Well, something about this story of "Life Celebrants" reminded me of the way death was changed in that old movie and of the way folks today are searching to know what to do with death -- when they have no religious faith in which to frame it. The truth is it all sounds sick and the idea of life celebrant helping us transition the death of our loved ones makes me gag. And I particularly object to funeral homes pushing these on people (no, you say, they are not pushing these but merely providing a service? Except that these folks allow the funeral home industry to control everything and not just the remains. Lord knows, I have faced enough funeral homes with their own idea of what needs to be done at the funeral to know that clergy are often seen as outsiders to a process and service which is seen as best handled, in all its facets, by professional insiders.
Well, you read it and tell me I am going off the deep end needlessly.... again! Celebrants make funerals more personal...
4 comments:
Life Celebrant O'Brien charges
$200 to 300 dollars for his story-
telling. This is a travesty for
every pastor who conducts funerals
for his church members at no charge.
Another variant of this approach is
the "Celebration of Life" which
funeral homes offer. There is no
worship service at the funeral home
just a "meet and greet" event. Here
there are videos on the deceased
as well as photos and keepsake
items on display.
Yes, these so-called celebrations of life are sickening. No hope. No forgiveness of sins. No Christ. There's nothing like a good Christian funeral with hymns, Bible, sermon, and rejoicing in the resurrection of Jesus.
Experience has taught me that 'celebration of life' is a euphemism for hiding from death and keeping it as far away from as possible. And so instead of a funeral, which causes us to face the reality of our mortality, we have a farce, a myoptic euology in place of the declaration of the fulfillment of God's promise of life eternal.
These faux funerals are not only a product of a faithless godless culture but of a culture that views anything that makes us unhappy as a sin, even the healthy reactions to our circumstances as grief, and mourning.
I would prefer to celebrate my life while I am still around to enjoy the event.
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