to go to a church for a funeral or a wedding? Do you bow your head at the appropriate time? Do you sing to Jesus with the congregation? Do you "play the role" at all????
2007-01-25 10:48:46 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What great answers! I'm proud of all of you!
2007-01-25 11:07:13 · update #1
This is tough! What great answers. Except one! lmao
2007-01-25 12:32:08 · update #2
No singing. Period.
Bow and kneel yes, its their day, not about God, about the happy couple.
Funerals, just don't go, go to the viewing and leave it at that.
2007-01-25 10:55:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The most I'll do is stand up when everyone else does. I don't bow my head when they pray. I think it's fun in those situations to look around the room and see if there is anyone else doing the same. A lot of people will just play along, i used to out of respect. Nowadays i have such little respect for religious institutions that i only do what is necessary to remain respectful to my friends or family that happen to be in attendance. I can't help but giggle inside and sometimes smirk when certain things are said. Every time I'm put in that situation I'm utterly baffled at how anyone in modern society can take any of that nonsense with even the tiniest grain of salt.
2007-01-25 11:09:54 · answer #2 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just had to deal with this. My mother passed away last year. She was Catholic. I stood and sat at the appropriate times. There wasnt any kneeling. I did not say the prayers or make the sign of the cross. There was no singing either. I was very respectful during the service, for the sake of my siblings. I didnt want to make a scene, so I tried to blend in without compromising myself.
After the funeral we went to lunch. The priest ended up coming over and sitting with my spouse, who is an even harder core atheist, if thats possible. We had a nice conversation and did kind of look down at the table when he said grace. It was funny, of all the people there he picked us to sit with!
2007-01-25 11:12:42 · answer #3 · answered by sngcanary 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Role playing is fine to an extent. You aren't doing it for yourself, but for those around you that you care about. Churches don't just symbolize God and Jesus either. They are places of happiness and celebration and ceremony. Sing. It's a song. I sing along to the radio in the car even when the rappers are talking about smacking bit*hes, but I don't want to smack them or be smacked. My point is just that, you can share in the experience of the wedding or funeral without having to wholly embody the same virtues that the Church does.
2007-01-25 10:57:57 · answer #4 · answered by eastchic2001 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Weddings and funerals yes, play the role, no. I would bow my head in respect, given I respect other's beliefs and choices, but I won't pray or sing.
2007-01-25 10:57:02 · answer #5 · answered by Radagast97 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At a funeral, I would grieve over the dead, but I wouldn't seek the support of a spiritual being for a crutch. I would do what I deem necessary, that doesn't conflict with my Atheist morals, although on an occasion such as THAT, I may oblige to some religious customs.
2007-01-25 10:59:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I play the role. Its just acting. I do because I can still respect another person or groups beliefs even if I personally find them stupid. I respect the choice the person has made.
If i get caught playing the role, i tell them the truth. i was trying to be polite.
2007-01-25 11:01:16 · answer #7 · answered by Tom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure. There's a time to be honest, but it's not when people are grieving or trying to create a special memory. It's just as unfair to draw the attention someone else deserves to myself. I'll wait to debate. Christians wish to be known by their love. Atheists don't need to be known for their jerkitude. And I can do plenty of other things with my head while I'm waiting.
2007-01-25 11:00:46 · answer #8 · answered by skepsis 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When I go to a church for a funeral or a wedding, I don't think about what the religous aspects are. I mourn who has died, and I feel joy for those who are getting married. I give respect, in either cases.
2007-01-25 10:57:28 · answer #9 · answered by Jayclark 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I was never forced. My husbands family and my mother both are religious. I was taken to attend with family for all of my life. I just play the role because the music is our history and beautiful. The people are all sharing in one consciousness of love and enlightenment so therefore, it's profound. http://dynamic.cnn.com/apps/tp/video/bestoftv/2006/12/14/beck.akiane.child.prodigy.cnn/video.ws.asx?NGUserID=aa570a1-6893-1166214706-3&adDEmas=R00%26hi%26cox.net%2673%26usa%26650%2673101%2637%26-%26-%26-%26 This short video shows a little girl painting heaven. I believe this is the next step in our human evolution. She talks of god and how I see it, is that we inately already know we are a part of all things. That, to me, is god.
2007-01-25 11:00:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm never forced. Lovely buildings, a lot of the time. I visit churches wherever I go on holiday. I don't take part in prayer but the songs are just songs.
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.
Words without thoughts, never to heaven go."
Shakespeare - Hamlet
2007-01-25 10:55:37 · answer #11 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋