Now dont laugh, I am serious.
When a member of a atheists family dies....what do you say to them to comfort them???
You cant exactly say "They are in a better place now" can you??
So what do you say instead?
2007-09-05 16:39:07 · 15 answers · asked by Megan 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
LOL they probably say "rot in peace."
2007-09-05 16:44:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Why can't they say anything about being in a better place? Just because someone doesn't believe in gods doesn't mean they don't believe in any sort of afterlife by default.
Anything vague yet positive is good in this situation. Something along the lines of "They'll always be with us in our hearts/watching over us". Obviously you don't have to literally believe things like this to say them as they're primarily metaphorical and generally a lot better than saying "They'll be dead and in the ground" or "They'll be keeping an eye on us from their urn on the mantle".
2007-09-06 05:18:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I say, "I'm sorry for your loss and is there anything I can do to help you in your time of mourning."
There's no need to speculate on where the deceased person is... mourning and comfort is for the living. If they believe their loved one is in heaven, then that's great. I don't believe that, but I won't go telling them they're not anywhere but in the ground... that would be insensitive and rude.
I stick with helping the living person with their grief and day-to-day needs during the mourning period. Believe me, I've received tremendous positive feedback for this type of thing and it is very appreciated to be able to focus on mourning and not worry about who will take care of the kids, or gas the car, or feed the animals, or make flight arrangements, all of which I've done for friends who have lost loved ones.
2007-09-05 23:46:22 · answer #3 · answered by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, this is how I see my father's death... maybe that will help.
I think very abstractly about this - what is a person but a line of memories with one little moment of "present" added on? My father still has the line of memories... and I therefore have most of him still with me.
His affect on people and his environment is still evident. Therefore, part of him is still here.
The relationship we had will not die until I die... I see a relationship as being carried inside two people - he had a copy of our relationship, I had a copy of it. I still have my copy and no one can take it from me. It is still a living, evolving thing, too - the relationship changes and moves as I think of it and of him and of myself.
All of this comforts me.
And yeah, my father is in a better place in a manner of speaking. He was sick and miserable, and now he's not. There are things worse than death and non-existence.
2007-09-05 23:50:28 · answer #4 · answered by Snark 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Better places aren't always a comfort to even those that believe it..
I'm sorry, I'm here for you, if you need anything call, if you need to talk, if you need to be alone I understand...the usual words that are good for anyone else can be used among us as well.
2007-09-05 23:44:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
My thoughts are with you.
His or her suffering is at an end.
I want to do what I can to help. Let's go to lunch on Thursday. We'll talk about what I can do then, after the hubbub of the funeral has passed.
Peace.
^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^
2007-09-05 23:44:46 · answer #6 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Celebrate the life they had and mourn for those who never knew them.
2007-09-05 23:43:44 · answer #7 · answered by Dethklok 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
How much money will you get?
or Death is a natural part of life.
2007-09-05 23:44:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
"I'm sorry for your loss. Is there any way I can help while you deal with arrangements and grieving?"
2007-09-05 23:43:59 · answer #9 · answered by wondermus 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My sympathies with you.
2007-09-05 23:43:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
guess the grass will be getting a bit greener
2007-09-05 23:43:48 · answer #11 · answered by Jack 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋