Does Anyone Actually Listen To What Is Being Said At Religious Ceremonies?

[naomi24]

I went to a Christian funeral today, and listening to the words of committal, realised they don’t make sense. Here they are:

//We have entrusted our brother/sister to God's mercy,
and we now commit his/her body to be cremated:
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust:
in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life.//

What is ‘sure and certain hope’? How can ‘hope’ be either sure or certain? Any offers?

[naomi24]

Birdie, //I have heard that, “sure and certain hope” quote many, many times and I've never given it a second thought. //

Me too – and nor me. I don't know what made it click yesterday - perhaps listening to a dreadfully droning priest with a fondness for interminable prayers - and a lofty penchant for emulating the statue of Christ the Redeemer.

[sandyRoe]

Doesn't 'sure and certain' have a better ring to it than, say, 'tentative and dithering'?

[RATTER15]

That reminds me of this quote

THE BIBLE - To most Christians, the Bible is like a software license. Nobody actually reads it. They just scroll to the bottom and click "I Agree"

[jomifl]

Ratter :-) perfect.

[naomi24]

Yes indeed. :o)

[idiosyncrasy]

Ratter //THE BIBLE - To most Christians, the Bible is like a software license. Nobody actually reads it. They just scroll to the bottom and click "I Agree" //

Do they? I have read it. Difficult to understand I agree, but I have read it and now reading it again.

Modeller@ There is great value in having funeral instructions clearly stated prior to one’s death. When a person has put in writing his personal instructions regarding his funeral arrangements, it is much easier to reason with family members, since they are likely to respect the wishes of the deceased. How the funeral should be conducted, where it should take place, and who should have the sole authority to organize and hold it are important details that need to be put in writing.

But with reference to the OP.

As it is many years since I attended a funeral held in a church I can't say I recall what was actually said. The last two funerals I went to were not religious ceremonies. Only a talk was given basically outlining the deceased's life & what kind of person they were.

[margie04]

birdie - you might be right about the woolly translation. Chambers gives 'confidence' as one of the meanings of 'hope' , which is more what believers feel, perhaps.

[beso]

The hope is quite certain.

Whether that hope is fulfilled is not what is not certain.

[goodlife]

To listen, also means, to consider seriously. Many today do not fully understand what God is saying about certain matters, so do not take his words seriously. They follow their own ideas.so, they do not listen when God speaks.
True Christians see the wisdom of the Scriptural: Better is vexation than laughter, for by the crossness of the face the heart becomes better.” (Eccl. 7:3) Moreover, they know the benefits of quietly reflecting on the shortness of life and the hope of the resurrection.

Yes, to those who have a strong personal relationship with Jehovah, ‘the day of death is better than the day of their birth.’ (Eccl. 7:1)

[naomi24]

beso, do you mean it's certain that they're hoping? ;o)

[RATTER15]

//Yes, to those who have a strong personal relationship with Jehovah, ‘the day of death is better than the day of their birth.’ (Eccl. 7:1)//

Well Goodlife, what you waiting for!!?

[craft1948]

At my grandad's funeral the clergyman said "I knew George well".
Either he was a) lying, or b) spent most of his life in the pub..............

[jomifl]

GL, I do hope for your sake that you are one of those 'true christians' I have a sneaking suspicion that very few christians are 'true' however and that your disingenuity puts you amongst that unenviable and.