What Will You Have Done with Your Carcass
Religiously speaking a Jew isn't to be cremated. It's against tradition. Christians are waiting for Jesus to return and since it's going to happen any day now, you should be buried so that he can raise you up. But for Atheists, do any of us want to be buried? I have chosen donating my body to science (gotta finish that paperwork) and the remains will be cremated, not that I care what happens. If you have chosen burial, what drives you to that decision? If not, why not?
For me, I just fantasize that I might be able to add to a statistic understanding or scientific experiment and give a few organs to those in need.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by James on -
I've donated my body to science as well and will be cremated. I see no point in tying family down to a specific plot of ground to 'visit me'. When I'm gone, I'm gone. Just remember me in my thoughts without some artificial geographic constraints. What why wife does with my ashes is up to her. Keep them, plant them for vegitation to feed of of, etc... She actually says she'd love to have my ashes jettisoned into outer space. Just as my matter originated there, so shall it return. It's a poetic thought, but I can't help but think that it'd be rather costly. Actually, cost is another reason I would never want to be buried. It just seems so unfair to saddle those I leave behind with buying a casket, plot, holding a funeral, etc. I don't want any of that stuff! I'll be used for scientific education, cremated (for free) and those that want can just have a BBQ and share stories about me if they want. Not an occasion made to be depressing... Rather, a celebration of a life well lived (I hope) and a nice gathering for those I loved. Heck, it might not be a bad idea to set aside a fund to provide an open bar. lol
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Permalink Reply by Walter Maki on -
I feel pretty much the same way. Even though I think they have enough studies about disaster areas without the need of my body. lol
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Permalink Reply by Lisa on -
Same. Donate entire body, all organs and whatever is usable. Even for dissection in a university, I don't really care, whatever is most useful. I doubt my organs are going to be in all that good shape, so I figure that's the next best thing. I think it's a crime to waste all valuable real estate for dead bodies.
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Permalink Reply by Heather Spoonheim on -
I'm getting past the point where anyone would want my organs, but I sign the card anyway. Unless my corpse can be used for science, I would prefer to be 'bio-digested'. That is to say, I wish there were a body disposal plant that had big 'fermenter' tanks where corpses were dumped in to be consumed by well adapted micro organisms, giving off methane that could be captured for use, and putting out a rich fertilizer product that could be used in flower gardens or some such crap. In other words, the method of corpse disposal in Soylent Green is actually my ideal and no horror movie at all to me.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Paisley on -
Cremated and then shot into space or wrapped up in cotton and buried under a tree.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Paisley on
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Biodegradable, like me.
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Permalink Reply by Sergio Lopez on -
I have thought about the space thing.
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Permalink Reply by Galen on -
Organ donation, and then possibly donating my body to science or an "open air burial" which is where they just throw you in the hole with no coffin so that you can immediately be recycled back into the environment (most likely as worm food, lol).
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Permalink Reply by Tammi L Coles on -
While I would love to have control over my remains (organ donation, science), I won't be around to fight or approve what my survivors choose. Still, for those atheists who decide now not to fight the religious wishes of their relatives, I can understand that. Burials are for the living. It's one of their mourning rituals. Who doesn't want to have their lives worth mourning over?
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Permalink Reply by Kris Feenstra on -
I'd like those that survive me to feed my body to scavengers. That probably won't fly though, so it will most likely come down to cremation.
When it comes to organ donation/ donating my body to science, I'm actually indifferent. I will sign whatever because I believe that life is for the living. After I die, I claim no further ownership over my body, so the living beings that remain can exercise their discretion on how to use the leftover meat and bones.
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