Did it affect you in any way?
2007-11-10 00:30:52 · 25 answers · asked by Skepticat 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A few people have asked me to elaborate, so I will: there's an old saying that "There are no atheists in foxholes" because anyone in a foxhole (as in WWI) would (so the belief goes) "get religion" when the shelling began. I thought it would be interesting to turn this old cliche into a question, just to see what answers I got.
In case you're curious, I'm a formerly-agnostic Christian myself who "got religion" when he found himself in a metaphorical foxhole. I've never been an atheist, though.
2007-11-10 01:06:00 · update #1
Came across this really funny joke. Thought I would share it.
AN ATHEIST IN THE WOODS/FOXHOLE?
An atheist was walking through the woods.
"What majestic trees"!
"What powerful rivers"!
"What beautiful animals"!
He said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him.
He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him.
He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him.
At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"
Time Stopped. The bear froze.The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident." "Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer"?
The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian"?
"Very Well," said the voice.The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:
"Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."
2007-11-10 01:28:09 · answer #1 · answered by happy_magooo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Vietnam Vet and NO! The fairy tale of the no atheist in foxhole is just that. Buddhist are atheist and the NVC spent a lot of time in "foxholes" tunnels and they weren't believing in any God. The same go when thousand came over the hill from China during the Korean War.
The fairy tale was made up by an IDIOT and believed by IDIOTS.
2007-11-10 08:44:52 · answer #2 · answered by gdc 3 · 7⤊ 3⤋
as in there are no atheists in fox holes
Yea, I would probably pray my butt off not to get shot.
But it still doesn't change the fact, I do not believe in organized religion.
My only religion is the Golden Rule
The same rule that is the foundation of all religions
Unfortunately, we make excuses not to follow it and thus kill each other. Many in the name of whatever deity they follow.
Sick
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Why do people who are non believers repent on their death beds? It's the last roll of the dice, so why not.
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Peace
Jim
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2007-11-10 08:40:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
It was a long time ago, early 90's. There was me, a farmer, his wife, and a couple of friends. We had followed a fox-hunt to a field where the fox had escaped into a foxhole. Two terrier men were digging up the hole to kill the fox.
Three of us sat in the dug-out hole to stop them from getting to the fox.
Police helicopters, range rovers, the whole shebang.
Dusk fell. Fox lived. Result.
So to answer your question, yes. And to answer more specifically, yes I have faced death on two occasions, and no, in neither one did I call out to a deity or any number of them. I tried to find a way to save myself. Succesfully, obviously.
2007-11-10 08:49:15 · answer #4 · answered by Bajingo 6 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Good thing an atheist had his eyes open...!!! I was praying like crazy in a foxhole in Nam!
EDIT:
I was a Christian then...
2007-11-10 08:40:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I assume you are referring to the old beat up cliche:there are no atheists in foxholes.This is typical theistic propaganda.It's well documented that people call for all sorts of things under extreme duress.Often times,it's for a family member.I suggest taking a look at the link below.I'm getting accustomed to people who ask these questions,not liking accurate direct responses.Maybe you'll surprise me. P.S..isn't it ashamed that people would use a topic like this to promote a vicious agenda.I mean,some of these people are real hero's.
2007-11-10 08:44:10 · answer #6 · answered by vibratorrepairman 3 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Not literally, but in the presence of the distinct possibility of sudden death, yes.
Not a twinge of a conversion.
"If you know of a better hole, go to it." as an old foxhole cartoon has it. .(see below)
I know no better hole than my current beliefs
2007-11-10 08:56:33 · answer #7 · answered by Pedestal 42 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
if you mean foxhole as in soldier terms, no...
if you mean a time where things are hard to deal with, yes, and it didn't make me think differently
2007-11-10 08:46:19 · answer #8 · answered by answerneeder 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If you ever get around to digging your own foxhole then make sure the enemy is not shooting at you when digging it other wise you are dead man dead.
2007-11-10 08:42:50 · answer #9 · answered by Drop short and duck 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I was in Vietnam for a year - it was scary but I never once called on the invisible sky swooper to save me and somehow I got out alive.
Surely, if he existed, he’d only save the people that asked to be saved.
Surely, if he existed, he’d kill those who didn't ask to be saved.
Surely, if he existed, all the starving children in Africa must be evil cos if they weren't your imaginary sky critter would save them, wouldn't he?
There are no invisible sky guys - we are on this planet alone and when we die all the lights go out and we cease to be in any form or realm.
Get used to it.
A universe with a god would be completely different to one without. (RD)
.
2007-11-10 09:00:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋