A Humanist Funeral Service

by Corliss Lamont

First published in 1940, A Humanist Funeral Service has been helpful for over half a century to people not comfortable with the religious format of typical funeral services. The author, renowned humanist Corliss Lamont, last revised the text in 1977.

Now, from her own experience as a humanist chaplain, Beth K. Lamont, widow of Corliss Lamont, has added two new scripts of humanist services, and has welcomed a new updated edition by humanist J. Sierra Oliva, who has added new dimensions and a new emphasis on celebrating the deceased's life in these suggested scripts for last rites.

As in earlier versions of the book, there are meditations and eloquent passages of prose and poetry to express appreciation, grief, and farewell when a friend or loved one dies. One may choose according to individual preference the text and music deemed to be most appropriate.

The service is dignified and reminiscent of past relationships with the deceased, stressing love, the beauty of life, the human kinship with nature, and the naturalness of death.

In the quest for solace at a time of grief, one can turn to this nonreligious service for security, comfort, and purpose in accepting the finality of the loss of a loved one.

48 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1977

About the author

American philosopher and Soviet Union apologist.

In 1930s he wrote a book praising the Soviet Union.

In 1936 he started the magazine Marxist Quarterly. In 1937 he endorsed Josef Stalin and the trial outcome of the Moscow trials against Leon Trotsky.

Lamont was a key founder of the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship. He served as its first chairman from 1943 to 1947.

Lamont ran for the U.S. Senate from New York, in 1952 on the American Labor ticket and come in fourth.

In 1959, Lamont became an enthusiastic supporter of Fidel Castro and his revolutionary government in Cuba.