Thank you. I get their email news letters, though I am not a member, so I do know that but sometimes I forget.

You are very brave to go against history by going it alone

With respect we do actually all believe in something even if it is Popeye and spice in foods. What is wrong with formally telling people what that list is . I have received benefit from airing my opinions and of course accept that mine are changing all the time. One also does have to put up with making a few enemies but that is the nature of Human change - I just wish it wasn't so confrontational, having clearer statements of belief.

And you are welcome, you are just as free to keep your atheism private, as people are welcome to keep their religion private if they wish. (Though they often don't.) But I think that we do have to be greatful, to those secularists who are willing to organize, since government and the media mainly only respect organized oppinions, and without some organized voice, we give the debate, and the lions share of the power, to the religions by default.

@Fernapple We take power away from them by ignoring them.

@barjoe Yes your situation in the US is the exact opposite of ours here of course. In that, in the US the churches have a lot of popular support, but, in theory at least, no political power, and are using their popular base to push for political power. Where here in the UK they have a lot of historical political power, but almost no popular support, and they are trying to use that political power to win popular support.

Mr trump has shown us how false and organised beliefs can be dangerous but not all of them are in his league. Society is still progressing despite Donald possibly being woken up by the atrocities he has dared to uncover. He is a big blip and fooler in History , but he will soon be history himself

@Fernapple A good "summing up".

Yes I agree about the need not to basically give up the floor to religions in all issues, just by default, being very important.

I am glad to hear that you were well pleased with the celebrant, I have no personal experience with them, but I do know that the religious/Christian celebrants vary a great deal , and I have gone to services where to whole thing was very bad indeed, even after you allowed for the Christian content. I would imagine that the Humanist celebrants may well be more conscientious, and are more likely to put in the effort needed, to create something which really refers to the departed's life in a meaningful way.