Are funerals for atheists sadder than those who believe in Heaven?

Are funerals for atheists sadder than those who believe in Heaven?

The only people to be sad for in either case are the living.

Nope. Everybody is sad for losing their loved ones. Believing they're in a better place doesn't make you happy, does it?

I don't get why Christians cry at funerals at all. Shouldn't they be happy that the person is "with god" and "living in a much happier place"?

I believe so, because we think of them as being gone forever.

Possibly, i notice that many Christians have a kind of joy when another Christian is dead.
Not because they don't like them or wanted them to die, but because they are with Christ.

I don't know about the Atheists though.

My Funeral is going to be a party, that is my wish. I am not suffering in this world anymore so why morn my passing. Get a big Bone fire going. break out the beer and hot dogs, crank up the music and party. And to the person that dares to put me in a box and bury me, I will come back and haunt them. If Ghosts don't exist I will be the first.

No, they are usually celebrations of ones life. I find them quite nice.

I certainly hope not. My children know I don't believe in heaven, but that I believe in the conservation of energy and matter, so no one is truly "gone", they've just changed forms and aren't people anymore. And that I believe the positive impact on the world when I leave it is more important than what happens to me after I die. True immortality, making a positive change in the world, one person/family at a time!

I live in a small town, and we have 2 funeral homes. Both funeral directors have told us that they don't find the Christian funerals at our church sad. They say that they are a beautiful celebration of life, with a great hope to come and that we all show and carry that with us.

Never been to one, so I don't know.

Lets go find some hard-core Evangelicals that are due to die and test this question.

Lets see if their death makes us sadder than the death of an atheist.

I'll defer to the Xians to nominate the holiest of holy fun dies to show the path to HappyTown. Maybe one of those prosperity theology guys- they show how close they are to god all the time. Some of those TV preachers are always telling us how god speaks to them. That might be a good choice.

any other suggestions?

Not for me. And I completely agree with Sapphire. There is an energy to life that continues in the breeze upon my skin. And the sun on my back. It's always here.

Atheist

My Grandfather was an atheist (and a socialist in the 1930s; it may have been a reaction against his father, my great-grandfather, a rabbi). We all shared stories about him. Laughed about his favorite jokes. Sang his favorite songs.

He taught my father, who taught me, important lessons in compassion and trying to make this world, now, a better place. I carry those lessons, and warm memories of him to this day. That he no longer exists doesn't bring special pain, beyond missing a treasured presence.

I would think so, especially if the death is a young person. With Christians it is consoling to know their loved one is with God. If you are an atheist, then you believe they are just dead and gone.
I can handle a death of a loved one knowing they are with God.>

Lil my dad is a funeral director / embalmer and usually the christian services are just as sad as atheist ones

In all honestly, I think that funerals are pretty similar the world over. If there is any difference it will depend on the religious beliefs of the mourners, not the deceased.

This really all depends on the person.
Atheists are united on their lack of belief in god, but their other beliefs vary a lot.
It really depends on their outlook.

Christians and atheists are often sad. They lost a friend/family member and won't see them for a long long time/ever.
My friend is a christian and she lost her dad a few days ago, she's distraught. She's only 16 and her dad was quite young. I used my outlook to make her feel better. I told her about what a nice man he was and how great he was to raise such a great daughter such as her, and reminded her of the happiness they brought eachother. Her dad had a happy life and loved her and his family and although hes gone, that love and fun they shared will last forever. She'll miss him, but that sad and sorrow she feels when she thinks of how much she misses him will be replaced with how much she loved him and how much fun she had and only think happily.

That's my outlook and it makes me much happier. I'll definitely cry at first once I got passed the shock and disbelief. I cried for her as well. In fact, for 3 straight days I felt like total crap with how bad I felt for her, and I brought back my happiness by bringing back her happiness.

You could take it piss hard and be completely ruined emotionally, but it's so much better for yourself to think positively and consider the happiness they had.

It's sad and painful at first but it only last so long.