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poliphiloMy sister-in-law's brother died yesterday. I didn't know him well, but I liked him. He was eccentric and counter-cultural and lived by his own rules. He was 51.
I have reached the age at which it is no longer startling when a contemporary drops dead.
Brandon wasn't religious. I don't know what the family will finally decide, but my sister in law is mildly uneasy at the prospect of having a clergy-person officiate. I did a Google search and discovered something I didn't know before, that it is possible to book a non-religious celebrant through the Registry Office. Excellent. I've let Ailz know that when I get called to the choir invisible I want a Registry Office Person to wave me off.
It's not that I'm Godless. I believe in God right enough. Though Goddess suits me better. No, it's dogma I want to steer clear of. I don't think anyone knows with certainty what happens to a person after death, and I don't fancy having some sectarian breathing his/her personal opinions or party dogma over my sainted remains.
Call me Agnostic. I think of Agnosticism as a positive thing. What's so shameful about admitting you don't have the answers? None of us can actually prove our beliefs. Faith divides; acknowledgement of ignorance unites. I know nuthin and you know nuthin- we all know nuthin together.
I have reached the age at which it is no longer startling when a contemporary drops dead.
Brandon wasn't religious. I don't know what the family will finally decide, but my sister in law is mildly uneasy at the prospect of having a clergy-person officiate. I did a Google search and discovered something I didn't know before, that it is possible to book a non-religious celebrant through the Registry Office. Excellent. I've let Ailz know that when I get called to the choir invisible I want a Registry Office Person to wave me off.
It's not that I'm Godless. I believe in God right enough. Though Goddess suits me better. No, it's dogma I want to steer clear of. I don't think anyone knows with certainty what happens to a person after death, and I don't fancy having some sectarian breathing his/her personal opinions or party dogma over my sainted remains.
Call me Agnostic. I think of Agnosticism as a positive thing. What's so shameful about admitting you don't have the answers? None of us can actually prove our beliefs. Faith divides; acknowledgement of ignorance unites. I know nuthin and you know nuthin- we all know nuthin together.
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no subject
Date: 2005-05-12 08:14 am (UTC)I understand this, because my father (who will be 58 this year) is often feeling sad and shocked at how so many people from his high school class have died.
Call me Agnostic. I think of Agnosticism as a positive thing. What's so shameful about admitting you don't have the answers? None of us can actually prove our beliefs. Faith divides; acknowledgement of ignorance unites. I know nuthin and you know nuthin- we all know nuthin together.
I love that. And I agree. I'm more of an agnostic too, though my family is Jewish. I'd like to truly believe that there is a God, but frankly, I don't understand how clergy men (and women) can be so sure. Faith definitely divides, it's sad how many religious leaders don't see this, or don't know how to remedy these sorts of arguments between people of different religions.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-12 08:33 am (UTC)I was reading an article the other day which suggested that instead of talking about "people of faith" and "communities of faith" we should talk about "people of superstition" and "communities of superstition". Faith is held up as a glorious ideal, but I think it is much more glorious (and human) to question everything.