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Aaron's funeral
Aug. 29th, 2008 12:09 pmI saw many people at Aaron's funeral who I haven't seen in six years or more. One high-school or college-age girl approached Rachel and I, and we realized when we saw her last, she was a small child. Now she has two eyebrow rings, earlobe spreaders, and many tatoos. So naturally I gave her my Penguicon business card and told her she should attend and it will be fun.
It was Rachel's mission, continued from her visit to the viewing, to loudly announce to as many as possible whatever controversial differences they have with each other in their private lives.
The service was at Aaron's church. Several Baptist preachers spoke. My dad was first. Naturally, he teared up. This did not surprise me because in all the years I listened to him, the sermons in which he cried were far more common than those in which he did not. Also, as usual, he had the audience rolling in the aisles with laughter.
The best thing about the service, in my view, was that the departed spoke. They recorded one of Aaron's sermons to the sunday school/youth group, and played excerpts. He spoke of how we're living in the end times, and that he doesn't know when the Rapture will happen. He said he didn't know when he was going to die. He said he was going to be in Heaven. I may not agree with any of his wacked-out comic-book mythology, but I would rather hear what he has to say from his own voice at his own funeral, so I greatly approved of it.
Aaron's pastor spoke. Not all of what he said was for encouragement, comfort, and celebration of Aaron's life. Some of his points were that all of us are depraved, and the world is a wretched hive of scum and villainy.
They really don't see that as misanthropy. If that's not misanthropy, nothing is.
He also said that if we don't convert to his religion, today is not "so long" but "goodbye forever". He spoke at great length and specificity about the fires of Hell. He said Aaron had relatives and co-workers present who are at risk of suffering an eternity of pain, regret and shame. He promised an alternative of worship, service, and other sycophantic groveling to a heavenly authority figure. Forever. Then he had an alter call.
I am so glad to be out of that world.
It was Rachel's mission, continued from her visit to the viewing, to loudly announce to as many as possible whatever controversial differences they have with each other in their private lives.
The service was at Aaron's church. Several Baptist preachers spoke. My dad was first. Naturally, he teared up. This did not surprise me because in all the years I listened to him, the sermons in which he cried were far more common than those in which he did not. Also, as usual, he had the audience rolling in the aisles with laughter.
The best thing about the service, in my view, was that the departed spoke. They recorded one of Aaron's sermons to the sunday school/youth group, and played excerpts. He spoke of how we're living in the end times, and that he doesn't know when the Rapture will happen. He said he didn't know when he was going to die. He said he was going to be in Heaven. I may not agree with any of his wacked-out comic-book mythology, but I would rather hear what he has to say from his own voice at his own funeral, so I greatly approved of it.
Aaron's pastor spoke. Not all of what he said was for encouragement, comfort, and celebration of Aaron's life. Some of his points were that all of us are depraved, and the world is a wretched hive of scum and villainy.
They really don't see that as misanthropy. If that's not misanthropy, nothing is.
He also said that if we don't convert to his religion, today is not "so long" but "goodbye forever". He spoke at great length and specificity about the fires of Hell. He said Aaron had relatives and co-workers present who are at risk of suffering an eternity of pain, regret and shame. He promised an alternative of worship, service, and other sycophantic groveling to a heavenly authority figure. Forever. Then he had an alter call.
I am so glad to be out of that world.
