Why do we value the bodies of the dead?

[Silver]

Since we are somewhat derailing the thread, I suppose I should mention what I always bring up with these funeral threads.

Funerals are not for the dead. Rather, funerals are for the selfish people who want to relish in the grief for those they ironically believe are in a better place.

[brewer]

Our tendency to value dead bodies may or may not be separable from religious thinking. Neanderthals buried their dead 50,000 years ago. This might suggest some sort of primitive animism... or it may be something more related to instinct.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news...ls-graves/

Or it could have been more pragmatic. Can't have a dead body lying around, creating emotional turmoil, sticking up the place, attracting things that will eat it. What were the options. Bury, burn, stick in a pond or a cave ..................

Or............maybe it's spooky emotion at a distance. 

[The Valkyrie]

When I was a lowly student and my first job was in a morgue, one of the first lessons was that you respect everyone who comes through the door, including the dead.

They were once people with dreams and aspirations and should be treated as you would want to be treated.

A guy I knew was sacked for taking pictures with the bodies on his phone and sending them to friends.

If I'd known at the time I would have decked the prick.

[onlinebiker]

Well - there is some phosphorus in a stiff....



That' s worth a bit.

[zebo-the-fat]

When I die I want any bits that are useful to be used for transplants, the rest can go for dog food, I won't be using it.

When my father died he was cremated, his second wife asked me if I minded if she scattered the ashes in a particular place, I suppose it was nice of her to ask but to be honest I don't see it matters what she did with them. (probable not HIS ashes anyway, just whatever they scraped up from the bottom of the furnace)

[SaStrike]

When I die throw my body on the freeway or whatever , idc

[vulcanlogician]

But, like, that could cause an accident.

[Mermaid]

Elephants do it, too. I always thought of it as a vehicle for closure. Not closure I need, but most people do, I think.

[onlinebiker]

Years back, the woman that I was living with inherited a dumbassed cocker spaniel. The woman had to take off overnight, and left me stuck watching her daughter and the dog.

She had let the dog out before she left - and I called for the dog later in the day - and the dog didn't come.

I found it out alongside the road, dead as shit - hit by a car.

It was the middle of the winter - and the ground was frozen - so the daughter and I made a stack of firewood out where we burn brush - put the dog on it - soaked it with a 1/2 gallon of kero and lit it up. Fucking dog got a Viking funeral.

When the woman got back she came unglued when I told her we didn't bury it, but burned it. ( she wasn't all that bent about it dying)

I let her vent for a minute or so --- " You hated that dog, blah blah blah"

When she was done - I asked her " What was that you put in your will, to be done when you die?" She got a real funny look on her face, looked down at her shoes and quietly said "Get cremated".

I exhibited superhuman strength, and did not burst out laughing.....

People are weird.