(July 19, 2017 at 9:10 am)Die Atheistin Wrote: I was wondering, what if an atheist doesn't want a funeral or other religious practice after he or she (or other pronouns) dies? Is there any nonreligious practice with dead bodies?
Why does a mere gathering after a natural event have to be called a "practice"? A sport is something you practice. A job skill is something you practice. Mourning the death of a loved one is simply something you do, and there is no right way to do it.
Some atheists will want to be buried, some cremated and some like me, will donate their bodies to science. Outside that the gathering will be different for the individual and those who survive the individual.
It is always an individual thing so it is silly to call it a "practice".
But even outside what an atheist wants, I also hate the word "practice" when used by religion. You don't practice a religion, you follow and swallow and that takes no skill. You can certainly study the history of religion sure, but that isn't the same.
I can only speak to what I want. In my case, I know those who survive me will mourn, but I also would want them for their own mental health, because I'll be dead, but for them, to also spend time remembering the good and fun and joy. I wouldn't mind having a roast after all the mourning. I am a goofy guy and anyone who knows me knows that. You will never stop death so while the pain will always be there, remembering the good times and even laughing about those good times is a way of coping.
