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Post by Old Viking on Mar 18, 2009 18:42:51 GMT -5
Since I'm well into my 70's I come at this from a slightly different perspective. And I agree wholeheartedly with what MaybeNever says. I have no fear of death itself. It seems like a natural part of the bargain, so to speak. But I have a keen fear of dying. The loss of dignity and control is too often part of it. As for the pious, they all talk a good fight. You know how they're always saying, "Deep, deep inside atheists really believe there is a God."? I think that deep, deep inside believers are not at all sure if one exists.
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Post by Star Cluster on Mar 18, 2009 18:50:36 GMT -5
You know how they're always saying, "Deep, deep inside atheists really believe there is a God."? I think that deep, deep inside believers are not at all sure if one exists. I've thought this about believers for a long time, too.
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ldm
Full Member
Posts: 108
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Post by ldm on Mar 18, 2009 19:55:15 GMT -5
Yeah, yeah, the whole "God calling you home" banality. But as the OP suggests, a lot of devout believers aren't heeding the call, but instead are fighting to stay alive to the very end. Instead of going peacefully and with dignity, they want to be kept alive regardless of the expense and/or discomfort it may bring. If not for modern medicine, a lot of these people would not live as long as they do and would already be dead. So at what point does it go from not going until God wants you to die to fighting the will of God for them? In the case of my mother, if the fundies are to be believed, God does not want her to die yet. So he is making her suffer with no quality of life, sitting in a wheelchair all day long, not being able to do anything on her own. And I see people in even worse shape that that in the nursing home my mother lives in. So what, God is keeping them alive for his own amusement? Cruel bastard. Yeah, fundies are always saying "don't play God", but when you're keeping someone alive by artificial means, then aren't you doing just that? My best friend spent the last two weeks of her life on a respirator, it was one of the worst things I ever had to see. Fortunately her family heeded the doctor's advice that they were only prolonging her suffering, and they were able to very quietly remove her from life support and let her pass surrounded by her loved ones. No court case, no media circus, no fundies protesting outside. For that I am forever grateful.
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Post by stormwarden on Mar 18, 2009 21:28:06 GMT -5
And that right to die with dignity is why I think Schiavo's husband should have been able to sue every Congressman and news media outlet covering that case for libel and slander (and let's face it, they were guilty of BOTH). Where the hell do the fundies get off trying to deny others the right to an abortion or the right to die with dignity without a media circus outside their window.
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Post by Redhunter on Mar 19, 2009 1:30:04 GMT -5
You know how they're always saying, "Deep, deep inside atheists really believe there is a God."? I think that deep, deep inside believers are not at all sure if one exists. I've thought this about believers for a long time, too. Thirded. Excellent.
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Post by Hades on Mar 19, 2009 2:00:51 GMT -5
Since I'm well into my 70's I come at this from a slightly different perspective. And I agree wholeheartedly with what MaybeNever says. I have no fear of death itself. It seems like a natural part of the bargain, so to speak. But I have a keen fear of dying. The loss of dignity and control is too often part of it. As for the pious, they all talk a good fight. You know how they're always saying, "Deep, deep inside atheists really believe there is a God."? I think that deep, deep inside believers are not at all sure if one exists. You hit the nail on the head. I feel the same way about death. I'm not afraid of being dead, just how I die, and who/what I leave behind. I know I'm too young to really worry about it, but then again, you can't be sure when your time is up.
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