Humanist Funerals
A Humanist funeral, is a non-religious ceremony for either a cremation or burial funeral service which is becoming increasingly common. A humanist funeral can be more appropriate for those who neither believed or lived according to religious principle, nor accepted religious views of life or death.
A Humanist funeral service celebrates the life of the person who has passed away, focusing on their life experience, their memories and that the deceased would return to nature instead of having a ‘after-life’. The funeral ceremony can be unique as the family wish, which will reflect their loved ones life, hopes, achievements but most importantly their relationships and their shared treasured memories. A ceremony can be personalised to include a unique personal tribute, poetry or literacy reading, music or a performance or a visual tribute.
There should be nothing in a Humanist funeral ceremony should be offensive to those who are religious. It will focus sincerely and affectionately on the person who has died. Humanist funerals, wont include religious prayers or readings but can feature a moment of reflection usually accompanied by music. Many bereaved people find them helpful and are pleased to have provided an alterative ceremony their loved ones would have wanted.