As an atheist RIP means little to me. I find myself responding to RIP threads with my feelings but as I believe once you’re gone that’s it, so no sympathy for the dead but empathy, I hope, for those close to the deceased.
What does that actually mean? I’ve been at funerals that have been celebratory and those that have been contemplative. At all I have behaved appropriately. I have never tried to be “fun”. I have though tried to be supportive of the bereaved.
As an atheist RIP means little to me. I find myself responding to RIP threads with my feelings but as I believe once you’re gone that’s it, so no sympathy for the dead but empathy, I hope, for those close to the deceased.
Thanks for sharing that.
Do you buy/receive Christmas presents? Or have you ever eaten an Easter Egg?
I ask because although some things may have their origins in religion - and may still be seen as wholly religious by many - for others there are no religious connotations at all.
I don't consider myself religious at all, but I still buy my kids presents at Christmas time because for me it is a family occasion and tradition rather than a religious homage.
Rest in peace (RIP) is in no way a religious expression.
I don’t personally use it as it seems a bit short of me expressing my feelings.
If it’s someone I know or care about, I’ll say why, for me, their death matters. If I don’t know them personally or, to use an example, the death of David Bowie, which I did care about, then I will not comment,
Each to their own.
An RIP is a mark of respect no matter how strong. To suggest it is religious was a mistake I think from @iainment, but I do agree that it can be overused which I think was what he was trying to say.
My dad, who was an atheist as am I, said it stood for Return If Possible.
I prefer the Jewish greetings at funerals of Long Life and May their memory be a blessing but each to their own.
RIP is a neat shorthand and I'm happy to use it.
Yes.... but actually, us Jews are much more clerical than individual or spiritual. The use the word 'died' is not tidy enough and shock horror may imply shared destiny with the rest of humanity let alone the living world. We use the Hebrew word 'Niftar' meaning: 'exempted', been 'let off'... The idea is that now the lucky sod is no longer required to perform the deeds that makes him a good Jew (all 513 of them so it's a bit of a score...) and could be filed away properly
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RIP
I prefer the Jewish greetings at funerals of Long Life and May their memory be a blessing but each to their own.
RIP is a neat shorthand and I'm happy to use it.
Do you buy/receive Christmas presents? Or have you ever eaten an Easter Egg?
I ask because although some things may have their origins in religion - and may still be seen as wholly religious by many - for others there are no religious connotations at all.
I don't consider myself religious at all, but I still buy my kids presents at Christmas time because for me it is a family occasion and tradition rather than a religious homage.
Each to their own.
Funny old world.
The use the word 'died' is not tidy enough and shock horror may imply shared destiny with the rest of humanity let alone the living world.
We use the Hebrew word 'Niftar' meaning: 'exempted', been 'let off'...
The idea is that now the lucky sod is no longer required to perform the deeds that makes him a good Jew (all 513 of them so it's a bit of a score...) and could be filed away properly
So the rest of you lot are all going to die !!!
I'm getting a note from the Rabi