Many people today don’t understand why we have funerals. What we don’t understand we tend to be skeptical of. Here are the top 5 misconceptions about funerals:
- Funerals Are Too Expensive – The social and emotional benefits of personalized funerals far outweigh their financial costs. Besides, a funeral doesn’t have to be lavishly expensive to be meaningful.
- Funerals Are Barbaric – On the contrary, meaningful funeral ceremonies are civilized, socially binding rituals. Some people think that viewing the body is barbaric. Cultural differences aside, viewing has many benefits for survivors.
- Funerals Are Only For Religious People – Not true. Non-religious ceremonies (which, by the way, don’t have to be held in a church or officiated by a clergy person) can still help mourners begin to heal.
- Funerals Should Reflect What The Person Who Has Died Wanted – Yes and no. While pre-planning your funeral may help you reconcile yourself to your own mortality, funerals are primarily for the benefit of the living.
- Funerals Are Only For Grown-Ups – Anyone old enough to love is old enough to mourn. Children, too, have the right and the privilege to attend funerals.
