At present, there is a rise of people who identify their religion as Humanism. This philosophy has always been there and some of our best art is derived from the renaissance humanists. Humanism philosophy encompasses atheists, non-religious thoughts as well as agnostic thoughts. For a humanist, human life should be morally and ethically good but without the guidance of a higher being. A humanist funeral hence often celebrates the life of the deceased person whose aim was to be happy and make others happy. If you have to attend a humanist funeral or organize one in a funeral home in Westchester, FL here is a simple guide on what to expect.
To start with, there is no set structure to a humanist funeral. There is no hard and fast tradition or service that has to be followed. So, if you are organizing one, and there is no clear request from the deceased person on how the funeral should be, you can talk with your funeral director and incorporate any element that you think will honor the deceased person. The very nature of a humanist is to celebrate new ideas, so you can go for any kind of alternate funeral service in place of traditional ones. For example, in place of burial, you can go for cremation. Some even go for organ or body donation while most prefer green burial methods.
As for where the funeral is to be held, it can be done anywhere. You can host it like in any other funeral in a funeral home or any outdoor space of your choice. The only place where you don’t hold a funeral for a humanist is in a religious place! As for the service, the focus will be on the personality and the achievements of the person who passed away. There won’t be any mention of God or the afterlife but rather a focus on how to treasure the memory and dreams of the person being remembered and say a final goodbye to him or her with profound sadness.
Though there won’t be religious services in a humanist funeral, there can be awake like in a Christian funeral. But it will be a time for the family members and friends to come together and share memories with each other. Since there are no specific mourning periods or special services, a humanist funeral can have or not have a memorial service. If you are organizing one, you need to talk with your funeral home in Westchester, FL and they will guide you on how to host the memorial service.
As for attire for attending a humanist funeral, you again have flexibility in that. if there is no instruction from the mourning family, it is best to go in clean, sensible clothes befitting the place where it is being held. For example, if it is being held in a green burial site, you can wear suitable outdoor clothes with comfortable shoes. Some humanist funeral asks mourner to wear colorful clothes to celebrate the life of the deceased person while some even have a themed dress code!
So, these are some handy guidelines that will come in handy when you have to organize or need to attend a humanist funeral.
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