lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,172
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Jul 6, 2014 21:50:44 GMT
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Post by lesley on Sept 15, 2017 17:32:37 GMT
For the last year or two, I have wanted to train to become a humanist celebrant. I have been to a few humanist funerals, and found the experience far more personal and... satisfying, I suppose, than most religious funerals I have attended. I have investigated the training, but cannot afford it at this point. I had resigned myself to postponing it until next year, when I should be in a better position financially. DD22 and DS19 came to me a couple of hours ago and told me that they, and DD's GF, want to pay for my training as an early birthday present. (My birthday is next month.) I am absolutely speechless. Both that they know just how much I want to do this, and that they are willing to pay a not insubstantial amount of money in order that I can. I love the three of them so much! I am about to email the humanist society who offer the training to see when I can start (assuming they accept my application of course!)
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Post by dizzycheermom on Sept 15, 2017 17:34:29 GMT
That's a wonderful gift! I'm not familiar with this at all - can you explain?
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,760
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Sept 15, 2017 17:35:14 GMT
I'm so thrilled for you lesley. Sounds very interesting.
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schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
Jun 28, 2014 0:26:58 GMT
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Post by schizo319 on Sept 15, 2017 17:35:36 GMT
That's so exciting and so generous of your kids! Congrats, and happy early birthday!
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Post by burningfeather on Sept 15, 2017 17:36:09 GMT
Congratulations. What a thoughtful gift.
I would also be interested in hearing more about this. I've never heard of it.
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River
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,508
Location: Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
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Post by River on Sept 15, 2017 17:39:51 GMT
I've also never heard of this, please tell us more about it! Your kids are amazing, what a wonderful thing they are doing for you! Happy Early Birthday!
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Post by Chips on Sept 15, 2017 17:42:01 GMT
That is awesome and congratulations!
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Sept 15, 2017 18:01:54 GMT
That's so wonderful!
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Post by Restless Spirit on Sept 15, 2017 18:16:54 GMT
How exciting! I've never heard the term before and had to look it up. I've always wondered about how/who a non-religious funeral ceremony was performed. "Good without a god". I really like that sentiment. Please tell us more.
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Post by KelleeM on Sept 15, 2017 18:18:59 GMT
I'm so happy for you and your kids are so thoughtful! I'd also love to hear more about what this is.
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Post by mom on Sept 15, 2017 18:21:11 GMT
What a wonderful gift!
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Post by GamGam on Sept 15, 2017 18:38:50 GMT
How special for you that your kids have honored you this way. So heartwarming ❤️. And Happy Birthday!🎂
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Post by chitchatgirl on Sept 15, 2017 18:39:55 GMT
I looked this up because I've never heard of it. I really hope this isn't offensive sounding because it is absolutely not meant to be...but is this what they talk about when you hear someone say, "our friend XYZ got ordained online, so they're performing our wedding"?
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Post by gillyp on Sept 15, 2017 18:50:03 GMT
Good luck, lesley, what a wonderful present for you. I totally agree that humanist funerals are more "satisfying". They are so much more personal imho.
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
Posts: 3,073
Jun 27, 2014 4:11:36 GMT
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Sept 15, 2017 18:53:28 GMT
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jayfab
Drama Llama
procastinating
Posts: 5,521
Jun 26, 2014 21:55:15 GMT
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Post by jayfab on Sept 15, 2017 18:53:54 GMT
What a wonderful considerate gift. I'm happy for you. I can't wait to hear more about this.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Sept 15, 2017 19:00:21 GMT
Very interesting! It's quite a beautiful gift they gave you. The gentleman who did my mom's funeral also did my wedding years ago, too. I wish you the best of luck in this new venture. I hope you are amazingly successful!
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Post by uksue on Sept 15, 2017 19:00:43 GMT
I looked this up because I've never heard of it. I really hope this isn't offensive sounding because it is absolutely not meant to be...but is this what they talk about when you hear someone say, "our friend XYZ got ordained online, so they're performing our wedding"? Not necessarily . The humanist is a recognisable ceremony whereas I've been to the most bizzare weddings performed by some people 'ordained online.'
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,172
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Jul 6, 2014 21:50:44 GMT
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Post by lesley on Sept 15, 2017 19:01:07 GMT
Okay, for those of you who are not familiar with the term humanism, I've lifted this brief explanation from Humanists UK.
Throughout recorded history there have been non-religious people who have believed that this life is the only life we have, that the universe is a natural phenomenon with no supernatural side, and that we can live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. They have trusted to the scientific method, evidence, and reason to discover truths about the universe and have placed human welfare and happiness at the centre of their ethical decision making.
Today, people who share these beliefs and values are called humanists and this combination of attitudes is called Humanism. Many millions of people in Britain share this way of living and of looking at the world, but many of them have not heard the word ‘humanist’ and don’t realise that it describes what they believe.
A humanist celebrant conducts funerals, weddings, and naming ceremonies ( like christenings). They more or less take the role of a minister, leading the ceremony, discussing and celebrating the life of the deceased (in funerals, obviously). They spend time with the family, learning about the person, and helping to facilitate the type of funeral they want, working alongside an undertaker/funeral director. The key part is that the ceremony is not religious. I have been to religious funerals, which have been very anonymous when the deceased was not a religious person, church member etc. If there is no family member willing or able to deliver a eulogy, then that anonymity can make a sad occasion even sadder. Humanist funerals meet a need for people who don't want religion, but want more than just a graveside 'goodbye'.
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,172
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Jul 6, 2014 21:50:44 GMT
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Post by lesley on Sept 15, 2017 19:03:27 GMT
I looked this up because I've never heard of it. I really hope this isn't offensive sounding because it is absolutely not meant to be...but is this what they talk about when you hear someone say, "our friend XYZ got ordained online, so they're performing our wedding"? In a word... no!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 20:42:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2017 19:25:23 GMT
So nice! What a loving gesture from them to you❣
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Post by polz on Sept 15, 2017 19:38:20 GMT
How exciting for you to have your dream come true. Very lovely.
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Post by jennyap on Sept 15, 2017 19:45:29 GMT
How lovely!
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Post by hop2 on Sept 15, 2017 23:56:29 GMT
I looked this up because I've never heard of it. I really hope this isn't offensive sounding because it is absolutely not meant to be...but is this what they talk about when you hear someone say, "our friend XYZ got ordained online, so they're performing our wedding"? No it's just a secular way of educating people to lead secular non religious yet milestone activities with a focus on the humans involved without a religious piece. I'm pretty sure the training is rather intensive because you need to learn how to respond to people during life altering moments with humanity and absolutely no religion. In many ways it more difficult than a religious leader responding to or leading these milestone lifetime events as the humanist will not have the crutch of rote scripture to fall back on. I even know some spiritual people who prefer to have humanist ceremonies because it can become so much more personal.?
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Post by hop2 on Sept 15, 2017 23:57:32 GMT
lesley how exciting! What a wonderful gift!!
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Post by burningfeather on Sept 16, 2017 0:05:54 GMT
That sounds very interesting. And with more and more people moving away from religion or organized religion, there's a real need for these types of services. I know that when we got married, we hired someone to perform it and he was willing to perform it with any level of religion - or none - that we wanted. It was important to us to have something more than a Justice of the Peace because we wanted a ceremony, but yet we didn't want something religious. I can definitely understand people wanting the same type of thing for a funeral. Without someone like that, a family wanting a nonreligious funeral could feel very . . . (I can't think of the right word, but alone, aloft, etc. comes to mind).
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Post by chitchatgirl on Sept 16, 2017 1:00:51 GMT
Okay, for those of you who are not familiar with the term humanism, I've lifted this brief explanation from Humanists UK. Throughout recorded history there have been non-religious people who have believed that this life is the only life we have, that the universe is a natural phenomenon with no supernatural side, and that we can live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. They have trusted to the scientific method, evidence, and reason to discover truths about the universe and have placed human welfare and happiness at the centre of their ethical decision making.
Today, people who share these beliefs and values are called humanists and this combination of attitudes is called Humanism. Many millions of people in Britain share this way of living and of looking at the world, but many of them have not heard the word ‘humanist’ and don’t realise that it describes what they believe.
A humanist celebrant conducts funerals, weddings, and naming ceremonies ( like christenings). They more or less take the role of a minister, leading the ceremony, discussing and celebrating the life of the deceased (in funerals, obviously). They spend time with the family, learning about the person, and helping to facilitate the type of funeral they want, working alongside an undertaker/funeral director. The key part is that the ceremony is not religious. I have been to religious funerals, which have been very anonymous when the deceased was not a religious person, church member etc. If there is no family member willing or able to deliver a eulogy, then that anonymity can make a sad occasion even sadder. Humanist funerals meet a need for people who don't want religion, but want more than just a graveside 'goodbye'. This makes more sense than what I googled then. What I read made no sense and didn't really say much other than it doesn't involve religion. You learn something new everyday!
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Sept 16, 2017 1:09:17 GMT
That was interesting. I'm glad you shared it. And your kids are so thoughtful! Enjoy your training!
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Post by gar on Sept 16, 2017 9:47:14 GMT
What a lovely surprise!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 20:42:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2017 10:07:15 GMT
What a thoughtful gift lesley Hope you enjoy your training.
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