Christian's loss versus atheist's loss?

Question

I have one question at the bottom, but first lets look at a brief comparison of an other wise equivilent loss (death of a loved one) from an atheists p.o.v. and then a christians point of view.

Atheist:
There is no afterlife, and if there is it seems we are going to hell anyway, so the very blunt, crushing reality for an atheist is:
We will NEVER EVER see that person ever again. EVER!

Christian:
In a Christian's pov who has lost a loved one, that loved one has just MOVED TO A PLACE OF ETERNAL HAPPINESS, plus, pressumably, this christian believes he/she will JOIN HIS/HER LOVED ONE WITHIN A FEW DECADES OR SOONER. Well, a single, full life time isn't very much compared to eternity any way.


Atheist: will NEVER EVER see that person again.

Christian: will see this person and experience eternal happiness and peace for the rest of time.


Question: Does a christian have the right to compare the pain they suffer when someone dies to that of an atheist?

Fruitcake:

ok, i'll give you that, but you still have address 'what if they aren't going to hell?'

Answer 1

I believe this is one of the main reasons that religion exists in the first place. Everyone is afraid of death and believing in an afterlife makes the idea of death easier to deal with. It is much easier to deal with a loved one dying if you believe that you will see them after you die. Everyone feels pain when someone they love dies, but some people use belief in an afterlife as a coping mechanism. For the rest of us, we just have to accept that we will soon be where they are- decomposing in the ground. There's nothing we can do about it

Answer 2

Nobody has the right to say their pain or loss is any greater than the next person. You don't need to be a christian or atheist to know this. A better question is why would someone believe a poor persons loss is less significant than a rich persons? When a wealthy person is murdered or suffers an accident it is splattered all over the news, but when a poor person is murdered they mark it up as drug related. In truth, who really cares about their fellow human? No one unless it affects them directly. Every action in our society today has a motive, we don't care or give because we are good, we care because we want to appear to be socially acceptable or promote our own selfish needs. Do you think major corporations give to charity because they want to help the needy? No, they give for promotional reasons. I'm here to tell you that even that is going to be a thing of the past soon.

Answer 3

every one grieves differently, especially depending on who you lose. to a christian it's not the fact that they will never see that person again, or that they are suffering, because we believe we will see them again and we believe that they are happier now than ever, but it's the learning to live with out that person, the missing them, there will still be a void in our life when someone we love is taken for us. some are stronger than others in this area. there are christians that are strong and are able to move on quickly, then there are christians that just don't handle death that well, and take it harder. same with atheists. but in my opinion an atheist will probably suffer the loss greater because they don't feel the reassurance that a christian feels.

Answer 4

"Atheist:
There is no afterlife, and if there is it seems we are going to hell anyway"

Excuse me, but the Christian god is not the only possible god; it's possible that there is a god who doesn't punish at all, or even judge, or even CARE who believes in him/her/it. Just want to make sure we're clear on this. It's also possible (but extremely improbable since there's no evidence) that there is AN afterlife of some kind that has no divine authority over it. How could one say what "the afterlife" might be like if it existed?

The "Christian POV" is kidding oneself with a fantasy. Hope is good (but ultimately useless without action)--false hope isn't. There is absolutely no reason to actually think any of that would/will actually happen, as there is no evidence at all. Not to mention that "no god" isn't the only way they could be wrong. Imagine if there is a god, but it's one of another religion, and he's pissed that Christians have been worshipping a false god all their lives.

But your ultimate point seems to be that Christians, because of their fantasizing, suffer less when they lose a loved one than an atheist, and this is almost certainly true.

Answer 5

Not necessarily compare. no matter what a persons faith or believes are. Everyone is human and feel the same emotion.

When a christian suffers,and morns and losses a loved one. God cry's with us, Even though, we are Christians we are also human, When someone dies that we know there are still tears, we morn the loss of a life even though we know that we will see this person again.

Answer 6

As an Atheist i accept death. A loss is a loss, but we move on. However some choose to believe that they are going to a better place, and others just accept reality.
If you want to be fooled and make yourself feel better about it, OK cool but as for me, I'm fine with the acceptance of death.

Answer 7

Well, I'm an atheist, and I figure, when someone dies, they've had their time, and there is no point moping about, wishing things would change. There are very few people I know whose death would send me into a spiral of depression, most deaths I could accept and then move on within a few days or hours. Death isn't so sad when you view it as the eventual effect of life.

And I'm not even an optimist.

Answer 8

Yo your parents died, does it matter what you believe, will things be different for an atheist or christian ie... learning to take care of themselves without having anyone to assist with all the little things that they were accustomed to?

Answer 9

I believed both suffer the same both are human being. The atheist do not believe in God but waist a lot of time to prove it. Why atheist rush themselves trying to proving that God is not real. I never waist time talking about thing that I do not believe. But one thing is going to be happen the christian already won. No matter what the atheist denied God at the end all of them will face God and any of their weak argument not going to save them. God is real my friend. Look and open your eyes many scientist was found many of thing that happen on biblical time. I rest my case.

Answer 10

hiya there, an atheist right here. i think of that is humorous how your christian and you reported no atheist allowed, while your meant to love all of us. (because of the fact jesus reported so) >;D and specific i'm atheist...