Do atheists put flowers on graves?

[Spiderman]

Do atheists put flowers on graves?

Is it essential to put flowers on the graves whether one belongs to Atheism or is a believer, please?
What benefit does accrue to the one who has died by putting flowers on the grave?

Regards

No not essential.

Depends probably on the person who died and is being venerated or honored in such a way, how much decorated graves or shrines matter.

I feel Anne Frank (and others) smile at me, and appreciates me enshrining her image and buying her flowers, candles, incense, whatever...it warms my heart, fills me with joy, and empowers me at times...but I could be mistaken about spirits appreciating such gestures...Scripture does say however, "We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses".

Yet, I have found similar practices thoroughly rewarding at times, probably just as (or more) rewarding than @Father Heathen and so many gamers find in video games...

In the end, we may both be equally accomplishing next to nothing with those rewarding practices, but if we find the practice rewarding, entertaining, interesting, or euphoric, perhaps neither should tell the other "It is a waste of time". Nor should anyone else criticize it, for that matter!

 

[Unveiled Artist]

You're assuming the flowers are for the dead. That's not my experience.

Who are they for?

 

[Underhill]

Who are they for?

Well let's see. If you are not dead you are what...?

 

[Spiderman]

Yes. There is no fixed relationship between belief in deities and flowers on graves and talking to souls of loved ones. Today, I bought my aunt who passed this february 2018, some beer. I have her urn on my table and necklace urn I wear as well.

Here is some info on flowers on graves

I put flowers on grave for cultural reasons. I dont outside of funerals. I do believe in souls and spirits (not deities and gods) because I know their personality/nature/soul and energy/spirit are in and with me.

Deities and gods are also or are external. Spirits and our souls are not. Im a polytheist in that sense but not Pagan.

I found your post quite useful...very much!

The part about you not believing in Deities or God's, but carrying the energy and spirits of the deceased with and in you...That's powerful, true, something I have experienced, and I'm so glad to hear that there are agnostics (Or even atheists) who experience that supernatural grace!

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Well let's see. If you are not dead you are what...?

No sarcasm.

If they passed away, why do you set flowers if not for the dead?

 

[Spiderman]

No sarcasm.

If they passed away, why do you set flowers if not for the dead?

I agree...as a man who buys many flowers for the dead...it is for them...yes, I get reward from it, sure, but if I didn't think they appreciated it, there would be no reward for me, and it would become a pointless practice...same thing when I burn candles, incense, or chant, it is for them...if I lost all inner feelings and faith that they cared, I WOULD CEASE WITH THE PRACTICE! Hence, the reason for the thread!

 

[Altfish]

Who are they for?

It is about respect, remembrance, honour and leaving flowers is a tangible way of doing that. I've also left football scarves, teddy bears for kids, but flowers are the easy one, I suppose.

 

[stvdv]

I agree...as a man who buys many flowers for the dead...it is for them...yes, I get reward from it, sure, but if I didn't think they appreciated it, there would be no reward for me, and it would become a pointless practice...same thing when I burn candles, incense, or chant, it is for them...if I lost all inner feelings and faith that they cared, I WOULD CEASE WITH THE PRACTICE! Hence, the reason for the thread!

I see another good reason to do this. One develops feeling and attachment. Compassion and empathy can develop then. So for sure one is rewarded. Already in this life. That is why all the practices in India, the Bhakti [devotion] Yoga, really are important IMHO. The Bhakti then grows into Jnana, wisdom. That is how I see why all these practices are valuable.

I don't know about ghosts and spirits, if this is real. When the dog of my parents past away, with whom (dog) I had a very good connection, the dog came in a vision to me, just before dying [or after?]. My parents are into a power game, trying to manipulate me. That is why they withheld this info from me. But God gave me this vision of the dog

Also when my uncle died, whom I liked best, he came into a vision later, explaining me that I was right after all about certain diet habits I followed and he did not want to accept.

If all this is true, I do not know. It can be all just concocted in my own mind. But if it is true that "positive thinking" has effect on how we are, then maybe all is related anyway. All of our thoughts can materialize one day. Maybe when we wish to be a woman (as man) we have to wait for the next birth, but maybe this is how consciousness worked. Whatever we think gets materialized. If not today then later. Just a few thoughts I got, reading this post

 

[jonathan180iq]

Do atheists put flowers on graves?

Is it essential to put flowers on the graves whether one belongs to Atheism or is a believer, please?
What benefit does accrue to the one who has died by putting flowers on the grave?

Regards

It doesn't do anything for the dead. It's purely for the living.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

It is about respect, remembrance, honour and leaving flowers is a tangible way of doing that. I've also left football scarves, teddy bears for kids, but flowers are the easy one, I suppose.

Yes. @lewisnotmiller mentioned he has a difference experience (than putting down flowers for the dead). I do so because they are not dead. I dont consider the nature/soul of a person as dead/nonexistant. I dont see spirits disapearing when the body dies. I give rememberance to the flesh, pray with the spirit, and talk with their souls.

If Lewis.. has a different experience I wonder what it is.

 

[stvdv]

Do atheists put flowers on graves?
Is it essential to put flowers on the graves whether one belongs to Atheism or is a believer, please?
What benefit does accrue to the one who has died by putting flowers on the grave?
Regards

If it makes you more happy to put flowers on a grave, then you will make others more happy, then the world gets a bit more happy. Whether or not a happy world is essential that is another issue of course. But at least I like happy people around me much more than the nagging types.

Especially ISIS people are known to have a strong belief that certain actions get them 70+ virgins in paradise
If God exists and is all about Love, then I belief more in the "flowers on grave" then "sentencing into grave"
That is my personal take on this issue. I can't prove of course what God thinks or like. But if I were God ...

Just another take on what you call "What benefit does accrue to the one who has dies...."

Regards

 

[stvdv]

Is it essential to put flowers on the graves whether one belongs to Atheism or is a believer, please?
What benefit does accrue to the one who has died by putting flowers on the grave?

It doesn't do anything for the dead. It's purely for the living.

I know nothing about the afterlife. But some people believe there will be waiting 70 virgins for them in heaven or so.
The 70 virgins have to get there (in heaven). I hope that flowers on graves is the way, not killing.
That is my personal opinion. I know of course nothing about God's plan, nor that He exists.
So I do think that it is a good practice, the flowers, even if it were only to balance the other practice.

And I also believe it is good to promote this Peace practice as an antidote to all the violent practices
So good on you @PopeADope to start this POST.x10

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I agree...as a man who buys many flowers for the dead...it is for them...yes, I get reward from it, sure, but if I didn't think they appreciated it, there would be no reward for me, and it would become a pointless practice...same thing when I burn candles, incense, or chant, it is for them...if I lost all inner feelings and faith that they cared, I WOULD CEASE WITH THE PRACTICE! Hence, the reason for the thread!

Exactly. I wouldnt know were'd I be if I stopped having connection with my ancestors.

 

[jonathan180iq]

I think the confusion in this thread between theists and atheists stems from a misconception about why we leave decorations in the first place...

Grave maintenance and decoration don't do anything for those that have passed, for obvious reasons. But they do something for those that are still living, and serve as a reminder to passers by that someone who's alive right now once loved the people beneath the headstones. It's really no more complicated than that.

My children have no recollection of my grandparents because my grandparents all passed before my kids were born. It only takes one generation (maybe 2) before there will be no one alive who has a living memory of you. There will be nothing connecting you to your progeny other than the stories and habits they pass on in your remembrance.

Look at how many headstones are in disrepair and you'll see what I mean. Those vacant, overgrown, deteriorating areas tell a story about the person that once existed and about the family that forgot them.

 

[Spiderman]

Exactly. I wouldnt know were'd I be if I stopped having connection with my ancestors.

View attachment 22760

Amen sister! Preach it!

My feelings exactly!

 

[Spiderman]

I think the confusion in this thread between theists and atheists stems from a misconception about why we leave decorations in the first place...

Grave maintenance and decoration don't do anything for those that have passed, for obvious reasons. But they do something for those that are still living, and serve as a reminder to passers by that someone who's alive right now once loved the people beneath the headstones. It's really no more complicated than that.

My children have no recollection of my grandparents because my grandparents all passed before my kids were born. It only takes one generation (maybe 2) before there will be no one alive who has a living memory of you. There will be nothing connecting you to your progeny other than the stories and habits they pass on in your remembrance.

Look at how many headstones are in disrepair and you'll see what I mean. Those vacant, overgrown, deteriorating areas tell a story about the person that once existed and about the family that forgot them.

Umm...no....that is not why I decorate graves, visit war memorials, or enshrine many faces, frame pictures, write letters to the dead, burn candles, incense, or purchase flowers...I do it, because I believe there are supernatural spirits that appreciate it.

If I completely lost faith in that, I would not visit war memorials, would not visit cemeteries, and would buy no flowers, incense, candles, or decorations for shrines or graves.

So, you are mistaken my friend...but that is okay!

 

[paarsurrey]

If it makes you more happy to put flowers on a grave, then you will make others more happy, then the world gets a bit more happy. Whether or not a happy world is essential that is another issue of course. But at least I like happy people around me much more than the nagging types.

Especially ISIS people are known to have a strong belief that certain actions get them 70+ virgins in paradise
If God exists and is all about Love, then I belief more in the "flowers on grave" then "sentencing into grave"
That is my personal take on this issue. I can't prove of course what God thinks or like. But if I were God ...

Just another take on what you call "What benefit does accrue to the one who has dies...."

Regards

Did Buddha or Moses or Krishna or Zoroaster or Jesus or Socrates put flowers in/on the grave of somebody in their times?If yes, then please quote in this connection.
Right, please?

Regards

 

[jonathan180iq]

Umm...no....that is not why I decorate graves, visit war memorials, or enshrine many faces, frame pictures, write letters to the dead, burn candles, incense, or purchase flowers...I do it, because I believe there are supernatural spirits that appreciate it.

If I completely lost faith in that, I would not visit war memorials, would not visit cemeteries, and would buy no flowers, incense, candles, or decorations for shrines or graves.

So, you are mistaken my friend...but that is okay!

Are you an Atheist? If not, then my explanation wasn't intended to include you.

 

[stvdv]

Did Buddha or Moses or Krishna or Zoroaster or Jesus or Socrates put flowers in/on the grave of somebody in their times?If yes, then please quote in this connection.
Right, please? Regards

You missed the point I was making big time. I won't repeat, just reread if you are interested in what I said, else don't bother. I was very clear IMHO

 

[Spiderman]

You missed the point I was making big time. I won't repeat, just reread if you are interested in what I said, else don't bother. I was very clear IMHO

He is known for being an incoherent poster that doesn't make much sense and doesn't understand the posts he's reading...it's not your fault!