Do religious funeral rites imply any influence over the disposition of the soul?

[Stevicus]

Having worked in the funeral business for a number of years, I became somewhat familiar with the various funeral rites and practices associated with many religions. For example, some religions might require burial and forbid cremation of the body. Some religions might forbid any embalming or cosmetics often required for an open casket viewing.

Another example might be the Last Rites, which is also deemed a requirement at the time of death.

I guess the question I would have (which is open to anyone to answer from the point of view of their own religious beliefs), does any of this have any effect on the disposition of the soul? For example, if someone dies but doesn't get the Last Rites, do they go to hell (regardless of what kind of life they've lived)? If their religion forbids cremation, and yet, they end up cremated anyway, will that affect where their soul finally winds up?

In other words, if the funeral ritual is done incorrectly or some rules might have been violated, does that affect anything at all?

 

[Quintessence]

I'll only speak to my own traditions, but a major reason why simple burials are preferred in many nature-based religions is that it reflects the reverence for and acceptance of the cycles of life and death. We all come from the Earth, and we all return to the Earth - funeral rites should facilitate that return and these great cycles (say, by planting a sapling over the body), not get in the way of them (say, by embalming the body to prevent its decay). The focus is less on the ephemeral soul - if it is believed in at all - than honoring the embodied cycles and processes of Earth. Earth gives so much generously during life, it is only fitting to give ourselves back to Earth at what is considered our end.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I speak for myself not for my religion (Catholic, sort of, and mostly by default), but I believe funerals and their attendant rituals are undertaken for the comfort of the living, not the dead. So it wouldn’t make any difference to the soul of the departed, what rites were undertaken. When my parents go, their wishes will be respected; they’ll both have a requiem mass, be cremated, and their ashes scattered in the spot they’ve chosen. Do I believe these rituals will impact on the progress of their souls after death? Not at all.

 

[Secret Chief]

the comfort of the living, not the dead.

I agree. I have flippantly thought that when I've shuffled off this mortal coil I wouldn't want there to be any music that I like played, it should be what my wife would like to hear. (Finally I don't have to hear any more Stevie Nicks).

 

[SalixIncendium]

I believe funerals and their attendant rituals are undertaken for the comfort of the living, not the dead.

^^ THIS ^^

The jivatman is unconcerned with what happens with the body after death, and how the body is disposed of has no impact on the conditions of the jivatman.

 

[Tinkerpeach]

I believe the Bible states somewhere that once we die our bodies are irrelevant or something like that.

No ritual is going to make a difference to God after you are dead so like the other poster said it’s just for the living and their comfort.

 

[danieldemol]

Having worked in the funeral business for a number of years, I became somewhat familiar with the various funeral rites and practices associated with many religions. For example, some religions might require burial and forbid cremation of the body. Some religions might forbid any embalming or cosmetics often required for an open casket viewing.

Another example might be the Last Rites, which is also deemed a requirement at the time of death.

I guess the question I would have (which is open to anyone to answer from the point of view of their own religious beliefs), does any of this have any effect on the disposition of the soul? For example, if someone dies but doesn't get the Last Rites, do they go to hell (regardless of what kind of life they've lived)? If their religion forbids cremation, and yet, they end up cremated anyway, will that affect where their soul finally winds up?

In other words, if the funeral ritual is done incorrectly or some rules might have been violated, does that affect anything at all?

It won't effect anything of the spirit in my belief, however there are religions (or sects within religions) that do seem to mind for example;

'Do not bring flowers to a Hindu funeral. Everything leading up to the cremation is considered the last chance for the family to assist with the soul’s transition to the next life. It is a belief that when flowers are deliver at home or brought to the funeral is a distraction and could cause harm to the soul of the deceased.'

Source: Cremation – Hindu Death Rites | Parramatta History and Heritage.

I never knew about the flowers thing though so it may not apply to the Indians I know, or I may simply be unaware of it.

 

[Spice]

The service and/or rites are for the living, however, I have attended enough funerals where the words spoken did not do the deceased justice in their personhood nor their humanity, and in that more effort should be made, IMO. The family is already emotional, so why are the last words generally mundane and so very scripted? The 23rd Psalm? No thank you. Overdone.

I have given my sons permission to do whatever they need. I have also made my disposal wishes known to my eldest should they have no preference, and made my youngest promise, which got a laugh because I know his religious thoughts, that whatever service is determined, it will have absolutely NO baptistness in it, whatsoever! The word "hell" shall not be uttered, nor the concept so much as even hinted at. And to be on the safe side, I have started writing my own service -- no minister required since I doubt one could be found that would be willing to include some of my requests.

 

[paarsurrey]

Do religious funeral rites imply any influence over the disposition of the soul?​

Having worked in the funeral business for a number of years, I became somewhat familiar with the various funeral rites and practices associated with many religions. For example, some religions might require burial and forbid cremation of the body. Some religions might forbid any embalming or cosmetics often required for an open casket viewing.

Another example might be the Last Rites, which is also deemed a requirement at the time of death.

I guess the question I would have (which is open to anyone to answer from the point of view of their own religious beliefs), does any of this have any effect on the disposition of the soul? For example, if someone dies but doesn't get the Last Rites, do they go to hell (regardless of what kind of life they've lived)? If their religion forbids cremation, and yet, they end up cremated anyway, will that affect where their soul finally winds up?

In other words, if the funeral ritual is done incorrectly or some rules might have been violated, does that affect anything at all?

Guessing that one is Christian, what is your religion's (or one's denomination) take on it, please, right?

Regards

 

[YoursTrue]

Having worked in the funeral business for a number of years, I became somewhat familiar with the various funeral rites and practices associated with many religions. For example, some religions might require burial and forbid cremation of the body. Some religions might forbid any embalming or cosmetics often required for an open casket viewing.

Another example might be the Last Rites, which is also deemed a requirement at the time of death.

I guess the question I would have (which is open to anyone to answer from the point of view of their own religious beliefs), does any of this have any effect on the disposition of the soul? For example, if someone dies but doesn't get the Last Rites, do they go to hell (regardless of what kind of life they've lived)? If their religion forbids cremation, and yet, they end up cremated anyway, will that affect where their soul finally winds up?

In other words, if the funeral ritual is done incorrectly or some rules might have been violated, does that affect anything at all?

I, too, worked (briefly) in cemetery business. It was interesting, I'll say that. I was not involved with the funeral itself, but rather interment. Yes, people's ideas are obviously conflicting. Since I believe from my Bible study that the soul is not immortal. Ezekiel 18:4 is one reason that I believe that:
English Standard Version
"Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die."
If you notice, the soul who sins shall die.
The study of what the soul is is very interesting.

 

[Stevicus]

Do religious funeral rites imply any influence over the disposition of the soul?​

Guessing that one is Christian, what is your religion's (or one's denomination) take on it, please, right?

Regards

The question was open to those with all religious beliefs or no belief.

 

[YoursTrue]

Do religious funeral rites imply any influence over the disposition of the soul?​

Guessing that one is Christian, what is your religion's (or one's denomination) take on it, please, right?

Regards

What is yours? My belief is based on what the Bible says, but to understand it better does require some study. That is found at Ezekiel 18:4 which speaks of the soul dying:
"Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die."

 

[paarsurrey]

Do religious funeral rites imply any influence over the disposition of the soul?​

Guessing that one is Christian, what is your religion's (or one's denomination) take on it, please, right?

What is yours? My belief is based on what the Bible says, but to understand it better does require some study. That is found at Ezekiel 18:4 which speaks of the soul dying:
"Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die."

Kindly quote from the the Pauline-Bible when funeral rites of (Jesus)Yeshua- the truthful Israelite Messiah ( who was neither a Zealot, nor he belonged to the Zionism people nor to the Judaism people), please, right?

Right?

Regards

 

[YoursTrue]

Do religious funeral rites imply any influence over the disposition of the soul?​

Guessing that one is Christian, what is your religion's (or one's denomination) take on it, please, right?

Kindly quote from the the Pauline-Bible when funeral rites of (Jesus)Yeshua- the truthful Israelite Messiah ( who was neither a Zealot, nor he belonged to the Zionism people nor to the Judaism people), please, right?

Right?

Regards

Frankly, I am not going to reply to your post when you keep calling it the "Pauline-Bible." If you really would like an answer, please use the term Christian Greek Scriptures instead. Perhaps we can start there. (It's up to you...) Regards...

 

[Kathryn]

Having worked in the funeral business for a number of years, I became somewhat familiar with the various funeral rites and practices associated with many religions. For example, some religions might require burial and forbid cremation of the body. Some religions might forbid any embalming or cosmetics often required for an open casket viewing.

Another example might be the Last Rites, which is also deemed a requirement at the time of death.

I guess the question I would have (which is open to anyone to answer from the point of view of their own religious beliefs), does any of this have any effect on the disposition of the soul? For example, if someone dies but doesn't get the Last Rites, do they go to hell (regardless of what kind of life they've lived)? If their religion forbids cremation, and yet, they end up cremated anyway, will that affect where their soul finally winds up?

In other words, if the funeral ritual is done incorrectly or some rules might have been violated, does that affect anything at all?

Not in my opinion. I don't care what happens to my body afterwards but I hope to be cremated because the idea of a-moldering in the grave is off putting to me.

 

[YoursTrue]

Not in my opinion. I don't care what happens to my body afterwards but I hope to be cremated because the idea of a-moldering in the grave is off putting to me.

I worked for a cemetery and one time the grave diggers were moving a casket from one place to another. And I was walking behind the casket. The supervisor wanted me to see the procedure. The grave digger was nice enough to tell me to go to the side because the wind was blowing and there would be a smell coming from the casket. When Jesus went to resurrect his friend Lazarus, perhaps you remember what Lazarus' sister Martha told Jesus, the account is at John chapter 11 --
Jesus said: “Take the stone away.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him: “Lord, by now he must smell, for it has been four days.”

 

[YoursTrue]

Not in my opinion. I don't care what happens to my body afterwards but I hope to be cremated because the idea of a-moldering in the grave is off putting to me.

(It's cheaper to be cremated anyway.)

 

[YoursTrue]

The question was open to those with all religious beliefs or no belief.

I agree that different religious teachings may have different ways of disposing of bodies. But I believe God can bring back the dead no matter how they died. Revelation 20:13 brings out that God can bring people back to life from many types of death. "The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done."
God can easily recreate a new body for the person. That is found at 1 Corinthians 15:35, 38 - "But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 38But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body."

 

[joelr]

Sometimes at a Christian funeral I catch them twisting up influences, Persian and Greek.

Greek Hellenism is we have a soul which belongs in heaven away from the fallen earth and a savior gets us there.

Persian apocalypticism is the resurrection at the end of times when God and Satan battle on earth and the earth becomes a paradise and you get a new physical body, but better.


So the Priest will first say the departed is now in heaven with Jesus and so on.

Later when they lower the casket it's all "they will await here until the final coming and receive a glorious resurrection in a new body".


So, they are all set, in heaven with Jesus, but somehow "waiting"? Then this final battle happens and their physical body arises and they get wisked away to paradise on earth?????? It's 2 different mythologies that the Hebrews adopted and sometimes both come out in a funeral.






-During the period of the Second Temple (c.515 BC – 70 AD), the Hebrew people lived under the rule of first the Persian Achaemenid Empire, then the Greek kingdoms of the Diadochi, and finally the Roman Empire.[47] Their culture was profoundly influenced by those of the peoples who ruled them.[47] Consequently, their views on existence after death were profoundly shaped by the ideas of the Persians, Greeks, and Romans.[48][49] The idea of the immortality of the soul is derived from Greek philosophy[49] and the idea of the resurrection of the dead is derived from Persian cosmology.[49] By the early first century AD, these two seemingly incompatible ideas were often conflated by Hebrew thinkers.[49] The Hebrews also inherited from the Persians, Greeks, and Romans the idea that the human soul originates in the divine realm and seeks to return there.[47] The idea that a human soul belongs in Heaven and that Earth is merely a temporary abode in which the soul is tested to prove its worthiness became increasingly popular during the Hellenistic period (323 – 31 BC).[40] Gradually, some Hebrews began to adopt the idea of Heaven as the eternal home of the righteous dead.[40]

 

[paarsurrey]

Do religious funeral rites imply any influence over the disposition of the soul?​

(Jesus) Yeshua's funeral rites were not performed, I don't find in the Pauline-deviant NT Bible, it clearly shows that he did not die a cursed death on the Cross, please, right?
If yes, then kindly quote from the the Pauline-Bible when funeral rites of (Jesus)Yeshua- the truthful Israelite Messiah ( who was neither a Zealot, nor he belonged to the Zionism people nor to the Judaism people) were performed, please, right?

Right?

Regards