Funerals -- Are they really necessary?

       Funerals are a subject that most people don't really want to talk about.  They can be anything from the most simplistic to the most extravagant, either way costing several thousands of dollars. Even the newest trend of a one day visitation and funeral will run into thousands of dollars.

   Are they really necessary?

       Unless a person passes over suddenly, funerals and/or visitations really serve no purpose, especially if the one that has passed over is being cremated. Why do people want to view an empty shell anyway?

     Some will argue that funerals help friends and family find closure or it gives others a chance to pay their respects. Really?

   Contrary to popular belief, closure is a personal emotional process that funerals do not provide and can actually slow the process.

In fact it can be more stressful on the immediate family who also find themselves in the spotlight trying to make small talk to people they may barely know if at all 

   Paying respects to one that has passed over? Who is kidding who?  That person is no longer there. If you respected the person in the first place, you would have kept in touch over the years and celebrated life with them while they were alive.
   If you think that you are serving some noble need by paying your respect to the family. Think again. Many families would prefer to forgo the pressure of society's protocol for a funeral and/or viewing and be allowed to grieve and heal within their own inner circle.
 
   What is even more ironic, is that the one who is no longer on this earth is the one who is usually paying for their own funeral in the first place.

                               The truth about funerals - Are the really a necessity?

I personally don't believe in funerals, they are a sham to ease the guilty conscience of the living.

The truth is, If I am not important enough to you to celebrate life with me while I am alive then I am not important enough to you to be at a funeral that I am not even at. If you want have a get together with people you haven't seen in awhile. Don't expect to do it at my expense!

If I have passed over then I have better things to do and I am in the presence of God! 

Bottom line - Funerals have been found in texts since recorded history but perhaps it is time to honestly rethink the reality of funerals and trash the lame list of excuses for having one in the first place.