ettiquette question on religious service .. to sing/mouth words or not ?

[yaddayah]

My FIL sadly died last week, i didn't think his family were religious, but MIL has said there will be a "proper" ceremony at the crematorium, with hymns and prayers, i've always been an athiest, and have no idea, what i should do with regard to prayers/singing, do i mumble,sing/say the words or stay silent with head bowed (my prefered option) or is that rude ?

The last thing i want to do is cause offence to anyone at what will be a difficult enough occasion as it is

Please help mn'ers !

TIA

[ceolas]

So sorry for your loss, yaddayah.

I really don't think anyone will notice and you should do what you feel comfortable with. Even at church, there are 'regulars' who don't sing or join in.

[Tortington]

no one sings hymns at funerals dont worry. a few people give it a go - but mostly people are too stunned or havent been to church in dogs.

[Marina]

I think it is perfectly OK for you to keep silent during prayers and hymns if you are an atheist. Just keep your head bowed if you think it is possible someone might make a remark about it, but as a Christian I'd never expect an atheist or someone from a different faith to say prayers they don't believe
Am very sorry you lost your FIL

[yaddayah]

thanks, feel less panicky now !

[frances5]

yaddayah, I'm sorry about your loss.

Don't worry if you don't want to say the prayers or join in. Quiet comtemplation at a funeral is very normal even among christians.

[Iklboo]

yaddayah - DH & I both atheists. He recently lost 2 uncles and both his grandparents within the space of a fews months. We didn't sing hymns or say prayers.
One BIL tried to 'pull' us about it saying it was disrespectful. I told him it would be hypocritical of use to do something we didn't believe in just fo rthe sake of it - and hypocrisy was FAR more disrespectful than not joining in with religious things

(other BIL told him to shut the F up and stop being such a TW** and since when was he so religiuos)

[madmarchhare]

Yadda, we never join in with these things, we try not to make it obvious though by slightly bowing head as we have respect for the 'believers'.

I agree with hypocritical angle on it all.