I have a pretty good [hypothetical] question...(mainly for Christians, Muslims, etc...?

Question

I am using Christians in my example, but it could very well apply to other religious peoples...

When a Christian person dies, why does another Christian cry for them? I don't think I am mistaken when I say this happens. For example, a mother will cry for the loss of her son, Christian or not, correct? However, according to Christians, the place they are going to after leaving the earth is infinately better. Why would that cause anyone to cry? Why don't we see Christians celebrating death with big birthday-like parties? When a Christian is on his/her deathbed choking out his/her last few words to another Christian loved-one, why aren't those words something like, "Here I go! Halleluha! See you soon my earth-dwelling friend!". It just seems a bit ironic that we don't see this kind of excitement regularly.

Comments?

Answer 1

Because deep down they're scared they might be wrong.

Answer 2

The tendency to seem flighty. To change without following through. I find this not only within myself sometimes, but also within many people I meet in the community. Every religion has good and bad aspects. I think Christians probably stick with one idea too long, to the point where if you find that to be demonstrably wrong, you keep doing it anyway out of a sense of loyalty. (Look at Bush, or the whole Free-Trade idea) We pagans tend to be the opposite, and fly toward the next idea with the wind. The Goddess cult survived European Christiandom... ok... It didn't it's a revival.... ok... Nothing survived at all, and it's all just inspired by Thelema, Spiritualism, and Theosophy... ok... There are some aspects that survived as Mesopaganism, but it was different than paleopaganism, and the new neopaganism... ok...

Answer 3

The first thing is that they won't get to see that person any more. Secondly, it's possible that they (the deceased) were taken away before making up from a big fight. A lot of times, in my opinion, there are things that people wish they can change if they had "more time."
Also, there's no guarantee a person will go to heaven. Maybe people are worried.
I think it's mainly due to loss of companionship that people cry.

Answer 4

Wah? Are you serious? Regardless of the fact that Christians expect to go to heaven when they die, death is still a very sad event. Death of a loved one, Christian or not, means that they will no longer be around to talk to and it will be a long time until you see them again. Some Christians however do celebrate in a more festive way at the repass after a funeral. There we sing songs and happily celebrate the life of the one who passed and give God praises because we know they went home to Jesus.

Answer 5

I agree with you. I've heard it said that early generations of Christians were like that; they were excited about leaving earth and seeing God.

One idea for the sadness is this idea; if you have a good friend who is moving to another country, and you can't write to them or call, and the only way you could see them again is after you go to the country they left for, where they believe everything is better, wouldn't that make you sad?

In my church, when someone dies it is a somber moment because we know we won't see them again until we die, too. But we are happy for them also, because if they were suffering, they aren't anymore in Heaven. And they get to be with God! That's pretty cool :)

The thing is, God put us here for a reason, and only He knows when we fulfilled our mission, so if we were to leave early (ie suicide) we wouldn't have completed our mission, so in case your wondering, that's why Christians don't believe in suicide.

Answer 6

i am pagan. in my personal beliefs, when people die they are going to a great place with their family and friends, until they are reborn.
i understand that it's all a part of life, the never ending circle, but that doesn't mean i don't miss them when they die. it's ok to grieve, it's ok to miss your friends and family, even if you're going to see them again in the afterlife or the next life.

i also rejoice in sorts when someone passes. we celebrate the life the person had here and remember good thoughts. it's not a morbid time for us, but we're not thrilled to see them go, either.

i hope this clears it up a little for you. i assume christians and other faiths feel generally the same way.

Answer 7

They cry because they will miss having them here on earth with them. People cry all the time saying good bye, like when a friend moves away to get a better job.

Answer 8

The cry is out of love. The pain of separation is not that easy to deal with. A mother cries whenever her child goes to another city/state/country for education also even though she knows that it will best for her kid to go and educate him/herself.

So my dear the cry or sorrow is not because a relative is going to heaven or hell but rather the physical distance and disconnection is what causes that.

Hope that helps.

Answer 9

...I knew full well my Dad had a home in Heaven, but I cried a lot at his funeral, and I still do at times. He was my best human friend (next to my wife). I miss talking to him.
...Maybe you are some sort of feeling-less Stoic like Mr. Spock of Star Trek - I think most of us are not.
...Don't you understand that human beings are wired together by God with deep feelings and concern for those we love? I am so glad Dad is in Heaven; with a loss of dear one, you grieve, and no time-table is prescribed in Scripture; I grieved for two years and it makes Heaven all the more precious, to know that I will be with my Savior and with my dad again, and dad is out of pain, too - he died from cancer.

Answer 10

We cry for selfish reasons because we know that we will miss them. Similiar to a mother watching her baby go to kindergarten or college. You know that it is a good transition and a neccesary one but you cry because you hate to see them go because it leaves a hole somewhere in your life. Some Christians do celebrate the life and death of those who have gone home. I know many many stories of people who have spoken of their longing to go to heaven when on their death beds.

Answer 11

Because we don't like to see people suffer nor watch them die. It's painful. You must have never seen someone die before. We cry because we are human, compassionate, mournful, suffering loss, grieving, and humane. We acknowledge that they are in a better place but, that does NOT mean that we won't miss them.

We know they are no longer suffering but, we are still here and we are left to deal with ourselves and our own individual sufferings. What do you think we are...........heartless?