Sorry for your loss, leo and I understand your anger.
I attended an aunt's funeral last October and was somewhat taken aback that it involved a vicar,hymns and prayers, given that I don't believe my aunt was a believer ( but I may be wrong about that ). My cousin organised it and I was pleased that she apologised to me afterwards because she knows I am atheist...so must everyone else present because I simply stayed silent, eyes wide open, unbowed through all the stuff.
It strikes me that since not so many actually go to churches nowadays in the uk, weddings and funerals are big gigs for the officiating god-squad, so they really go for it!
I was half-wishing to say something to the vicar, but out of respect for my dead aunt I simply shook his hand on the way out.
My mother is 94 and so it may well be her funeral that I attend next. She is not particularly religious and even agrees with me when I go on a rant about what nonsense it is. She may be humouring, though, I'm not 100% sure. Anyway, if the opportunity comes along, I intend discussing with her how she wants to go. I hope she doesn't want the church involved.
I attended an aunt's funeral last October and was somewhat taken aback that it involved a vicar,hymns and prayers, given that I don't believe my aunt was a believer ( but I may be wrong about that ). My cousin organised it and I was pleased that she apologised to me afterwards because she knows I am atheist...so must everyone else present because I simply stayed silent, eyes wide open, unbowed through all the stuff.
It strikes me that since not so many actually go to churches nowadays in the uk, weddings and funerals are big gigs for the officiating god-squad, so they really go for it!
I was half-wishing to say something to the vicar, but out of respect for my dead aunt I simply shook his hand on the way out.
My mother is 94 and so it may well be her funeral that I attend next. She is not particularly religious and even agrees with me when I go on a rant about what nonsense it is. She may be humouring, though, I'm not 100% sure. Anyway, if the opportunity comes along, I intend discussing with her how she wants to go. I hope she doesn't want the church involved.
A man is born to a virgin mother, lives, dies, comes alive again and then disappears into the clouds to become his Dad. How likely is that?
