(March 27, 2013 at 2:16 pm)samiam2013 Wrote: I have always doubted the existence of a god or gods, but recently have seen more than before than it makes sense that there is no god. I do however, have problems with one thing: the acknowledgement of my grandfather to having seen angels just before both my mother and his sister dying. Is there a solid argument for why seeing angels is a delusion? (he was illiterate, believed in god, and went to church while living a simple life as a carpenter)
On top of the other offered explanations let me point out people often come to believe things after the fact which did not happen. Now if there were someone who was with him before they died and heard him say he was seeing angels that would be of interest. But if he later became convinced some odd thing was an angel that is something else entirely.
And quite frankly people will manufacture memories or at least retell stories they more or less know are not true. Some people make a habit of it. Some people will repeat stories if they further faith. That is stock in trade for most preachers. One does not need to be ordained to do it.
Take it as a fact then if that is the only time he sees them they that is the only time they appear and are not the angels of christian mythology. Or is there a requirement that his being able to see them is triggered by a dying family member? Another odd but unchristian idea.
Calling whatever it is an angel is a believers reaction. An atheist would more likely say, "What the fuck is that?!"
