If they feel their loved ones will suffer eternally and never receive a resurrection, what possible comfort could there be?
2006-11-29 02:01:35 · 25 answers · asked by Micah 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many times, the relatives who are believers ask a priest or minister to conduct the funeral service. Otherwise who would preside over it?
2006-11-29 02:09:52 · update #1
Great question...Sadly enough there's not much. As a preacher- I can only tell the person that God will help them through this time of suffering. When a Christian dies, it's almost a celebration 'cause we know we'll miss them-but God is with them. A non-believer...we can only pray for the family during these times. I've know lots of people who tried to reach out to lost family members and have seen them die. It's difficult-but the reality stays the same. You can only try and comfort them.
2006-11-29 02:06:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
A minister will not be at my funeral. A Pagan Priest will be at mine.
And I have seen ministers are Non-Christian funerals.... and they talk about the actions of the person (some even outright LIE about the person, Christian or not). My uncle wasn't a Christian till he was dying of cancer... and the Minister, who was a life-long friend of his, spoke about how great of a person my uncle was. My uncle was a drunk, a wife-beater, a liar... spent time in prison for Breaking and Entering and Burglary... etc... So, I'm sure they would do the same for a Non-Christian.
And ALL people receive a resurrection according to Revelation. No one is left out. You should re-read your bible concerning this point.
BTW, I don't suggest you take a job as being a "Griever" for funerals... this question alone proves you wouldn't have compassion for the living concerning their dead loved ones.
2006-11-29 02:52:56 · answer #2 · answered by riverstorm13 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They comfort the loves ones the same way they do christian. It's the thought , respect and the action in showing concern that comforts the family, not their religion.
Plus usually the relatives are christians even though the deceased is not, and they want their loved one to be shown the same respect, and concern for their after life as does a christian .
I don't personally care for funerals and do not go to them. I am an atheist and have requested a burial by cremation as soon as I am dead but if they wish a service that is ok with me as my family is the ones who would need comfort not me. And they deserve it. So if a religious services makes them feel bette ror they feel they may have an impackon getitng me intotheir idea of heaven I am all for it as the dead reall don't care after it's over.
2006-11-29 02:11:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my grandfather (an athiest) passed away earlier this year, the funeral service was carried out jointly between myself, his brother and his best friend. It worked perfectly because we knew him the most and could carry out a more poignant and personalised service than a minister ever could.
People shouldn't be mollycoddled and patted on the back 'there there everythings fine' attitude always. I think people need to be allowed to grieve and to celebrate the life of the passed. We all grow up accepting death is inevitable even if we don't believe in heaven and hell and angels on clouds.
2006-11-29 02:11:51 · answer #4 · answered by Miss Emily 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are many faiths that are not christian so I guess the spiritual leader of choice would do it or the nice folks at the funeral home always have someone handy. I've been to funerals where family and friends just spoke and did the "service".
I don't know many non-christians that believe in suffering eternally so I think that there is comfort in that itself. Most faiths do not instill fear...thank goodness.
2006-11-29 02:02:55 · answer #5 · answered by KathyS 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, logic would state that a non-Christian would not have a Christian minister performing their funeral, so the minister wouldn't have any "conflict of interest" issues.
Believe it or not, there ARE non-Christian clergy out there!! What a concept...
And since not all faiths believe in the Christian concept of Hell, the clergy would be able to comfort the family in whatever faith and beliefs they hold.
2006-11-29 02:06:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe too much rhetorics and traditions has made the word of God of none effect that this tremendous gift of life that God gave to the world through his son Jesus Christ seems to be Lost. I can preach at anyone funeral because the dead can't hear me so I speak to the living not about their dead but about their life. I make the funeral a platform for them to think about their eternal destiny. And offer to them a opportunity to consider eternal life. Problem with most religion the centrality of their focus is heaven and hell. I do not believe that heaven and hell is at the center of the Christian faith. I believe in heaven and Hell but it was not what Jesus died and rose to give us. If Christians begin to focus on the real reason the bible was given to us we will have the attention of many. He died to save us from hells rule he rose to give us Eternal Life. Is Eternal Life heaven absolutely not it is the nature character and life of God that gives us access to heaven when we die. So our job is not to convince the sinner about hell and heaven by scripture but to manifest the lifestyle of heaven. If we make the life of God our focus we will start revivals at the funerals of unbelievers probably like Jesus Christ Peter and Paul we will raise a couple from the dead and get them saved. Maybe some of these diehard unbelievers might get saved.
2006-11-29 02:28:46 · answer #7 · answered by eternallifer1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Other then atheists (who I admit to being completley stumped on the topic of funerals for) I'd imagine that their religion's holy person comforts the family. Wiccan High Priestess or Jewish Rabbi or what have you. Maybe just the family comforts each other at a mainly atheist funeral?
2006-11-29 02:07:15 · answer #8 · answered by sister steph 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the only one who totally knows if they were saved was the deceased it is okay for the minister to give that hope and then to give hope to the family that may someday join there loved one in the eternal bliss that God has waiting for all of us who believe. God asys for all believers I go to prepare a place for you in Heaven.
2006-11-29 02:07:07 · answer #9 · answered by wolfy1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should take comfort in having known the person, having touched that person's life and being touched in return. They should take comfort in knowing that whether or not that person is "resurrected", they will live forever in their hearts and memories because of their love for that person. They should take comfort in knowing that their God is supposed to be one of love, peace and compassion, and will see their loved one recieves what rewards he/she deserves for living their lives as a good, decent person no matter what their personal beliefs because a kind, loving god would never turn away from someone who was a genuinely good person.
That works.
2006-11-29 02:07:09 · answer #10 · answered by E D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋