The Moral Maze

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Moral Maze

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Religion & Ethics

Live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories. #moralmaze

Combative, provocative and engaging live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories. #moralmaze

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Moral Maze: Do we need a final farewell?

Do we need a final farewell?

BBC Radio 4 - Moral Maze, Do we need a final farewell?

Live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories.

The startling rise of direct cremations and burials and what it says about our changing attitudes to death.

The way we grieve is changing and that is seen most starkly by the rise of the direct cremation and the no fuss funeral. I in 5 people of people opted for a direct cremation last year, a startling figure that’s risen 3 fold in 5 years.  At it’s most basic the direct cremation means the final journey is purely functional. Body taken unaccompanied to an unknown crematorium. You can even get the ashes posted back through the letterbox.  It's cheaper and you can mark the last hurrah with a party or memorial service or perhaps even nothing at all.  What does this changing trend say about our respect for human dignity as a society or is this just another step 
in the removal of religion from the lives of a significant part of the population.  

Only a quarter of people in the UK now want a religious funeral. The rise of direct cremation could also be a sign that mourners are throwing off the shackles of inherited tradition and religious belief to decide how they want to grieve. Direct cremations and DIY celebrations cut out the reality of death and if there’s no grieving at the graveside or standing in a crematorium what do we lose?  There's another aspect to consider. The digital afterlife is one where someone never leaves. Grieftech can keep us in touch with AI loved ones . Instead of the finality of a funeral we could be conversing forever with the deceased. Do we need a final farewell?

Presenter: William Crawley 
Panellists:  Anne McElvoy, James Orr, Matthew Taylor, Ella Whelan
Witnesses: Rosie Millard, Dr Madeleine Pennington, Justin Harrison, Prof Linda Wheeler.
Producer: Catherine Murray & Peter Everett 
Assistant Producer: Ruth Purser
Editor: Rajeev Gupta

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Do we need a final farewell?

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