Why do many people say "R.i.p" to people that have died?

[Belindalinda]

This is usually from non religous people that do not even believe in any form of afterlife This is illogical right? so doesn't this imply that the person would otherwise be in some kind of torment had it not been for these "Kind respectful" words?

If this is meant to be a "mark of respect then wouldn't making up a word or phrase that is better suited a better option?

What if the relatives or friends believe in afterlife punishment, wouldn't this phrase then be disrespectful to them?

[ChuckFickens]

and daphne and celeste, but not the set from the reading festival, because that's funny. (the organisers must have been having a laugh, putting them on before slipknot and rage against the machine!)

[jackthehat]

Asking your mates does not constitute and in-depth personal study......

[ojread2]

It became common on the tombs of Catholics in the 18th century, for whom it was a prayerful request that their soul should find peace in the afterlife.

Personally, I feel it just says what you hope happens, that any person who dies rests in restful peace

[Belindalinda]

Got a link to which study? Mwahahaha!, it was my own fact finding study not an official one naomi and this study is on going hence my question here and more other i will throw out there on the internet.

I found that many even with different views find this question interesting and a great debate point, well it's got us talking hasn't it.

[4getmenot]

although i am an athiest i believe the soul of a person survives around me. It probably doesnt, but sounds nicer than thinking thats it, just a body in the ground now.

[naomi24]

So how many people have you interviewed to come to such a conclusion?

[Belindalinda]

Asking my mates? l0l, i've asked supreme justices, religous leaders, clergymen, mp's, imams etc.. Jackthehat, hardly my friends though it would be interesting to have these people as friends as they have some very interesting views.

[Belindalinda]

So far naomi id say roughly five hundred to a thousand.

[jackthehat]

<snigger> Of course you have.........

[Belindalinda]

<snigger> Oh yes i have jackthehat, im on quite a few sites too.

I've always believed that debate is the brainchild of knowledge, so i like to keep mentally active and socially "Out there" to keep the grey matter at optimal speed.

[naomi24]

//i've asked supreme justices, religous leaders, clergymen, mp's, imams etc.. //

Really? So how long have you been working on this 'study' and how did you manage to obtain so many interviews from so many influential people?

There's a bit of a gap between 500 and 1000. If this is a serious in depth study, I would hope you could be a little more specific?

Got and links to those sites you're on? Or do you mean chat sites?

[LazyGun]

Belinda - I am a little puzzled over some of what you say, nor am I sure what it is you are implying - I wonder if you could help me out?

1. From your OP, you claim that the phrase RIP (Rest in Piece) is mostly/usually used by non-religious people who do not believe in the afterlife - So am I right in thinking that you are implying that atheists using the phrase are hypocritical / possibly offensive?

2.You then support this assertion of yours that this phrase is used mostly be atheists by saying you conducted an in-depth study - in other words, an "argument from authority". Well, if you expect anyone to respect the study you need to link to it, so we can see the raw data and the conclusions you have drawn - the original questions, how the respondents were found/selected, how many respondents, etc. Otherwise, with the greatest respect, it is just anecdote at best, made up nonsense at worst. So, could you either provide a link / reprint the study, or withdraw the assertion?

3.What kind of phrase would you recommend should be used instead of RIP?

More than anything else, I think the phrase represents an expression of comfort to the (presumably) grieving relatives, believer or non- beleiver, and a recognition that, no matter how good or evil that deceased was, most people of good heart try to avoid giving offence - RIP therefore seems a fairly inoffensive term..

To be honest, it all seems a slightly strange to raise a topic on a pretty innocuous phrase..............

[boxtops]

I say "Rest in Peace" to acknowledge the fact that whatever suffering or pain or whatever the person went though during their life. It's now over. It's not meant to indicate anything else - just "Rest Easy now".

[Belindalinda]

Naomi college, word of mouth and internet chatsites over the course of a year.

Trimesereserus, anything that keeps people talking, debating and thinking is always good for neurological activity, even more so as we get older.

[naomi24]

//Naomi college, word of mouth and internet chatsites over the course of a year. //

Ah, yes of course. That's how you've come to speak to so many influential people. And there's me thinking you were a journalist working for The Times or, at the very least, the BBC.

[Belindalinda]

Naomi no im not in the media (Yet) but influential people are only human and are still within the "Lower classes " grasp if you know where and how to look, mainly it's not what you know but who you know that opens doors.

[jackthehat]

And to a man, and woman, they all agreed with your premise, did they?

Care to share the names of some who didn't?

[Belindalinda]

Share the names? Jackthehat i wish i could but im sure you're familiar with the data protection act 1998 to which im duelly bound, besides i fail to see how a quantity of random strangers names would help you understand this theory more, or am i missing something?