death question for atheists...?

Question

if you are in a hospital waiting to die in 3 days or so, and cant stop or delay your death further, and your family are faithful christians(fundamentalist or not) would you give them a false sense of hope by putting a show of accepting jesus so that most of them can sleep peacefully?

im atheist btw

Answer 1

No, I wouldn't do that. Their comfort should come from within themselves just as mine does. There's no reason to lie simply to allow another who is healthy to find peace upon my death.

Now if you turn that question around and ask "Atheists, would you pray for a dying Christian on their deathbed if asked?" the answer would be "Of course I would."

In that moment, it wouldn't be about me, but about them. It's up to the living to comfort the dying. Only selfish, self-centered individuals would expect a dying person to comfort *them*.

Answer 2

They are already aware of my atheism,I have already outlived the DRs. Projections by a year. While they are loosely "Christian" None go so far as to believe that I,a person who has dedicated my life and a whole lot of my money to helping to helping those in need,am going to hell.No,I will not put on such a "show" for anyone

Answer 3

I like the first answer, how selfish that the cristiians would want to tell you I told you so on the atheist death bed, a sad commentary indeed. Besides that the Mormons will baptize me after my death. Yikes!

Answer 4

I would hope that my family knows that I am Atheist and would just respect my beliefes and be ok with that. As for putting on a false show? I do not think that I would do that just because it would only diminish my beliefs and theirs at the same time.

Answer 5

I would.

My parents are very religious, and I currently avoid the God question, and give them the false hope that I am still 'saved'. It is easier on their nerves and helps keep them happy.

I am more concerned about their well being than my need to prove my conviction that it is all a ruse.

Answer 6

If they are your loved ones, why not at least give them some comfort? You're going, where you're going, by not accepting Christ. What happens after you die will have no effect on you whatsoever. But if you love your family, wouldn't you want to give them some comfort, after you are gone? I think it would selfish not to. But since you are already on your death bed, why not just accept what they are saying? You're dying, you have nothing to lose.
God Bless!

Answer 7

Yep. It's identical to the "no atheists in foxholes" argument. Stupid. I've been in plenty of unhappy and terrible circumstances, and none of them have made me consider in any deities. .

Answer 8

No. But at the same time I would not protest too strongly (or at all) if they were to pray over me or harp on me about Jesus' love and the like.

Answer 9

No, The relatives of mine who are religious are convinced that I will Burn In Hell, and I think a death bed conversion and chance of redemption would upset them very deeply.

OK, you got my interest now!

Answer 10

If my family said they were praying for me, I would be grateful.

Not because of any thought that their prays may be heard, but because it's a symbolic gesture of caring.

I would remain steadfast in telling them of my atheist ideals.

They would expect no less.

When my mother was dieing however, and told me she was going to heaven, it would have been obscene for me to argue the point. While she knew of my atheism, she always tried to encourage me to believe in God. I loved her too much to restate my atheism to her on her death bed.