So who does one get to talk at their funeral if they are atheist?

[NNN0LHI]

Isn't it usually Reverends who do this? Its like they got a lock on it. I got a Reverend lined up to speak at my funeral, if he outlives me that is, because these are the guys who know how to do such stuff.

And I am an atheist. Another atheist gave me the good Revs name and said he does a lot of atheists funerals in the area. Said he is the best. Ain't no better. This guy is like a legend around these parts. I have heard of people who go to funerals of people they don't know to hear him speak. He is that good.

Don


http://daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=421679

Visitation for William Liddell Jr., 47, of Warner Robins, Ga., and a former area resident for 28 years, will be from 9:30 a.m. Wednesday until the 10:30 a.m. services at St. Anne Woods Community Chapel. The Rev. Louis Barnes will officiate.

[RandomKoolzip]

1. I'm an atheist and I wouldn't mind if a religious figure spoke at my funeral.

Not everyone I know is an atheist.

[DS1]

2. Dee Snider

[Book Lover]

3. Whoever we want, baby!

[LaraMN]

4. I am hoping the local meteorolgist will speak at mine.

If they can't get spiritual comfort at my service, at least the guests can be apprised of any impending inclement weather.

:D

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7796582#7796605



Please? :D

[Caution]

5. As long as there is no discussion of god(s) or an afterlife this atheist doesn't care

who speaks at my funeral. My wife and I had our best friend officiate at our wedding. We gave him artistic freedom over the ceremony as long as there was no mention of god(s) or terms like obedience. He did a wonderful job.

[Patiod]

6. How about a Quaker funeral?

You don't need someone you barely know to speak at your funeral - you have your friends, family, and co-workers who can do that!

The husband of a friend of mine died suddenly and they were "between religions", and decided on a Quaker service since their kids went to Friends school. They got me to start the service by explaining the ground rules (like allowing a period of silence after everyone who rises to speak in order for people to be able to absorb what the last person said), and then I decided when to stop the proceedings, but in between, it was all the people who loved him talking about his life. Pretty cool.

[av8rdave]

7. Steven Wright

[Midlodemocrat]

9. I'll do it. I deliver quite the funny eulogy, or so I'm told.

:bounce:

[NNN0LHI]

11. Could you include one quick stanza of Danny Boy?

I am not Irish. Just like the song.

Don

[Midlodemocrat]

12. Sure, but just one.

For personal reasons, it makes me cry. Maybe TM could do it. She's ruthless and doesn't have a soul.

[qb]

10. A secular humanist clergy person is one option.

Contact your local Unitarian/Universalist Church/Society or Humanist group

[hunter]

13. They're dead, they can't care. The funeral is for the living.

If friends and family will be comforted by a preacher, ask a preacher.

Same with weddings. A brother of mine and his wife tend to be anti-religious but they got married by a preacher. The preacher wasn't of a religion most of our families were comfortable with, but it was enough to comfort the religious among us that my brother and his wife were married in the eyes of God. (Those religious zealots who were not comforted are never satisfied anyways, so you can't really worry about it...)

I figure God knows if a couple is married or not.

If you are dead, He knows that too. Everything else is a public celebration, in the case of a funeral, it's a celebration of that person's life and a formal acknowledgement of their death.

[Tikki]

14. I would like an Anthropologist and a Geologist to speak for me...

Geology Rules!!!!


Tikki

[Chan790]

15. I've arranged for a service by a humanist philosopher.

Although you do bring up a great point...who?

I used to be a seminary student. Now I'm an atheist. Perhaps there is a niche need for atheist "spiritual" advisers and officiants which I could be filling. Heck, I'd like to perform marriages and funerals and give life-advice and support free from supernaturalism. Would it be wrong if I broke-out the roman-collar shirt too?

[YankeyMCC]

16. Check out local humanist or Ethical Society chapters

they will have some people who do this fairly regularly even who ceremonies outlined if you want.

But the real answer is anyone, religious or not, who you think can give the kind of talk you'd like to have.

I have a collection of quotes and poems I keep and shared with my family to let them know what I think would be appropriate.

But since I'll be dead I don't particularly care, it is really all about the people still alive that need to do something to mark your death, so as far as I'm concerned they can have a old-time tent burning revival if that's what they need.

[jobycom]

17. Just a doctor saying "Well, that's it. Turn out the lights and call clean up."

Actually, one friend's funeral found a completely disappointing way to handle it. His family invited everyone up to say whatever they wanted about him. That works at a funeral when a minister leads it, but in this case, with no leader, it was lost and uncomfortable. People just rambled, there was no focus, and there was no outsider to provide a somber, comforting presence.

So, I'd say get somebody, even a minister. We atheists are used to just filtering out what we don't believe from a speech and using what we can, so it won't bother us. And those who do believe may find greater comfort from a religious word or two. As long as the minister doesn't inlude "NNNOLHI was a good sort, but will burn for eternity in the pits of Hell for lack of belief, along with all you other heathens out there!"

[LeftyMom]

18. I don't care too much, because I intend to miss my funeral,

buy if my family wants some religious figure to officiate, teh fella has standing orders on who to call. I'd rather a celebration of my life have some regard for my beliefs, and I'd rather have it pre-planned so nobody gets to fight about it.

[johnnie]

19. Interesting question

They say that funerals are for the living so I guess you would want to make sure that the people who are going to pay respects will be satisfied with who speaks. Would it be up to us (as the dead thing) to make that call? If you are dead and an ex-Atheist then what would it matter? I don't ask that in a dicky way, I just wonder what the answer would be.

[FloridaJudy]

20. Friends and family

The most moving funerals I've ever attended consisting of people getting up and sharing good memories of the dead person.

The most horrendous funeral I ever had the misfortune to witness was of a woman whose "good friend" picked a preacher, who made it all about Jesus. I turned to another friend and whispered "Holy shit! I guess nobody told this guy she was militant atheist!" And when he read that appalling "footprints" poem, I was grateful she'd been cremated or her coffin would have started spinning like a propeller. I made my son promise me that if anyone tried to recite that bathetic monstrosity at my memorial service he would personally kick the fertilizer out of him or her.

He's a good kid. And a brown belt. I should be safe.

[easttexaslefty]

21. Your family and friends

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. At my husband's (that still sounds so wrong...) it was a nondemoniational

minister who spoke. My husband was agnostic, leaning toward atheist. I was not really happy with the speaker (he was a friend of my MIL's) but a good part of the service was taken up by his friends,family and coworkers speaking of him. I wanted to keep it more about who he was, not where he may/or may not be going.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

23. As an Atheist I will speak

at your funeral for ya...

When and where? :rofl:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

24. Find a Unitarian or Humanist minister.

They do exist.

The Humanist minister I know:

http://homepage.mac.com/rosshenry/album.html

"Reverent", not "Reverend", in his case.