Recently we where discussing the notion of what happens to a soul of an aborted spirit. That got me to pondering how I view funeral rites and processions.
It occurred to me that I have no specific funeral rites or processions for I consider the body to be an empty shell upon death. As such I see the funeral rites and processions more for the benefit of those who remain than for the spirit / body of the person who has dropped their earthly garb.
As a genealogist the rites and processions are of importance for it marks the passage of life. Many times even giving me an idea of family groupings based upon cemeteries used, dates, etc. Many times not a mater of importance if the grave is marked or simply a depression grave where someone was buried long ago.
So it, to me anyway, raises the question .. Are funeral rites for the deceased or the living? If the living then how does one explain the restless dead who roam until their bodies are given a proper funeral and funeral rites to lay them to rest. If for the dead then why are there not more restless dead when their funeral rites do not match their spiritual practices or are changed after death by a later descendant. I am thinking of the Later Day Saints (LDS) Morman practice of baptizing their ancestor's into their religion long after death for instance.
Of course none of this really touching upon the notion of a body that is desecrated in anyway can not get into the after life. Consider many Native American beliefs that to remove or destroy the eyes caused the deceased to wander lost between worlds. So that would seem to imply that cremated would be seen as desecration of the body in that instance.
So many aspects of funeral rites and practices to be considered or pondered.
It occurred to me that I have no specific funeral rites or processions for I consider the body to be an empty shell upon death. As such I see the funeral rites and processions more for the benefit of those who remain than for the spirit / body of the person who has dropped their earthly garb.
As a genealogist the rites and processions are of importance for it marks the passage of life. Many times even giving me an idea of family groupings based upon cemeteries used, dates, etc. Many times not a mater of importance if the grave is marked or simply a depression grave where someone was buried long ago.
So it, to me anyway, raises the question .. Are funeral rites for the deceased or the living? If the living then how does one explain the restless dead who roam until their bodies are given a proper funeral and funeral rites to lay them to rest. If for the dead then why are there not more restless dead when their funeral rites do not match their spiritual practices or are changed after death by a later descendant. I am thinking of the Later Day Saints (LDS) Morman practice of baptizing their ancestor's into their religion long after death for instance.
Of course none of this really touching upon the notion of a body that is desecrated in anyway can not get into the after life. Consider many Native American beliefs that to remove or destroy the eyes caused the deceased to wander lost between worlds. So that would seem to imply that cremated would be seen as desecration of the body in that instance.
So many aspects of funeral rites and practices to be considered or pondered.
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