How do atheists cope with death?

Question

Also, how do atheists cope with the fact that they won't see their loved ones who have passed ever again?

When I say atheist, I mean someone who doesn't believe in a God or High Being and no afterlife.

Answer 1

the same as everybody else. if you prick us, do we not bleed.

Answer 2

Death is inevitable, so there's not much point in wishing otherwise. Right now I resent the fact that I won't get to see how the future of the Earth and our species goes - I would love to be able to see how things are in a thousand or a million years, but I accept that it's not to be. Also I'd rather not die until my kids are long grown up, and I've done some more of the things that I really yearn to do in life. I hope the actual dying part isn't too horrible, but I know that being dead is simply oblivion - I will just cease to exist - so the fact of being dead doesn't bother me as such.

Naturally I miss my loved ones who have died, but I remember how they were in life, the good times we had together, the way we enriched each other's lives, and that helps. I never imagine or hope that they still exist somewhere - that's just other people's silly fantasy and it means nothing to me.

So death is sad but inevitable and something we just have to accept.

Answer 3

WHEN someone says, 'I believe only in what I can see,' he is not speaking literally. Actually, we all believe in things that we cannot see.

ATHEIST: They don't believe in God. That's all there is to it.

Atheists may listen to heavy metal -- backwards, even -- or they may prefer a Verdi Requiem, even if they know the words. They may wear Hawaiian shirts, they may dress all in black, they may even wear orange robes. (Many Buddhists lack a belief in any sort of God.) Some atheists even carry a copy of the Bible around -- for arguing against, of course!

Whoever you are, the chances are you have met several atheists without realizing it. Atheists are usually unexceptional in behavior and appearance.

Perhaps it is to some, but still, many atheists live a purposeful life. They decide what they think gives meaning to life, and they pursue those goals. They try to make their lives count, not by wishing for eternal life, but by having an influence on other people who will live on. For example, an atheist may dedicate his life to political reform, in the hope of leaving his mark on history.

It is a natural human tendency to look for "meaning" or "purpose" in random events. However, it is by no means obvious that "life" is the sort of thing that has a "meaning."

To put it another way, not everything which looks like a question is actually a sensible thing to ask. Some atheists believe that asking "What is the meaning of life?" is as silly as asking "What is the meaning of a cup of coffee?." They believe that life has no purpose or meaning, it just is.

Now agnostics prove to be almost along the same lines with one difference... Agnosticism implies uncertainty about the existence of God. The basic problem here is that there are many answers to the question "Does God exist?" However there is only this one term available to cover all of the meanings.

Answer 4

Some atheists do believe in an afterlife. Buddhists for example.

But personally I realize that space and time are related. The fact people don't exist in all time periods, is not much different from the fact we don't exist in all places, except we have much more freedom to travel in space while we cannot control how we travel in time. My parents died so they don't exist in the current time period that I am in now. Because of that I cannot see them. But when I was living overseas while they were alive it was difficult to see them too.

I think atheists cope the same way religious people do, we just are more honest about it.

Answer 5

That's a good question. I've had a few deaths since I became an atheist - one was a murder.

It's painful - just like it was when I was a christian. I reaffirm how much they meant to me. In each case I've tried to carry on "something of them" in my life - so that they can continue to carry on in my little tribute to them. In one case, I volunteer for my grandma's favorite cause.

It is sad that I'll never see them again, but I take comfort in the fact that their lives meant a great deal to me.

As far as my own death - I work hard to make the world a better place and the people that I love - know that I love them. So when I go, they will have that to comfort them.

Answer 6

By atheist, I assume you mean anyone who isn't religious.

I don't fear death. Death will come when it is my time to die. I can't do anything about it. I can't control that any more than I can control a bee from stinging me while I'm not aware of it's presence. So why worry. I actually use death as a power to help motivate me to do more in my life, and accomplish important things I feel must be done.

I use Death as a positive motivation.

Answer 7

British philosopher Bertrand Russell, in his "Why I Am Not a Christian", comments about this issue. If we were to say that love is not endless, does it make love worth less? Think about it. We can love someone and have positive feelings, and even miss an individual that has died. We can "continue to love" a person that dies. Regardless of faith, individuals are human beings and the desire to touch, be held, and to share and experience "unconditional positive regard" is common to all of us.

Answer 8

After I lost my belief in God, I cried for an hour or two thinking about dying and never returning. However, after that I was fine, if not better than fine. No demons were looming around, or a God that wanted me to suffer and serve him no matter what pain it gave me. No hell to burn in for all eternity.

Honestly, no one cares what will happen when they die because we really don't think about it. I don't think about death that much and I sort of still wonder what really happens. I don't believe in the biblical Gods, but there is still something that might happen or not happen.. I don't know.

Answer 9

I find it hard to cope with death, the finality of it. It's hard to accept, and it saddens me a lot, but there is nothing to be gained by wishing that things were otherwise.

Answer 10

Peaceful and respectful........you betcha. I have no fear of death. It is a simple cycle of living. As for seeing those we love that have passed away.........well, do christians really have that proof that they will see their people? It just doesnt' cross my mind, I enjoy my life today, I don't worry about death. It's sad to see that so many people do.

Answer 11

the way everyone else does, in their own way, i imagine if they know the people they would be sad, someone they dont know they wouldnt really feel to much, maybe regret for the family but basically the way i feel most people mourn- then again some religions only allow you a specified amount of time to mourn-