Comments on: Funerals Make Me Glad to Be an Atheist

By: Lara

Lara — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:18:10 +0000

My grandfather committed suicide almost fifteen years ago after he found out he had the first stages of Alzheimer’s. He didn’t tell any of his family about it before he did it, but of course afterward, his doctor came forward and told us ‘what might have been the reason.’

I’m an atheist, and I don’t believe there’s anything beyond this life, and don’t believe that there’s any virtue in melting slowly to a puddle of goo for the sake of family. I understand my grandfather’s choice.

But I’ve never been able to finish grieving for him. Since the graveside service, I’ve never been back to his grave, even though it’s less than one hundred miles from where I live.

Recently, however, I’ve felt the need to do so. And it will not be with prayers and tears for his soul. It will be with the flowers he loved, and a reading of his favorite poem.

By: Dave G

Dave G — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:24:31 +0000

Well Said. Makes Me Glad to Be an Atheist.

By: Heaven, Hell and the Funerals in between « Sociopathic Ramblings of a Grumpy Old 20 Something

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:12:14 +0000

[...] morning I stumbled upon this blog posting by someone named Tobasco De Gama. For those too lazy to click the link and read the short blog, the blogger talks about funerals and [...]

By: Patricia Thrift

Patricia Thrift — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:54:26 +0000

I went through about this same thing yesterday at my father in laws funeral. There was not just one pastor but 3 one of which didn’t even know my father in law but preached at the church my brother and mother in law go to. The Hell Fire and Brimstone Preacher not only said to the congregation that was there for his funeral that he was an alcoholic, but also said that no one would allow him into their homes which was a blatant lie!!! He then start pushing his agendas against other religions, Muslims and LDS members being his main points of contention. I was raised in the LDS church and I was PISSED. A funeral is a place to HONOR a persons life, not to bring up their shortcomings and save other people!!!

By: adam2z.com/blog » Blog Archive » links for 2008-03-20

adam2z.com/blog » Blog Archive » links for 2008-03-20 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:36:02 +0000

[...] Funerals Make Me Glad to Be an Atheist (tags: atheism funerals christianity) [...]

By: Joshua

Joshua — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:26:19 +0000

How would he be craven? Where does fear come into this? I would use much worse words to describe someone like that. But as long as he makes a profit…. right?

Ok, you caught me out on the vocab. This word, it does not mean what I think it means. (Although one could possibly argue that it’s cowardly to hide behind religion when doing something so self-serving as to plug a book at a funeral.)

By: Alethea

Alethea — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:32:15 +0000

I haven’t had any loved ones die real recently, but it doesn’t prevent you from thinking about what ceremony can bring you and others you care about. Or what it can take away.

Funny enough, I had just posted about something similar a few days ago here: http://humans.scienceboard.net/?p=408. In there is a link to the “hijacking” business, which I do find rather convincing: http://www.atheists.org/comingout/dying.html

It seems like we could have a more biological, less frightened approach to death. We could honor the real accomplishments someone made during their lifetime.

Douglas Hofstadter addressed the idea of how one person can “live on” in others, progressively more and more diluted, and I take that as a really interesting idea to counter that of a “soul”. It’s in his book “I am a Strange Loop” discussed here: http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/basic/book_detail.jsp?isbn=0465030785.

Enjoy, hope there aren’t too many links.

By: Moab

Moab — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:21:38 +0000

Dude. It’s amazing how insensitive religion can make people. It’s logical – according to their beliefs – but it’s asinine and so completely based in irrational in the face of _everything_else_.

I’m sorry you and your family had to put up with that. I’m sorry, also, that your Grandfather made a death-bed conversion (probably out of fear) rather than receiving the comfort that can come at the end of life.

Thanks for sharing your story.

By: Grant Czerepak

Grant Czerepak — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:58:59 +0000

“My father said,
‘Son, there’s nothing else.
Before you love someone
you must learn to love yourself.
Know when they’re gone,
They will truly be gone.
So don’t you waste your time.’”

– Joel Plaskett
Non-believer

By: Dr. Donald B. MacGowan

Dr. Donald B. MacGowan — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:09:26 +0000

Quote: “Then the pastor took the floor. He talked about how totally sweet heaven is. It’s ‘a million times better than Hawaii’, he said.”

Dude. I live in Hawai AND I am an atheist. You are right–that pastor, as you said, is an asswad who obviously doesn’t know what he is talking about, either as regards salvation or Hawaii.

Spit on him for me, OK?

By: Joshua

Joshua — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:43:32 +0000

John: I guess I should give kudos to the pastor for being sex-positive, but still, uh... that's a little awkward. And it reminds me of this XKCD comic.

By: Will

Will — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:51:07 +0000

well said

By: John

John — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:08:30 +0000

On the other side of the coin, I recently went to a wedding of a relative. Both he and his bride are “born-again” and asked their “youth minister” to conduct the service (in a chapel). In his remarks at the wedding, this “youth minister” complimented bride and groom on their abstinence from sex, mentioned how hot each of them was (with details), and then proceeded to tease them about all the positions they would be using that evening (after the reception) as their reward for having waited so long. He then went on to encourage my relative to “get it” now because as “everyone knows” women lose their looks and become unsuitable for sex. He concluded with a prayer to Jesus to watch over their evening of discovery.

I kid you not!

By: Kenny

Kenny — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:13:46 +0000

I feel EXACTLY the same way.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:49:13 +0000

How would he be craven? Where does fear come into this? I would use much worse words to describe someone like that. But as long as he makes a profit…. right?

By: Joshua

Joshua — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:30:33 +0000

He plugged his book? Ok, that guy wins for being a craven, self-serving ass.

By: zeek

zeek — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:52:06 +0000

My great grandmother’s funeral was even a little worse than this. She was never a regular church-goer and the pastor spewed his typical bullshit about how good a christian she was and how she’s in heaven and how awesome it is.

And then he plugged his new book, which was for sale in the lobby.

Despicable human being.

By: PhillyChief

PhillyChief — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:08:22 +0000

I'm sorry for your loss. Your experience sounds like mine. I find it reprehensible that religious people will exploit tragedies and times of despair to push their agenda.

By: John

John — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:12:28 +0000

My friend died in high school. He was wiccan, and his parents were christian. I had to listen to a sermon for 3 hours at his funeral about JESUS, with only passing mentions to my friend. Because a lot of students were there.

They still will use you for their own agenda. It doesn’t matter.

Corpses = potential?

Yay theists.

By: nate

nate — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:15:07 +0000

Sorry to hear about your grandpa. My grandma died a couple years ago, so I kinda know how you feel.

There are a lot of pastors out there that are jerks. Being a pastor myself, I just want to apologize and ask that you don’t hold it against all of us.