First off: I believe the claim that once you die you have no need for your body is true. What I say in this post is based upon this being true. And I would be interested to hear from anyone who doesn't believe this.
If this is the case then why are we humans so pre-occupied with what happens to our flesh and bones after we die?
I think most of us have certain wishes – cremation, burial, medical science etc.
I personally favour being harvested of anything of any potential use to anyone else, and having the rest cremated, and my ashes scattered in a certain place
I can think of two reasons why people are so concerned, but there must be more:
First: People think there is a link between what happens to their body after death and what happens to their soul in the afterlife – consider the burial practices of Ancient Egypt. i.e. people don't believe they fully vacate their body once they die.
Second: The concern is a product of one’s lifelong attachment to one’s bodily form – to one’s “meat suit” as I have heard it described as by someone who believes the body and soul are separate...
Can anyone think of any more???
Also, this raises the further question:
Why should we respect the wishes people have regarding what happens to their body once they die?
My answer to this would be to invoke the Golden Rule – for whatever reason I care what happens to my body once I die and want those wishes respected, therefore I respect the wishes of others.
If this is the case then why are we humans so pre-occupied with what happens to our flesh and bones after we die?
I think most of us have certain wishes – cremation, burial, medical science etc.
I personally favour being harvested of anything of any potential use to anyone else, and having the rest cremated, and my ashes scattered in a certain place
I can think of two reasons why people are so concerned, but there must be more:
First: People think there is a link between what happens to their body after death and what happens to their soul in the afterlife – consider the burial practices of Ancient Egypt. i.e. people don't believe they fully vacate their body once they die.
Second: The concern is a product of one’s lifelong attachment to one’s bodily form – to one’s “meat suit” as I have heard it described as by someone who believes the body and soul are separate...
Can anyone think of any more???
Also, this raises the further question:
Why should we respect the wishes people have regarding what happens to their body once they die?
My answer to this would be to invoke the Golden Rule – for whatever reason I care what happens to my body once I die and want those wishes respected, therefore I respect the wishes of others.