When you are on your death bed and there is nothing left. No promise of eternal life will you change your mind? Will thoughts that maybe you were wrong run through your mind. Honest thoughts on the matter please.
2007-12-04 20:21:18 · 15 answers · asked by blj63 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I would imagine that most people, atheist or not, would be thinking about their friends and family and all of the good memories from their life. Perhaps some people will even be thinking about their regrets. However, I doubt most people will be thinking about who is right or wrong about there being an afterlife or not. Think about it; your dying and you know your dying, why waist your last moments thinking about something you have no control over? Everybody's heard the phrase "my life flashed before my eyes." Many people have experienced that feeling when they were in a car accident or some other intense situation. When these people thought for a moment that they might actually die their lives flashed before their eyes. They did not ponder the age old question of whether or not there is a heaven and a god (or gods); they saw their life before them. I realize that you are referring to one's death bed, and that this situation would imply that one would have enough time to think about anything they wanted - but I think that if a person's life flashed before their eyes when they thought they only had one more second to live that they would spend a little more time on their death bed thinking about it.
Also, I think that it is quite preposterous to assume that one's life long beliefs would be suddenly regretted at the last moment. It suggests that atheists are less certain of themselves, which indirectly suggests that religious people are more certain of themselves. Not only that, you assume that there is a possibility an atheist is going to - at the last possible moment of life - subscribe to a religious belief which they never believed in before. Ultimately, if atheists are wrong then they are wrong, but their beliefs will hold steadfast until the very end - just like any religious person's beliefs.
2007-12-04 23:24:24 · answer #1 · answered by T M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
haha, nah, not at all. Personally i've accepted the fact that there is no life after death. Regardless of whether i'm dying or not, i'd still have this same opinion.
Mind you, i'd be on my death bed wishing that there was a life after death....lets be serious...who doesn't want to live forever in a wonderful paradise where we could have anything we want. Everyone is somewhat afraid of death, but some of us just don't need the idea of a magical fairy land like heaven to blindly believe in order to cope with a natural biological function. You're born, you grow, you reproduce, you die. It's not exactly a comforting thought but it's reality.
also, lol oovey. nice point.
2007-12-05 04:32:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You make it sound as if your beliefs are tried and true I think you need to stop listening to whatever you hear and learn to think about things for yourself, christians are greedy if they want eternal life, anybody could make up a story similar to the bible it's just utter garbage, of course we all wonder if something is out there but it is truly beyond us and if there was a heaven I woulnd't want to go there and get everything I want that is too easy, I would rather work for what I want it is much more satisfying than just magically getting whatever I want.
All in all I hate religion. Nuff Said.
2007-12-05 04:52:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had some recent observations of such a situation. Even to the end this person absorbed his time in little meaningless things such as worrying about a crew installing a new telephone line. He watched TV, read, and avoided any topic of conversation that might lead to thinking about his own death.
2007-12-05 06:14:27 · answer #4 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I will say yike! But if I find myself suddenly in a new place, I will arrive with my integrity intact at least, and hope those new folks respect that. I never said I could see the Emperor's New Clothes even tho everyone else said they did.
2007-12-05 14:05:49 · answer #5 · answered by All hat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheists don't fear death. Therefore there mind would not change at all during their nearly death. They still think the same and will die thinking the same.
Thanks for asking. Have a great day!
2007-12-05 05:31:22 · answer #6 · answered by Third P 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My Grandma Rose on my dad's side went to her deathbed with the conviction intact that the only afterlife is the legacy we leave behind on earth.
I can only hope my own convictions (same as hers) will remain as unwaivering and brave at my end.
2007-12-05 07:47:03 · answer #7 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You lack the self confidence so you chose a religion. Funny how atheists tend simply to accept death yet most Christians do all they can to avoid it!!!!
Why are Christians so afraid of atheists?
Sadly you will not be disappointed that you are wrong when you die - because that is it - death end of story!!!
2007-12-05 04:30:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Even people with strong faith, like Mother Theresa, have (or did have) questions. What makes you think we will be any different?
But the only thing I will "say" is, "Why now? I was just getting up to speed!"
2007-12-05 07:25:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm tempted to recant and submit to Odin's blade and join him in ValHalla, but to be honest I don't really believe all that nonsense.
2007-12-05 07:56:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋