>I have an interesting question for the list: What should you tell
>a child when a close relative dies? Is it better to confort them
>with tales of angels in fluffy clouds or tell them the harsh secular
>truth, or is there another alternative?
I agree with Wade -- memories are important. You might also point out
that, in addition to memes, often their gene's live on in their
family. "You've got his eyes".
I find it interesting that many religious comforts basically amount to
"denial", in the psychological sense. i.e. religions stop the
grieving process at it's beginning!
ERiC