Beau Biden funeral

[RussBLib]

Watching the coverage so far, all over MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN1, even FOX. All of these are allegedly "news" channels. And yet, I scan all of the religious channels and not one is carrying it. Not even the predominantly Catholic channels.

The sadness of the Biden family must be overwhelming. I cried a little just watching Joe Biden hanging his head.

But the religious rhetoric is just so somber, so thick, so intricate and complex, it's a formidable barrier to freethought. It really turns me off, as it goes on and on and on and on. I sure hope some of the eulogies are a little uplifting, but I probably won't make it that far.

I am reminded of a relatively recent "celebration" I attended for an atheist who had passed away. It was held in a Universalist church, and the music and talk were so uplifting and happy, there was only the momentary sadness at the passing of a wonderful and kind person.

I contrast the two - Biden funeral and the atheist funeral - and there is no doubt where I want to be, and what I would like to have happen when I pass away.

But I do hope the Biden family can have some peace of mind.

[LostOne4Ever]

1. Different people mourn in different ways

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]This does not make one way any better than another, just different.

I have never cried at a death of a family member or funeral. Not even when my biological father died when I was 9 years old. I miss him. I miss my grandmother. I miss all the people who have passed on...but I have never spilt a single tear for them.

But when my pet rabbit went missing, I was bawling like mad. The moment my parents admitted to me that it died, my tears stopped. When my mother had seizures and we thought she had an brain aneurysm (she didn't) I cried and cried thinking I might lose her.

I don't really get it. I can cry for the living, but not a thing for those who passed on. But that does not mean I don't miss them. My way of mourning is just different.

The Biden's obviously express their mourning in sadness. The family and friends of the atheist you speak would rather remember their joy. But, I think, the important thing is that they remember and honor their dead.[/font]

[Rainforestgoddess]

3. Well said, my friend

I tend to have "an event" and then I can move on and remember the good times.

[mountain grammy]

2. They find comfort and solace in their faith

and that's fine. I wish them well. I just hope no one says anything dumb to the kids. I was ten when my dad died and a relative said to me"god needs him more than we do." Well I pretty much hated god for that, then, as I grew older, I lost what little faith I had.

I feel like Stephen Fry who responded to a question about dying and meeting god as a lifelong atheist.

“Suppose it’s all true, and you walk up to the pearly gates, and are confronted by God,” Bryne asked on his show The Meaning of Life. “What will Stephen Fry say to him, her, or it?”
“I’d say, bone cancer in children? What’s that about?” Fry replied.

I would say.. you couldn't wait to take my dad until he was old? What's that about?

[Ron Obvious]

4. I'm not watching the funeral...

But in my experience, religious funerals are far more depressing than secular ones. I know, just a personal experience, but I've never attended a religious funeral where everybody was genuinely happy and upbeat that their loved one is now in Heaven.

"They don't really believe it either", is the sentiment I usually come away with.

That said, my father once attended just such a funeral where everybody was just delighted at the happy event.

It left him badly shaken.

[SusanCalvin]

5. I feel I should watch it,

But I just can't. I hope family and friends find comfort, but it is very depressing to me.