When you get closer to facing your own mortality, do you think you will be more likely to "get religion"?

Question

Ah, Mr. Pascal is present and accounted for.

J S: Excellent observation, Big difference.

Toadaly: maybe we should at that point all be given a "pill" that we can simply bite-down on.....

Answer 1

While I am "only" 35, I am very much aware that I could die tomorrow. From the moment we are born, we are faced with our own mortality. I have no desire to "get religion". Not now, not tomorrow, not 35 years from now, should I be lucky enough to still be here.

Answer 2

I've already faced my own mortality. Want to know how?

I was hit by a car while crossing the street in 2004. My left tibia/fibia was broken all the way through and I now have a metal rod in my leg that runs from my knee to my ankle. I had a spleen injury, and bleeding in my brain in two places (front and back) and a skull fracture.

I was unconscious in a hospital for a week. They didn't think I'd live.

I came about as close to dying as you can come without expiring permanently. You see, I looked Death in the eyes and I came back kicking and screaming. It has a way of making you value life.

You know what? I saw nothing. And I never once prayed to any god. In fact, it didn't even occur to me.

So no, I won't "get it". Because I KNOW there's no god.

I'm here to learn about other religions, but there's very little of that that actually happens here because the bloody Christians insult, condescend, and are basically rude to everyone that posts here if they say anything that isn't Christian. I find myself spending more time defending Atheism and education on here than I do anything else.

You don't believe me about the way Christians act? Go back to the posts from yesterday and go through them. You'll see how bad the Christians were acting with the way they were talking to any of the Pagans posting yesterday.

The ONE SINGLE DAY they could learn to be respectful during a year to the Pagans and they couldn't manage it. No, instead they were posting a whole lot of bible passages and "you need to find god", "you're going to hell", "you need to read the bible" type crap.

Answer 3

Already "Have Religion" and have been within a hair of death, so close-I had no time for a thought of prayer!
I'm sure the 19 yr. old who was ejected from the vehicle that hit me, driving too fast, on a rainy country road, never had a chance to think either.
The accident happened in front of an acquaintance's house. He had an awful look on his face after walking past the other car and even though in awful pain, I noticed.
Now is the time to get the Religion of your choice. Don't wait.

Answer 4

dinger, why don't you just explain rather than say you can?
You can't, smarter people than you couldn't

Yes when you get closer to your morality you go religious. Im an atheist, but sometimes... ask me what I did in bed the night before a bio test in premed? I talk to myself hoping an imaginary character-God-will magically pass me a test I know I am supposed to be responsible for.

It's a lot less than your own mortality that leads to superstition

Answer 5

Not necessarily, but I do think it makes a person introspective and he or she will reflect on all kinds of things: the past, any wrongs done, relationships both good and bad. There may also be the desire for good deeds or righting wrongs or accomplishments, perhaps with the hope of being remembered in a positive way.

Answer 6

No, I think the only thing that will ever get me to truly accept any religion would be for God to come to me and hand me a religious text and then tell me to my face that the particular religious text in question was in fact the truth and that I should follow it.

I like to get my information from the source.

Answer 7

No. I'm at the age where too much of my family is on the other side waiting up there for me. And I'll get to hold the nailed scared hands and see the glorious face of the carpenter's son who made it possible for me to be there with them forever where there is no more death, or disease, or hunger, or war, or pain, or sorrow, and tears.

Answer 8

No - religion offers us 'nothing' really. It is all based on self deception, and the use of one's imagination, to make myths appear to be 'real' when they are not. And can never be.
Oh, sure science, reality, etc gets tossed out the window - no only can we believe in God, but also in fairies, witchcraft, Father Christmas, Easter Bunny, etc etc.

And if you think that upon 'death's door' the veil will be lifted, etc - you will see what 'is'... I think you will most likely be disappointed...
That our reality here, is still the most important reality.

Note: I'm not saying that the afterlife, spirit world, does not exist. I do believe in them, same for one's own spirit --- also in reincarnation, and what that entails...

Answer 9

no. here is why. i was born in a religion. i escaped the clutches of said religion. i have faced my mortality, and i believe that if there is a god, then he would be jealous of me. why? because every minute may be my last. because what i do today may be the last thing i ever do. that makes life worth living as if there were no tomorrow. what god can say that?

Answer 10

I think that's a pretty common response.
Christianity and Islam, for example, are based in fear, and use that as a major recruiting tool.
As death approaches, many people will grab ahold of anything that offers them hope of not actually dying - no matter how ridiculous some beliefs are.