Free religious consecration of life – dignity and appreciation of the unique and singular nature of life

For us as free religious people, the consecration of life means paying attention to the unique and one-of-a-kind life of a human being. So, it’s the person and their being who are consecrated, who have freely decided that their life should be honored and reflected upon. In the process, the person and their loved ones are taught the three freedoms of free religion that should accompany them on their journey through life: freedom of belief, freedom of thought, and freedom of conscience. At the same time, reflection on our connection to nature, society, and the community of free religion is at the heart of the consecration of life, in order to become aware of our freedoms and responsibilities.

For us as free religious people, the consecration of life means paying attention to the unique and one-of-a-kind life of a human being. So, it’s the person and their being who are consecrated, who have freely decided that their life should be honored and reflected upon. In the process, the person and their loved ones are taught the three freedoms of free religion that should accompany them on their journey through life: freedom of belief, freedom of thought, and freedom of conscience. At the same time, reflection on our connection to nature, society, and the community of free religion is at the heart of the consecration of life, in order to become aware of our freedoms and responsibilities.

Let us marvel at the wonder of life,
Let us respect nature, the universe, the eternal principle of becoming and passing away,
Where we feel uncertain, we can support each other,
Here, where we support each other, we can hope and work together.
For our hearts tremble with awe and reverence in the face of the indescribable, in the face of every new life that sees the light of this manifoldly beautiful world.

(Excerpt from a life dedication text)

Free religious confirmation – encouragement and affirmation in coming of age

Free religious confirmation (Latin: confirmare, “to strengthen, confirm, assure”) is a celebration in the cycle of life that is intended to strengthen young people on their path to adulthood and also to familiarize them with the religious and ideological views of the Free Religious Community. “Focus on the individual” and “religion as something inherent and deeply personal to each individual” are the guiding principles of this ceremony. It leads to membership in a religious community that is not based on dogma or restrictions on individual development.

Confirmation also signifies the acceptance of young people into the congregation as independent members. At the age of 14, they have the legally enshrined right to freely decide to join the religious community and can now participate as members in congregational meetings, for example.

The Free Religious Community of Offenbach has set itself the task of introducing young people to an open worldview characterized by human values and rational questioning. In doing so, the community aims to encourage independent thinking and promote understanding and tolerance among young people in today’s society.

In preparation for confirmation, young people are encouraged to actively participate in the ceremony and are familiarized with the principles of Free Religion, which emphasize reason, humanism, and tolerance on the path to adulthood.

In addition to several Saturday sessions (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), confirmation classes also include a four-day seminar with other communities and a weekend with the Free Religious Youth, during which a ceremony is organized.

Free religious wedding ceremony – Living together for and with each other

Weddings and marriage ceremonies in the spirit of free religion are a celebration of the promise made before the community and fellow human beings to affirm a union based on trust and love. The union is not sealed before God, but before oneself and the community in affirmation of a shared life together and for one another. We want to celebrate the “high time”: the union of two people in the indescribable nature of love, which is the strongest bond, and the mutual desire to grow and work together.

The Free Religious Community of Offenbach sees the relationship between two mature individuals based on love and trust as a need that is independent of gender and rooted in human nature. Like religion itself, the feeling of and for love, security, and sexuality is the very essence of mature human beings.

Love is the possibility of overcoming separation without denying oneself, one’s self.

(cf. Fromm, Erich: The Art of Loving)

Funeral services – memories and traces of his work

For the Community of Free Religion, the funeral service is a dignified farewell to a person who, through their actions and thoughts, has left their mark on us and our reality. Every single person has contributed to society and nature in their lifetime, has had their place in this vast structure, and remains in our memories and in the effects of their existence. This highlights the necessity of placing the deceased at the center of the funeral service, allowing the relatives to become aware of the person’s actions and interactions with others as they say their goodbyes.

The essence of the deceased, the memories shared with them, find their final resting place in the hearts and minds of those closest to them. The body returns to nature, from whence it came.

Comfort and support in these moments and times of grief do not come from paradise or the idea of life as a temporary stopover. Rather, it is important to reflect on the here and now, in which people are and remain effective through their actions. That we give and find support in each other and for each other, so that grief turns into joy in our memories when we remember the deceased and know that they live on in us and thus in the world.

[…] We all stand in awe and wonder before the indescribable mystery of nature and existence. We can follow the incomprehensible chain of events and occurrences within the limits of our understanding, and we can approach the comings and goings of existence with reverence and remembrance.

(Excerpt from a funeral speech)