sheer hypocrisy
Last week I objected when asked to read a psalm at my grandmother's funeral. It's all very well when you stand in the congregation not contributing to the Lord's Prayer, but [disregarding the whole fear factor], reading it from the front of the church feels like advocating words which, from the bottom of my godless soul, I reject.
The arguments, of course, were that I should take comfort from the spirit of the words, and that I had no right to deny the people who did believe, and that granny loved the 23rd Psalm. I couldn't counter those arguments, but when Spengy declared that he would read the psalm, I was quite happy. Then of course I landed the job of writing and reading the eulogy, but that's another story.
Today I nipped across the road to swear the affidavit for my divorce. The solicitor gave me a bible to hold, and asked me to swear by almighty god that blah blah blah.
I took comfort from the spirit of the words.
A very neat summation that.
robin · February 19, 2004 12:02When we were getting married, I told the priest I was a damned (hah!) atheist and therefore wouldn't believe any of the stuff I was saying (for the benefit of the future Mrs.D.)
He said he'd leave it to my conscience. I just held back from saying I didn't have one of those, either.
Can we have a quasi-religious theme for tomorrow's cocktails, then?
Mr.D. · February 19, 2004 12:46Soon as someone can show me which internal organ is the soul I'll believe it exists. Until then I'll just smirk.
D · February 19, 2004 14:18Since Victorian times, the courts have permitted affirmation of affidavits, without any reference to a deity, instead of swearing on the bible or other religious book.
tucola · February 19, 2004 14:34