Funerals are expensive, broken and exploitative. They have to change

[humble forever]

I would like to see more sky burials, especially in cities.

Yeah, i'd be down for a sky burial, but honestly I'm not sure most westerners could handle that. A dude legit chops you up and feeds you to the birds, unless you're really in touch with nature and see the beauty in someone becoming a beneficial part of nature right away it'd probably be traumatizing for a lot of people.

Also, idk if most of the US has those giant ass birds they use in tibet. Idk what they're called. Watching lame ass buzzards pick your loved one apart might not have the same effect

I'm down for skin on dirt, want to be fertilizer. Maybe a bare wood box if it's nicer for the family. Think it's fukked up the last thing we do to people is pump them full of poison that leeches into the ground. Wonder if cremation will happen less often as younger people that care about climate change and shyt start dying in 50 years.


All of my grandparents except for one want to be cremated (he wanted his military gunshot funeral deal). One already was. Don't/didn't want to tax their loved ones when they go. You can still have a nice funeral in a church anyways

 

[cheek100]

In Islam, fawning over the body is a requirement

Not true

 

[analog]

Not true

Oh word?

The washing of the body and the prayer over it isn't something Muslim families would mind having replaced with a bowl of ashes?

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

Oh word?

The washing of the body and the prayer over it isn't something Muslim families would mind having replaced with a bowl of ashes?

that's not the issue at the crux of the article nor what causes costs to rise. in fact, the article speaks to that basically being the norm in america (family washes the body and has last goodbyes/prayer at home, and family burial plots) until big shifts after the civil war and again in the 1950's. you can do that and still skip the embalming, caskets, headstones etc. and/or do cremation after the blessing. what does an islamic funeral and burial tradition consist of after the washing and prayer?

 

[The Bilingual Gringo]

I grew up in the funeral industry (father was a mortician for 40+ years) and outside of religious mandates, the industry as a whole started to change a number of years ago because of the cost. My father's request was to actually be cremated when he passed, but we still held a viewing/wake.

Burial is rather antiquated, and I've seen over the years that people typically stop going to gravesites as time passes. Having ashes will allow them to always be "with" you.

The cold case/murder-mystery side of me makes me pause, as exhumation allows for revisiting cases and trials. Cremation would prevent that.

 

[kdslittlebro]

Either let me help a tree grow, or put me in an urn No need for a service just have a cookout or something

 

[analog]

that's not the issue at the crux of the article nor what causes costs to rise. in fact, the article speaks to that basically being the norm in america (family washes the body and has last goodbyes/prayer at home, and family burial plots) until big shifts after the civil war and again in the 1950's. you can do that and still skip the embalming, caskets, headstones etc. and/or do cremation after the blessing. what does an islamic funeral and burial tradition consist of after the washing and prayer?

The final step is the burial of the body.

Generally our funerals aren't as lavish (bypassing fancy caskets, headstones, etc) but can still be costly. A cost I find completely useless having now embraced atheism

 

[Rawtid]

I grew up in the funeral industry (father was a mortician for 40+ years) and outside of religious mandates, the industry as a whole started to change a number of years ago because of the cost. My father's request was to actually be cremated when he passed, but we still held a viewing/wake.

Burial is rather antiquated, and I've seen over the years that people typically stop going to gravesites as time passes. Having ashes will allow them to always be "with" you.

The cold case/murder-mystery side of me makes me pause, as exhumation allows for revisiting cases and trials. Cremation would prevent that.

I think keeping the ashes is weird as hell to me. My cousin lugs my cousin and uncle’s ashes to my great grandmother’s gravesite or other death anniversaries. Talking about they visiting one another.

You don’t have to take the ashes home, do you?

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

yea, i'd prefer to be scattered vs sitting on a shelf in someone's house

 

[The Bilingual Gringo]

I think keeping the ashes is weird as hell to me. My cousin lugs my cousin and uncle’s ashes to my great grandmother’s gravesite or other death anniversaries. Talking about they visiting one another.

You don’t have to take the ashes home, do you?

Now that's a bit much...

Everyone mourns different, and that's the issue w/ the industry and why it could potentially never change. Personally, I have a small urn on my nightstand and a smaller one hanging from my rear view mirror in my car. Sounds a bit weird yes, but when he passed, I wanted him with me on my "travels." That may not last as time passes.

And as far as taking them home, you don't have to. I saw countless ashes of people over the years sitting in boxes on shelves at the funeral home waiting to be picked up.

 

[Rawtid]

Now that's a bit much...

Everyone mourns different, and that's the issue w/ the industry and why it could potentially never change. Personally, I have a small urn on my nightstand and a smaller one hanging from my rear view mirror in my car. Sounds a bit weird yes, but when he passed, I wanted him with me on my "travels." That may not last as time passes.

And as far as taking them home, you don't have to. I saw countless ashes of people over the years sitting in boxes on shelves at the funeral home waiting to be picked up.

You’re so right, everyone mourns different. It’s their right. I think it’s a cool idea about the small urn in the car. I definitely believe people stay with you in spirit well after they have passed. My dad has a really distinct smell that I can remember from visiting his home, and sometimes I smell it at my house.

To the bold: Aww that’s kind of sad; just straight being left. Do you know what happens to the leftovers?

 

[re'up]

It is about the mourners and paying respects, in most cases, but there is an aspect that people want to have control over their death, with ornate arrangements and plots next to each other, and so on. I assume that provides comfort.

You could dissolve me in acid like el pozolero and it wouldn't matter to me. Family and friends should never bother with a funeral arrangement and suits, I would prefer if they all just moved on, or if absolutely necessary, share some memories and be done with it, in a casual setting.

But, I am not much for tradition, and understand these are the fragile binds that hold society together.

 

[The Bilingual Gringo]

You’re so right, everyone mourns different. It’s their right. I think it’s a cool idea about the small urn in the car. I definitely believe people stay with you in spirit well after they have passed. My dad has a really distinct smell that I can remember from visiting his home, and sometimes I smell it at my house.

To the bold: Aww that’s kind of sad; just straight being left. Do you know what happens to the leftovers?

Sorry, poor wording. Meaning, they were in plastic bags and boxes waiting to be picked up. I'm sure that some were left over the years, but I am sure that anything like that is just discarded, sadly.

 

[cheek100]

Oh word?

The washing of the body and the prayer over it isn't something Muslim families would mind having replaced with a bowl of ashes?

Muslims do not cremate, embalm or have autopsy. As far as fawning is concerned, I took it as wailing and carrying on dramatically.

Simple wrap of the body and bury in the ground ASAP. Usually within 24 hours.
Arent u muslim?

 

[The Fukin Prophecy]

Been complaining about this shyt for a hot minute...

You legit can't even die in this country without putting someone in debt...