[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by jammies

Of course not, otherwise funerals would be occasions for mad dancing and celebration, not mourning and sadness. If you actually BELIEVED death was a ticket to heaven, you would be happy every time someone you knew and loved died - not sad.

Note that I'm not saying that all believers are hypocrites who know deep down their faith is a lie (although to be sure some must be). It is more a question of the desire for belief substituting for belief itself, a deliberate decision that prefers ignorance to knowledge, and for what SHOULD be true as compared to what actually is.

It's philosophy that asserts that will is the essential measure of truth. Of course, most people lack the focused will to truly set themselves up as infallible, which is why their beliefs are both shallowly rooted and fiercely defended - there is nothing so precious as something you are already barely holding on to.

I'm not sure that's true.

First of all, there are cultures in which funerals are most definitely celebrations. Another thing to remember is people are selfish. They aren't always sad because a loved one is dead and doesn't exist anymore, they are sad because the loved one's absence has a negative impact on their life.