Comments on: Atheist Feelings Toward Death

By: Stavros

Stavros — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:34:48 +0000

I’m an agnostic, I guess: sometimes I believe in something transcendent (God, if you wish), other times I do not. Regardless, death scares the crap out of me. I mean, not only does it quite possibly (probably) mean the end of me, of this self, the process itself almost always sucks. For instance, my mom just died last week of pancreatic cancer. She couldn’t eat for about the last 2 months, vomiting up even liquids she couldn’t hold down, and slowly starved to death. She also required as much as 100 mg of morphine daily through intravenous because her pain was so severe. She was on morphine and in pain for almost 6 months. Yeah, not often do people peacefully slip away. Death is the scariest of all things, in my opinion. It’s messy. Sorry to be a downer!

By: Ubi Dubium

Ubi Dubium — Thu, 19 May 2011 12:37:57 +0000

Welcome Tim! The military can be a difficult place for an atheist, since the chaplain corps is so overwhelmingly evangelical. There are groups for “Atheists in Foxholes” out there, I hope you can find one if you are ever feeling isolated. Also, have you checked out http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/ ? If you ever find yourself being unfairly treated over your lack of religion, they’re the ones to contact.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 19 May 2011 07:31:49 +0000

I’m a Atheist. Once I lost my faith I started looking at not only life but the whole universe in a totally different way. I feel enlightened, as if my mind isn’t being held back anymore. And the subject of death has always frighted me, and there will always be that little fear there no matter what. I’ve always hoped their to be an after life even thought I cant believe in God. But now I’m at ease with the idea that we will all one day die and actually joined the military. Death is inevitable, that is why I’d give my life for my country…

By: Dick Roe II

Dick Roe II — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:05:15 +0000

What “church” did all you ex-Christians attend that you were seldom sure of being saved, and fearful of judgement after death? I feel sorry for the average “Joe” out there with no certainty about life and any hereafter; cuz, unless you’re like Abe Lincoln or Mother Teresa or other famous folk, you’ll be COMPLETELY forgotten within two generations.

By: Dick Roe II

Dick Roe II — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:04:22 +0000

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:20:23 +0000

As a teenager when I first came to the conclusion that death was theAs a teenager when I first came to the conclusion that death was the end, , I found it agonizing, my fear of death consumed my entire life and I even thought of killing myself to end the pain and fear, than I came to accept death as a natural part of life.

Last year I went through a scare where they thought I might have cancer (it turned out to be a benign cyst) and during that time I realized I no longer have any fear of death, it seems peaceful
end, , I found it agonizing, my fear of death consumed my entire life and I even thought of killing myself to end the pain and fear, than I came to accept death as a natural part of life.

Last year I went through a scare where they thought I might have cancer (it turned out to be a benign cyst) and during that time I realized I no longer have any fear of death, it seems peaceful

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:24:40 +0000

Well, for me, death is a little like sex. I’ve never done both before, so there is a small fear of the unknown. For the former, I blame life itself. For the latter, I blame a lack of friends outside of my conservative upbringing and the firm adherence I gave to my former beliefs.

As for a ‘fear’, I have less than when I was a Christian. The small chance of ending up in hell is far more fearful to me than the prospect of non-existence. I think that everyone has a fear of the process of dying, but the results do not scare me in the least. Most bodies in graves don’t seem to mind their present status, although ghost stories would seem to indicate otherwise.

Casper aside, if I do continue to exist after death I will be quite pleasantly surprised and will probably ask for a beer to loosen the shock of the moment. Hopefully they serve beer in atheist heaven.

By: ubi dubium

ubi dubium — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:00:17 +0000

Sean – it sounds like you really need someone to talk to. Dwelling on death all the time can’t be good for you. I hope that you have a counsellor or mentor or somebody you trust that you can have some good conversation with to work though this. Our website might not be enough.

My own thoughts, for what they’re worth: It is unlikely that there is an afterlife. There was nothing frightening about not being born yet, I don’t see how being dead would be any different. The actual event of dying, by whatever way it happens, is temporary. What will last is the effect that you have had on the people you leave behind. You have one shot at this life, once chance to make your mark. Focus on living – living well, experiencing everything to the fullest, making the world a better place for those who will follow us.

If by chance there is an afterlife, I don’t think any of the world’s religions have a grip on what it is. It would probably be something totally unlike what they have dreamed up. So none of their threats of hell should be topics for worry at all. (Although I do think that reincarnation would be a really cool thing to exist.) The Pastafarian afterlife of beer and strippers has just as much chance of being true as the holy roller’s hellfire and damnation.

By: sean

sean — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:18:57 +0000

The idea of death is horrifying to me.
Hello, I am a soft Atheist. I say ‘soft’ for the simple fact that I am inclined to believe in some sort of guiding energy in the universe, albeit ‘god’ if that’s what you care to call IT. I definitely don’t believe in some egocentric, blood thirsty seriel killing diety such as the Christian god, and I doubt that this ‘force’ in the universe has any personal qualities beyond the creatures of the earth it appears to inhibit… that said, I don’t see the idea of the afterlife as either a heaven or hell. I think it will be nothingness, perhaps much like the absence of conciousness prior to birth.
This really doesn’t comfort me, though. At times I felt more at ease when I used to believe in the christian idea of heaven, but that god is viciously selective (jeffrey dahmer, who became a believer of christ before his death, could be there, and if I die tomorrow, ill be in hell for simply disbelieving… that’s fucked up), and the idea of living forever and ever is also frightening- not to mention spending it in eternal hell fire, which often haunted me in my doubts.
Now im just a realist. I don’t know what happens after death, and that makes me terrible anxious. Sometimes thinking too deeply about death thrusts me into a type of panic attack, and im seriously beginning to worry that im obsessing over my fears of death. Studying it draws me in, perhaps because im trying to find comfort in the fact that everyone before me has had to face death.
Beyond dying and being dead, im terrified at the thought of how im going to die. Will I be the victim of a senseless, brutal murder? Will it be a quick and sudden accident? Will it be long and agonizing? Will I know when its happening? I get the chills thinking about it. Sometimes I wish to find religion again, but I really can’t believe in silly fairy tales like adam and eve or jack and the bean stalk.
Im very troubled, I really am. I don’t think these are normal thoughts for a 20 year-old.

By: The Barefoot Bum

The Barefoot Bum — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:48:33 +0000

I'm no more worried about being dead, that my life has a beginning and an end in time, than I am about the fact that my physical body has limits in space. Dying, on the other hand, I'm not too keen on.