Yesterday, I went to a wake who is a close friend of my brother's and he's sort of my friend I guess but he's closer to my brother then me because they are closer ages. I'm ten years apart from them. Anyway, when I was growing up with them and hanging out whenever I could, I got to know his family. His mom used to be a teacher aid at school, and she helped me out whenever I had trouble during studies. His brother and I used to play NES when he was baby sitting me. When I got coughed smoking,…

I was reminded a few weeks ago about another tool religions often use to recruit and keep members: scare tactics.  Unfortunately my dad passed away about a month ago.  He was spiritual, and somewhat religious, so his funeral was held at the non-denominational church he and his wife favored.  A fiery preacher whose book my dad recently read and liked “graced” us with being the keynote speaker at the service.  Given that he didn’t actually know my dad, I didn’t expect him to speak long or…

   A few weeks ago my father passed away. Like me he was an Atheist. Like me he had been one since he was a young man. I was six when I “became” one, or rather realized, like with Santa, the Easter Bunny,

ghosts and all, it was all made up.

  So in keeping with my father’s wishes we had a non-religious funeral.  I gave the eulogy. I spoke about his life.  What he had…

Yesterday was my grandmother's funeral, she was a catholic so the whole thing was organized in a catholic church. And although I should've been serious and sad and stuff (since my grandma had just died), I was first annoyed and then somewhat amused by what the priest said. Several times, he mentioned that the funeral was just a temporary goodbye, since 'we were all going to meet Bernice again in heaven'. Also, according to the priest, my grandma was at that very moment catching up with…