Britain!

[account_inactive]

I've never been to church in my life.

[Doubting Thomas]

Hardly news I been saying this for ages, especially with younger British people it's not that common to come across Brits who really do "go to church".

Considered extremely unusual among people my age.

I just wish the U.S. wasn't 30 years or more behind the Brits in this regard.  We still have places here in the U.S. where someone's first question upon meeting you is, "So, where do you go to church?"

[Doubting Thomas]

Now I think of it, I've literally only been "to church"* twice since I left that Catholic school 4 years ago. Both occasions were for my Dad's funeral.

"To church"* meaning actually going to a service. I do appreciate churches and mosques as historical/architectural sites so I visit them just to see them as I'm travelling.

Not meaning to be off here, but you buried your dad twice?

Catholics often have a wake the evening before the funeral, where everybody prays a rosary.  Really boring if you're not Catholic.  Boring if you are Catholic.

[zebo-the-fat]

Not at all true, I'm British and have not been in a church for over 30years

[account_inactive]

Not at all true, I'm British and have not been in a church for over 30years

Huh, I didn't know you were everyone in Britain...

[Regina]

Not meaning to be off here, but you buried your dad twice?

Catholics often have a wake the evening before the funeral, where everybody prays a rosary.  Really boring if you're not Catholic.  Boring if you are Catholic.

That would explain it, since my family are Catholic. I actually never questioned why we had the evening before, It's the only funeral I've ever been to and assumed it was normal.

[account_inactive]

That would explain it, since my family are Catholic. I actually never questioned why we had the evening before, It's the only funeral I've ever been to and assumed it was normal.

The older generations in my family identify as Protestants, whether they actually believe in everything the Bible says is debatable. It could be in name only but that explains why the funerals they have attended have been much shorter.

[Regina]

I don't think very many western people, even those who self-identify as Christian, take the bible literally. If more people did it would still be the Middle Ages.

My grandparents are/were quite religious by modern Catholic standards, but not so extreme.

[Doubting Thomas]

Catholics often have a wake the evening before the funeral, where everybody prays a rosary.  Really boring if you're not Catholic.  Boring if you are Catholic.

That would explain it, since my family are Catholic. I actually never questioned why we had the evening before, It's the only funeral I've ever been to and assumed it was normal.

The way it was explained to me that the reason Catholics pray a rosary for a dead person is that supposedly it helps the dead person get into Heaven easier/faster.

[Regina]

That would explain it, since my family are Catholic. I actually never questioned why we had the evening before, It's the only funeral I've ever been to and assumed it was normal.

The way it was explained to me that the reason Catholics pray a rosary for a dead person is that supposedly it helps the dead person get into Heaven easier/faster.

That too, although I'm wondering if it will still have the same effect if you already (like my Nanna) pray into a Rosary every day anyway just because. Can you pray too much? Like would you need to do an extra 10 rounds of the Rosary to make it even more special if 1 is "normal"?

Idiocy. She's a sweet old woman and I'd feel bad telling her she's been conned, but I think it's all she has sometimes, especially since my Grandfather died.