Does being religious make personal loss easier?

[_charity]

People who have a belief in the afterlife, statistically, are happier than than those who don't, particularly as they get older.

My grandmother died when I was about 8 or 9. I don't really remember much about the funeral. We weren't close. Then when I was an adult my husband's stepsister died and had a funeral in another church. It was not at all comforting, considering their theology. A lot of talk of hell, and all that kind of thing.

I have been to a number of LDS funerals which were celebrations of life.

[_skippy the dead]

People who have a belief in the afterlife, statistically, are happier than than those who don't, particularly as they get older.

My grandmother died when I was about 8 or 9. I don't really remember much about the funeral. We weren't close. Then when I was an adult my husband's stepsister died and had a funeral in another church. It was not at all comforting, considering their theology. A lot of talk of hell, and all that kind of thing.

I have been to a number of LDS funerals which were celebrations of life.

I've never been to a non-LDS service where talk of hell was even brought up. And I've been to more funerals than I'd like. The non-LDS funerals I have been to have celebrated the life of the departed, and allowed us to say our goodbyes. Catholic funeral masses are quite nice in particular. The LDS funerals I have attended are more gospel message centered, and less about the deceased. Not celebrations of life. But that's how the church has chosen to go (wasn't it even addressed in that "order of things" talk?). Anyhoo, just my differing opinion.

[_Abinadi's Fire]

Sorry for your loss, Bond.

[_charity]

People who have a belief in the afterlife, statistically, are happier than than those who don't, particularly as they get older.

My grandmother died when I was about 8 or 9. I don't really remember much about the funeral. We weren't close. Then when I was an adult my husband's stepsister died and had a funeral in another church. It was not at all comforting, considering their theology. A lot of talk of hell, and all that kind of thing.

I have been to a number of LDS funerals which were celebrations of life.

I've never been to a non-LDS service where talk of hell was even brought up. And I've been to more funerals than I'd like. The non-LDS funerals I have been to have celebrated the life of the departed, and allowed us to say our goodbyes. Catholic funeral masses are quite nice in particular. The LDS funerals I have attended are more gospel message centered, and less about the deceased. Not celebrations of life. But that's how the church has chosen to go (wasn't it even addressed in that "order of things" talk?). Anyhoo, just my differing opinion.

Since you brought it up, skippy, the funeral I referred to was Catholic. The priest spent a lot of time talking about how Pat's soul was in purgartory, and how only the faithful prayers of the family could release her from all that suffering. It was terrible.

The plan of salvation is very important when a person has died, because it explains the eternal nature of the person.

[_skippy the dead]

People who have a belief in the afterlife, statistically, are happier than than those who don't, particularly as they get older.

My grandmother died when I was about 8 or 9. I don't really remember much about the funeral. We weren't close. Then when I was an adult my husband's stepsister died and had a funeral in another church. It was not at all comforting, considering their theology. A lot of talk of hell, and all that kind of thing.

I have been to a number of LDS funerals which were celebrations of life.

I've never been to a non-LDS service where talk of hell was even brought up. And I've been to more funerals than I'd like. The non-LDS funerals I have been to have celebrated the life of the departed, and allowed us to say our goodbyes. Catholic funeral masses are quite nice in particular. The LDS funerals I have attended are more gospel message centered, and less about the deceased. Not celebrations of life. But that's how the church has chosen to go (wasn't it even addressed in that "order of things" talk?). Anyhoo, just my differing opinion.

Since you brought it up, skippy, the funeral I referred to was Catholic. The priest spent a lot of time talking about how Pat's soul was in purgartory, and how only the faithful prayers of the family could release her from all that suffering. It was terrible.

The plan of salvation is very important when a person has died, because it explains the eternal nature of the person.

Gack! That sounds horrible. I've been to a number of Catholic funerals, and none have gone the purgatory route. I feel bad for the family and friends. Let's hope that the ones I've been to reflect a change in policy in that regard.

[_Gadianton]

Charity, what?

Are you saying that if cousin Fred, the biker who left the church, died, that everyone would assume he wasn't in "spirit prison"?

[_The Nehor]

Charity, what?

Are you saying that if cousin Fred, the biker who left the church, died, that everyone would assume he wasn't in "spirit prison"?

Perhaps but they are going to work out their salvation and enter into glory and joy beyond our comprehension.

[_GoodK]

I've seen it often at funerals where people are reassured by the thought that their loved ones are in a "better place". That's fine -- I don't fault them for that. But, I do believe this NEED so many have to not end, or for their loved ones to live on, is something that they cling to.

I'd be interested how those that lost faith made the transition.

Hey, GoodK, were you ever a theist? Were you LDS? Was it traumatic for you to come to terms that there is no afterlife?

Hey Mon,

Yes, I was a theist for many, many years. My mom married my step dad - who was LDS - when I was young, before 8 years old, and so began my Mormon career.

I outgrew religion around age 21 and at first death was one of - if not the hardest - things for me to try and wrap my mind around. I read an amazing book that I really have to endorse here - and I don't ever do that, although I would like to - called Life After Death by Deepak Chopra. I stronly recommend this book to anyone contemplating or dealing with death.

As a more seasoned heretic, I am relieved to think that there is no eternal punisher waiting to evaluate every moment of my life, or my loved ones, for that matter.

GoodK

[_solomarineris]

Does being religious make personal loss easier?

For some, who is retarded enough to say; "she/he is in much better place than we are".
It bothered me especially when deceased was young.

Other than that , I don't see much difference. It mostly depends how the individual is
coping with the loss.

[_Doctor Steuss]

For some, who is retarded enough to say; "she/he is in much better place than we are".

I'm trying to figure out what could be done to make this more offensive; as of yet I am at a loss.