JPA tries to force you to select a denomination, so people who identify as Christian but don’t attend a particular church are likely under reported.
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You obviously haven’t tried selecting “humanist”. That’s buried deep. I remember having to use a guide to help me find the option when I first logged it a decade ago. Hopefully it’s a bit easier now.
We could all play the game of insisting people aren’t being reported optimally and so all the stats are flawed. Those who aren’t religious don’t tend to think of recording anything because lots of them don’t spend much time wondering how they should now classify themselves.
I was at best “none” and nothing more defined than that for years because I simply wasn’t aware of any positive labels that described me.
If you positively subscribe to a religion, you’ll have enough of a label to ensure you’re recorded pretty accurately.
But if these differences really matter, that’s probably extra evidence for the great leveller that is a secular ceremony. Aaaaaand we’re back around! 
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The CWGC have several links to style / requirements for gravestones.
The original design contest & discussions are quite interesting.
There was concern, especially amongst Church of England clerics, that the stone of Remembrance was too secular. So the Commission devised the ‘Cross of Sacrifice’ for majority-Christian cemeteries.
Religious symbols are certainly specified.
Each headstone will be inscribed with the details of the individual, including name, rank, awards, service number, religious emblem and a personal inscription provided by the family. You will likely also see a regimental crest or badge at the top of each headstone.
There are other, more personal, elements.
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I think it’s a really nice way of doing it.
Although classic church — “too secular. Gotta force our image all over it!”
Just out of curiosity - how do other commonwealth nations make remembrance Sunday?
Do the Canadians or the Australians have a religious aspect? The reason I ask is that the church isn’t as part of their governance structure as it is in the UK.
(Vrery slight thread drift)
What happens in the USA when politics & religion meet up…
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Isn’t this what happens when you dump all the people who thought Cromwell wasn’t puritan enough into another continent?
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Participation of CAF members on memorial parades - in KRs:
- An officer or non-commissioned member shall not be required to attend a parade that is primarily devoted to a religious service unless, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), it is in connection with Remembrance Day ceremonies, Battle of Britain Sunday, Battle of the Atlantic Sunday, a military funeral or a service of a civic or memorial nature.
From legislation (this one is Manitoba), retail business (with soem exceptions) prohibited 0900-1300, &
An employee in a retail business establishment may refuse to work on Remembrance Day,
Interesting CAF memorial guide.
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“We won’t force you unless it’s one of the events you probably already care about”
So tolerant!
At no point do policymakers start by asking “now, why might people not want to attend one of our core events, and what could we do to address that and improve genuine engagement?”
Having attended many Remembrance parades in many varied locations, as a civilian, serviceman, veteran and CFAV, the vast difference is mind boggling. Some have been very brief at the graves of servicemen, others long and tiresome.
Two that are burned in my memory are, both from my time as a regular but several years apart:
Formed up in car park, marched approximately 2 miles to the large church in middle of the town, full Sunday service with visiting clergy of various faiths and denominations, Act of Remembrance (small memorial is in the church), sermon about a local man who had died a few months previous in a motorcycle accident but “deserved to be remembered alongside those who had died on the battlefield”, communion, Sunday School joined everyone in church for final hymn, exit church, march to the large War Memorial (approximately 1 mile) to lay wreaths, march to RBL club for refreshments. Around 4 hours! Glad I was much younger, not sure how some of the more senior veterans coped.
Small European cemetery with 3 or 4 RAF graves in one corner (immaculately maintained by the locals), a small party of dignitaries (mayor, police chief etc) with a colour party provided by the nation’s army and a RAFA standard, Army bugler. Only about 25 people total. Very brief ceremony laying wreaths (RAF, RAFA, local town), Fire Cadets placing a candle on each grave, last post & reveille. Very very poignant! Followed by civic reception in town hall the memory of which is slightly cloudy due to never having an empty glass….
Probably the most extreme opposites, both had dignity and respect, the former very religious the latter not at all but each seemed appropriate to the location.
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Yes they maybe a religious leader who has gone through the same process however our organisation every officer has gone through the same process, every NCO through theirs and CI’s through theirs. As an officer, I could know the OC Wing from being a cadet and the Regional Commandant through my interest in aviation. In theory especially at first point of contact there could be a breakdown, nothing was reported as I know x and he is alright etc. The DBS and SC isn’t fool proof.
That aside it is each to their own with religion/ none realistically we can only do so much, the local RBL will pay a part in how they expect services to be conducted out of interest and this is a serious question with the King being head of the Church of England and patron of the RBL would you prefer to split from the RBL parade entirely and have your own Remembrance parade at a monument of meaning?
The lighting of those candles is a nice touch. Something that can work quite well for both the religious and non-religious if you don’t give it any particular dressing.
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“Each to his own” is something I hear a lot of people express as their view, but it just doesn’t translate to a neutral and inclusive playing field.
I don’t think we have to “break” with the RBL. Our location doesn’t even have that link.
But this year we achieved our success precisely by deliberately breaking existing connections that didn’t want to adopt a more inclusive approach. The majority moved and left the minority to it.
It’s realistic that many locations would face having to split, as we did. Entrenched power and privilege means that without co-ordinated pressure, things won’t change.
But never underestimate the power that many of us hold. Cadet forces are often the only ones to make a local parade happen, meaning we have a lot of influence. If the parade were to take a stand and do their own thing, most civilians (to say nothing of those who are staff and parents — normally a very healthy number of spectators) will go with it.
Like with our example, I imagine many places would only need to find themselves doing one quiet remembrance event having lost loads of people to the fanfare of a military parade and they’ll quickly have to accept what actually brings the punters to an event.
This is why things ultimately need to change though. The built-in privilege means it’s virtually impossible to simply start your own thing, unless you have a suitable memorial that happens to be empty at 11.
Organisations need to adopt a stance in support of inclusion.
We made the national site! Pretty chuffed about that, won’t lie.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/news/hawker-blackburn-air-cadets-deliver-an-inclusive-remembrance/
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I’m guessing all the cadets and staff who want religion removed from RAFAC will be giving Christmas a miss this year?
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Im trying my god damn hardest.
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I have no issues with Christmas… i dont like the commercialisation of it.
Its a time of family, and exchanging gifts… not going into debt.
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A very interesting point you raise.
The problem is that a religion can’t bake itself into the national cultural calendar in the way we have here and then maintain a monopoly on what the festival means to people.
Sure, for that very broad umbrella of “Christian”, it still has the religious bit, but for everyone else, we do Christmas trees (which are a Pagan thing) and we meet up with family and friends (very secular and every-day) and do mulled wine and mince pies (om nom nom)…
Unfortunately, Christians don’t have a monopoly on Christmas. It’s roots (the bits that weren’t co-opted from pre-existing cultural practices, at least) may be Christian, but now it belongs to us all and we’re all free to re-shape it as we like.
Much like the English language is now incredibly diverse, owned by many other peoples and shaped by their unique cultures.
I personally do the Martin Lewis no presents pre-nup thing. Huge stress off!
You mean as it’s done in the UK and other countries, and different celebrations on different dates? Remember, if you have no religion in some countries means you risk a very nasty end.
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve put there, but I think I may have missed your point. Apologies. Would you mind clarifying?
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