Seems to be a common myth among Christians. I am an atheist and was in a small boat in the middle of a typhoon. 40-foot waves, hurricane-force winds for 3 days. I thought at one point I would surely die. I never once prayed or doubted my lack of faith.
Guess there are atheists in those foxholes after all.
2006-12-18 13:36:49 · 19 answers · asked by Brendan G 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I didn't mean NDEs - that's why I put "near death" in quotes!
2006-12-18 13:52:46 · update #1
Plowed my car into a cement wall at 60 mph. Saw the whole thing unfold clearly before my eyes, from the moment I lost control, through the many spins into oncoming traffic, to the point when the car rolled to a rest in the woods. I thought I was dead for certain.
Never once did I contemplate god, religion or the afterlife. All I thought was, "well, this is it. I'm glad I've always lived each day to the best of my ability."
After I got out of the smoking wreck, I thought, "wow, I didn't die... okay, back to living."
I do not believe in god now, or will I ever.
2006-12-18 13:44:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
I had one incident where I could've been killed, a snowmobile accident when I was 18 and probably snowmobiling where I shouldn't have been in the first place. Hit a rock and went flying through the air. I'm only 5'3, less than 150 lbs. I'm obviously not a big person. My father's snowmobile weighs probably around 400 lbs or more. Had it landed on me and rolled me, it probably would have broken my back or neck. I was also foolishly helmetless at the time.
I remember, when it happened, that I did not once think of God or pray to him to spare my life when going out as foolishly as I did was my own fault for not thinking about the consequences of tearing around a farm on a small engine vehicle. I remember being scared out of my mind and realizing I had to jump off and risk getting killed anyways, or be sure of it when the machine rolled me like a ragdoll.
I jumped and hoped that I'd be lucky enough to walk away with a broken leg or two. I was luckier than I deserved and not only kept my life, but didn't break either leg. I tore a muscle in my hip and have arthritis there, but I lived. Haven't snowmobiled since, either.
I could've been killed very easily and it would've been my own fault for being stupid and thinking nothing would happen. Did I pray that I'd live? Nope. I survived and was luckier than I ever deserve to be, but prayer never once crossed my mind, even after hitting the ground. Only thoughts after I landed and I realized I was still somehow alive was to get up and get over to the snowmobile again to sit down and see if I broke anything.
No prayers, not one, not even after it happened and was over. Pure instinct, far as I'm concerned, to survive the accident, then get up, make sure I hadn't broken anything, and then limp back up to the house.
2006-12-19 16:37:10 · answer #2 · answered by Ophelia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My uncle died in an auto accident that I was in. I was sort of busy at the time trying to get my a'ss out. I didn't have time to think of praying. But you can bet your a'ss I would have prayed if I had thought it would help. I was lucky I only got a bruise from the seat belt and a busted lip. I am sure there are Atheist who pray in certain emergency situations. It doesn't make them any less Atheist. Atheist are no braver than Christians and are prone to panic just like anyone. I was a Christin for ten years I have only been an Atheist for two. xx
2006-12-18 21:46:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I thought I was going to be crushed by a heavy piece of equipment when I was in the Army. I really didn't have a lot of time, but the thought never crossed my mind. I was trapped between it and a fence.
When they moved it I had only a small bruise. I didn't think that was anything other than dumb luck either. I could imagine if it were a Christian. They would have it down as a miracle for sure.
2006-12-18 21:56:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
To people like "Terry S."
I was a young infantry officer in the Vietnam war (1967 - 1968) -9th Infantry Div. 2nd of 60th. I was NOT the only atheist in a foxhole - I wasn't even the only one in my company. And I have a little surprise for you.
The most common last words in battle are "Oh ..shi*t!", not "Oh God!" I didn't see too many soldiers get religion in the war. Most of them had it coming in, or they didn't have it.
And, just in case you don't believe me either, let me know a fax number, I'll send you a copy of my DD214 - the religion part says "NONE." But you must promise to apologize to those who you refuse to believe, for no reason at all, on this forum.
2006-12-18 21:54:24 · answer #5 · answered by JAT 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
tons, I've totalled 2 cars (no harm to myself or anyone else...just the poor vehicles) been in many near fatal accidents, My job (USAF) is to deal with explosives and weapons for the f-15 fighter jet. Basically anything dangerous is part of my job. I've been in many situation that could have ended with my death and those about 4,000ft around me.
I never prayed, just lot of swearing
2006-12-18 21:44:03 · answer #6 · answered by ur a Dee Dee Dee 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Near death experiences are biological phenomena. The sensation of complete peace, the shining tunnel of light, a feeling of being at 'one' with "God" is caused by a synaptic nerve function that protects the brain from being oxygen deprived during respitory failure. Being deprived of oxygen makes the brain hallucinate.
As the "waking" brain can not comprehend itself 'shutting down' at the point of death, "God conciousness" kicks in to trick and relax the mind into thinking that the body is not really in trauma.
2006-12-18 21:43:37 · answer #7 · answered by Ashley 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've 'prayed' in bad situations where I've had no control but it's more like a superstitious thing. I chant something over and over like, "don't let this happen, please no" but it's just a way to stay calm. Maybe I think it will work like magic. It's not a religious prayer actually directed to God or Jesus. But I'll try anything if my life is in danger. It doesn't mean I have faith.
2006-12-18 21:47:23 · answer #8 · answered by Pico 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I fell of my mountain bike while trying to navigate a virtually non-existant path and hurtled down the side of a cliff. The only thing I said or thought was 'oh ****' until I came to an abrupt hault; a tree root caught my shirt and that stopped me plummiting down to certain death. Never in that time did I think of god.
2006-12-18 21:41:28 · answer #9 · answered by A_Geologist 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
to Ashley, that is not true, why do people who have had nde's say they were above everyone looking down and can tell you where everyone in the room was standing, if they were with people, and what they were saying. Also they have seen things above their eyelevel, , like on top of a cabinet
2006-12-18 21:48:56 · answer #10 · answered by tanat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋