Ok, I need some clarification here from the Christian Community:
By barehugs
@barehugs (8973)
Canada
December 17, 2008 10:55am CST
I dread the sight of a Christian Cemetery. A decorated graveyard is an untidy mess of wilted, faded, fabricated,and artificial objects that are supposed to represent flowers. I am not a Christian and I never go near the cemetery where my relatives are buried. The reason is.... My loved ones are not in the ground. They are in a much better place. Here is the problem I'm having is with the concept. The Church threatens Hell on one hand and promises Heaven on the other, but never mentions the loved ones who are stuck in the ground in these messy cemeteries. My question then is," how did these loved ones get stuck in this messy, untidy cemetery?" Why are they not in Heaven with God? or, for God's sake, in Hell with the Devil? If they were in either place why does the church encourage the decoration of burial sites. Of course I understand the need to remember our fore bearers, and to honor our war heroes, but the incessant and forever placing of these wilted and artificial artifices on the grave side when the intended recipient is either in Heaven (or Hell) is way beyond my understanding.
2 people like this
1 response
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
Hi barehugs, Thanks for starting this discussion and you make a very good point. Although I visit the graves of my loved ones sometimes, I know that they are not there, that what we buried was the vessel that they once occupied but laid down when it was of no further use to them. They are now free from that broken body. Apparently many people associate their loved ones with the body they buried and feel that by adorning the site they are somehow honouring their memory.It may be that in the beginning it was those people who pressured the church to provide such places where monuments of all kinds could be placed and where loved ones could place flowers etc. Blessings.
2 people like this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
It sounds more Pagan than Christian! Christians are promised a wonderful Eternity in Heaven with Jesus. The cemetery decorators apparently have no problem with their loved ones being interred forever, under the dreadful stone monuments, and totally missing out on the much promised sojourn with Jesus in heaven. What a crock that must be for the interred, as well as those who plant the artificial flowers and trim the grass around the graveside for ever, and ever, Amen.
