I am going to a funeral on Wednesday.....

[trt]

Its at a crematorium and a non religious service, what is the difference between this and a religious one?

[craft1948]

oooh er hymns, prayers, priest..............

[Mamyalynne]

Will be about the person with no religious references.

[Jan1957]

Just songs instead of hymns and readings, usually from friends and relations, not a priest, which is exactly what I would prefer as I don't believe in dog.

[mike11111]

Dog?

[Jan1957]

Exactly mike :-)

[mike11111]

Being of a religious disposition, though not fanatically so, I take a different view but don't want to start a debate, except to say that a few years ago I went to the humanist funeral of a very dear friend and found it most depressing. Incidentally, did you know that the Russian word for God is Bog? Cue for some jokes.

[Jan1957]

Sorry mike, didn't mean to offend but each to their own.

[trt]

Thanks for the reply's.

What I don't understand its at 4.30pm in the afternoon, it will be dark then.

[mike11111]

Unfortunately at crematoria you can't pick a time of your own choosing. It is literally a conveyor belt, and depends on how busy they are.

[craft1948]

I'm sorry trt but why should it matter if it's dark or light.......it's not a burial.

[starone]

It's supposed to be a celebration of the person's life. It can be as cheerful or as dreary as you want it to be.

[ethandron]

i've been to a couple of non religeous funerals, both had a humanist 'minister' to take everyone through the service. at both there was music as we went into the chapel, chosen by the family as relevant to the deceased in some way, music played again at some point, and then again at the end as we all filed out. the 'minister' had visited the home of the relatives prior to the service, just as a religeous minister would, so she could compile some sort of eulogy about the life of the deceased, which she read out.
it was very much as a religeous service apart from any mention of god, the afterlife and the singing of hymns. both were quite short services at a crematorium. the minister wore a sombre business suit and had had training to become a humanist minister.
short and sweet is how i would describe the service.

[jake-the-peg]

I still remember hearing of Graham Chapman (Monty Python's) fulneral.

I think it was anything but depressing

http://www.cardinalfa...chapman_memorial.html

I guess he probably *was* the first person to say "f u c k" at a memorial - unless anyone knows different

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsHk9WC7fnQ

[carrust]

I once went to a Catholic requiem mass. This was my 1st experience of a Catholic service. Lots of chanting & responding. Bells ringing, water flying everywhere, incense & plenty of standing up then sitting down....it lasted hours. Then we had to go onto the crematorium for another hour to finish the service off....You've got to be fit to be a Catholic....

[ummmm]

You can tell the priest to speed it up.

[ummmm]

It wasn't like that for my Dads and Uncles funeral Doc. At my Uncles funeral my cousin did a speech...it was bloody hilarious.

[Sqad]

Doc...LOL

Stop beating about the bush...do you believe in God?

I also agree "it baffles me too"..........but they are millions that it doesn´t baffle.