Do you think this is appropriate.....?

Question

on my grandfathers tombstone they put "death makes angels of us all"......I don't think its appropriate because I interpret it to mean that the only reason we talk about all the good is because he died. Well, sorry...I'm not explaining myself completely, I can't put it into words.....

Answer 1

I agree, I don't think it's appropriate either.

We don't become angels when we die, for one thing, because angels have never been incarnate beings.

Secondly, just because we die doesn't mean we are all of a sudden perfect and it wipes away all the awful things we said and did during our lifetimes.

Answer 2

That is a horribly ignornat, but popular theology that is behind that toombstone.

The idea is that when people die, they go to heaven and become angels with wings and harps and whatever.

Clearly in the scripture however, Angels are not deceased humans, but unique created beings distinct from both humans and God. Angels, or in the orrignal Greek "Angelos" are God's messengers - in fact teh word "Angelos" in greek means just that - messenger.

So - yes. That is a rather inapropreate toombstone. But people get wierd around funerals and teh dead. Just keep in mind that you are smarter and better than whoever picked out that absurd stone, and don't make a fuss.

Answer 3

I think you're right. It could be construed to mean "Grandpa might not have been an upright person in life, but now that he is dead we've allowed ourselves to transform him into a saint." I imagine that you want to make it clear that your grandfather was an angel in life (figuratively speaking) and will remain that way in death. As long as your family knows that your grandfather's epitaph isn't supposed to be read in that light, then I don't think there is a problem. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks.

Answer 4

I take it as a joke. Depending on the kind of person your grandfather was, he may have liked that? It could be taken to mean what you think it means, or it could mean something else.......I'm not explaining myself either lol. It may not be appropriate for some people, but if he was a joking type person, he probably would have liked that.
I'm sorry for your loss by the way.

Answer 5

Not at all appropriate because angels are angels and people are people. We don't die and become angels, we either go to Heaven or Hell depending on whether we have been saved or not.

Answer 6

its referring to going to heaven and in death we are pure if you have done a greater good than evil in life, you will only be remembered for the good, all else falls away and willl be forgotten. now you can be offended by this all you want, but its just an old saying that goes on graves

Answer 7

Angels are spirits. Your ganddad is now a spirit, so he can be an angel, depending on whose point of view.

Answer 8

Go to the source. Ask the person who had the saying inscripted and listen to what that person, or persons have to say before making a judgment call.

Answer 9

Don't let that worry you. They were trying to say a nice thing...basically he died and is an angel now. Don't stress about it. Sorry for your loss............

Answer 10

Let it go. You will just get into arguments with other folks and it really doesn't matter in the end.. In 100 years who will care??