March 21, 2008...2:12 pm
Heaven, Hell and the Funerals in between
I am a huge StumbleUpon user and I am generally amazed about how this little add on to Firefox can pick out some of the most poignant sites to present to me. Understandably, I have fed it several thousands of thumbs up and thumbs down so it probably knows me better than I know myself. Scary in a way. But sometimes it pops up something that really isn’t in my interest but fits in a timely way with my life.
This morning I stumbled upon this blog posting by someone named Tobasco De Gama. For those too lazy to click the link and read the short blog, the blogger talks about funerals and atheism. He basically talks about how his grandfather died recently and there were essentially two eulogies at the funeral - one by a family friend who described a man who loved his kids and grandkids, his stubbornness and how he was loved by family and another by a preacher who proclaimed the greatness of heaven and how the deceased deathbed conversion was the best decision he ever made.
Now this particular blog was relevant to me because earlier this week someone from company I work with passed. I did not really know her well but a good friend of mine did and it impacted him. I heard from several people (and based on the limited interaction I had with her) that she was an extraordinary person. Now normally I take that with a grain of salt because after someone dies even the biggest asshole becomes a saint in some people’s eyes. But I don’t think that was the case here. I know she was pretty active in a church community and after reading this I wonder if a preacher gave a similar speech at her funeral.
I understand the heaven thing is a device used to ease the pain of losing someone. It helps to think they are better off that way. Personally I think once we leave this mortal coil that’s it. Dirt nap. But I guess my main concern with a speech like that is that it reduces any of your actions in life and trumps them all with your belief. Tobasco’s grandfather… if he didn’t convert on his deathbed, would he not be worthy of heaven (if there is one)? The fact that he sacrificed for his family and country means nothing in light of belief. This woman at work…if she was not a member of the church community, would the great things she did with her family and those she worked with meant nothing? What if she wasn’t a member of the church community but an atheist that volunteered with a charity? It means nothing according to that eulogy. It’s that type of thinking that puts Hitler in heaven (as long as he repented) and Arthur C Clarke (RIP) in hell.
Nothing is wrong with faith but religion fucks it all up. Why does your impact on others and the world have little to no bearing in religion? It makes no sense. Irene Walker will be missed because of how she interacted with those around her. That puts her in heaven for those than knew her and I can only hope that the church was convinced enough of her faith to put her there too.
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