haha, I actually have strong christian beliefs! But I think a lot of churches are based on very trauma-inducing, shame-inducing shit that has less to do with God and more to do with bad interpretation and power. What that priest said was APPALLING. Especially because children go through a very important, incredibly life-changing stage, when they realize their parents are mortal and have to learn to deal with that. Telling them not to be SAD is like, negating that ENTIRE experience!
Also, being SAD about not being with someone doesn't have to have anything to do with accepting a higher power. If I lost my husband or child, I would be eternally sad just for missing them. Would I STILL believe they were with God? Yes, in my own way that I experience God, I would. But that doesn't ALTER my sadness. Loss is profound. You can't just believe it away. No matter what happens to loved ones after death, the sadness comes with them not BEING there. That won't change! And that's also why I think death is for the living in a lot of ways. It's for those left behind to struggle.
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winterfish
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Date: 2008-08-02 08:18 pm (UTC)Also, being SAD about not being with someone doesn't have to have anything to do with accepting a higher power. If I lost my husband or child, I would be eternally sad just for missing them. Would I STILL believe they were with God? Yes, in my own way that I experience God, I would. But that doesn't ALTER my sadness. Loss is profound. You can't just believe it away. No matter what happens to loved ones after death, the sadness comes with them not BEING there. That won't change! And that's also why I think death is for the living in a lot of ways. It's for those left behind to struggle.