher percentage of older people are religious than younger people, and it is mainly older people who died.

Also, where else are you going to have a funeral?
TGI fridays?

I want mine in Kelly's in Portrush, preferably with Ferry Corsten as musical accompaniment.

thelordofcheese

purplengold wrote: »

I have noticed on Boards, that a huge amount of posters are anti religion and anti clerical. And they seem to want to give the impression that Ireland is now a very secular country with Christianity just about hanging on. Why is it then that virtually every funeral, (deceased of all ages) takes place in a church? Is Ireland as anti Christian as some would like us to believe? I know of very few secular funerals in my part of Ireland anyway.

it's because we're still alive.

marcsignal

maybe athiests have a chance of heart, when they're about to meet their maker

finlma

Most atheists don't give 2 sh1ts what happens to them when they die. Turn me into a golf club for all I care. It's either that or be eaten by the worms.

Don't fancy the big party in the clouds with a big bearded guy and loads of other dead people - I'd prefer the golf club option.

marcsignal

finlma wrote: »

Don't fancy the big party in the clouds with a big bearded guy and loads of other dead people - I'd prefer the golf club option.

imagine being told "regulars only" or "sorry, you're too casually dressed" when you got there

Pherekydes

MagicMarker wrote: »

Only old people die, and they're the religious ones...

Bizarre, man. Just bizarre...

MagicMarker wrote: »

When i die, i want to be made into a coffee table.

Sh!t, my wife wanted to do that with her da. And she's saying the same about me. :eek: If I find out I'm terminal I'll have no choice but to terminate her with extreme prejudice. Where do people get these kooky ideas?

If you're not religious and you don't want a church funeral then ring up the council and tell there's an extra trash bag with a bin tag attached outside your house and can they take it away and dump it, pretty please.

Zzippy

I think when I'm dead I won't really give a toss what kind of funeral I have. Would be nice to have the wake before I die though

daveharnett

purplengold wrote: »

But if a young atheist dies, and he is a genuine atheist, surely his family should respect his life and not have a clergy man near his funeral?

A selfish attitude imo. I'd go for a non-religious funeral assuming I outlive my mam. If not, why would i deny her any comfort she could have? After all, it would make no difference to me, I'd be dead!

Dave!

daveharnett wrote: »

A selfish attitude imo. I'd go for a non-religious funeral assuming I outlive my mam. If not, why would i deny her any comfort she could have? After all, it would make no difference to me, I'd be dead!

Good point actually. Never thought of that.