Posts: 726
Threads: 15
Joined: February 18, 2014
Reputation:
17
My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 3:41 pm
(This post was last modified: July 15, 2014 at 3:47 pm by MJ the Skeptical.)
He hasn't told me how she died yet, he is hysterical right now and I don't know if I should ditch work to see if he's alright. What makes this even more difficult is that he's somewhat a believer in the supernatural, at least the "spiritual" side of things and he knows I'm an atheist so I don't really want to say what I think at the moment because I know he will ask me these type of philosophical questions. Anyway, maybe there is a way I can talk to him about this later without it making him feel even worse, maybe just focus on the good times he had with his mom. I haven't had to deal with death very much in my life, so it's a foreign feeling to me to know someone pretty well and they're gone the next day. How would you guys deal with this? just curious.
If the hypothetical idea of an afterlife means more to you than the objectively true reality we all share, then you deserve no respect.
Posts: 5706
Threads: 67
Joined: June 13, 2014
Reputation:
69
RE: My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Go comfort your friend. He called you, not a theist. If he's hysterical, a hug and an ear are what's required not platitudes about the hereafter.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
Posts: 25314
Threads: 239
Joined: August 26, 2010
Reputation:
156
RE: My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 3:55 pm
I'm so sorry. I agree with Jenny, your friend doesn't need theological arguments. He just wants a shoulder to cry on. In fact, if he's anything like me over the loss of my Sam, he won't thank you for using his mother as a debating point, now or ever.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
Posts: 726
Threads: 15
Joined: February 18, 2014
Reputation:
17
RE: My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 3:58 pm
(This post was last modified: July 15, 2014 at 4:00 pm by MJ the Skeptical.)
I can try to get off work here but I don't think I they will let me for a friends mom dying. And he sort of is a theist to some extent, so a theist did call me...And I know he will try to talk about this stuff with me. So it's inevitable.
If the hypothetical idea of an afterlife means more to you than the objectively true reality we all share, then you deserve no respect.
Posts: 25314
Threads: 239
Joined: August 26, 2010
Reputation:
156
RE: My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Yeah, a theist called you, but from what you say he called you not as a theist but as a vulnerable human being who just lost his mother.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
Posts: 5706
Threads: 67
Joined: June 13, 2014
Reputation:
69
RE: My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 4:04 pm
You are the friend he called. That suggests you are the friend he wants. Not too difficult really.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
Posts: 726
Threads: 15
Joined: February 18, 2014
Reputation:
17
RE: My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 4:10 pm
(This post was last modified: July 15, 2014 at 4:13 pm by MJ the Skeptical.)
(July 15, 2014 at 4:04 pm)Jenny A Wrote: You are the friend he called. That suggests you are the friend he wants. Not too difficult really.
Not too difficult? no offense, but you're being kind of a dick to me about my friends mom dying. He is a theist, he didn't just call me and I wish I could just ditch work but my boss just told me no so I had to tell my friend to wait a few hours. You're making a lot of presumptions about the situation that you have no business making. I'm surprised you're getting kudos for your presumptuous tone.
If the hypothetical idea of an afterlife means more to you than the objectively true reality we all share, then you deserve no respect.
Posts: 3837
Threads: 197
Joined: August 28, 2013
Reputation:
38
RE: My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 4:12 pm
(This post was last modified: July 15, 2014 at 4:13 pm by Lemonvariable72.)
(July 15, 2014 at 3:58 pm)Godslayer Wrote: I can try to get off work here but I don't think I they will let me for a friends mom dying. And he sort of is a theist to some extent, so a theist did call me...And I know he will try to talk about this stuff with me. So it's inevitable.
Dude forget the fact of him being a theist and remember he is your friend. If they wont let you leave work then fine, but you get to him asap.
(July 15, 2014 at 4:10 pm)Godslayer Wrote: (July 15, 2014 at 4:04 pm)Jenny A Wrote: You are the friend he called. That suggests you are the friend he wants. Not too difficult really.
Not too difficult? no offense, but you're being kind of a dick to me about my friends mom dying. He is a theist, he didn't just call me and I wish I could just ditch work but my boss just told me no so I had to tell my friend to wait a few hours. You're making a lot of presumptions about the situation that you have no business making. I'm surprised you're getting kudos for your presumptuous tone.
Sounds like your boss is a douche. I hoope they make him stay when someone close to him dies.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Posts: 726
Threads: 15
Joined: February 18, 2014
Reputation:
17
RE: My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 4:15 pm
(This post was last modified: July 15, 2014 at 4:19 pm by MJ the Skeptical.)
(July 15, 2014 at 4:12 pm)Lemonvariable72 Wrote: (July 15, 2014 at 3:58 pm)Godslayer Wrote: I can try to get off work here but I don't think I they will let me for a friends mom dying. And he sort of is a theist to some extent, so a theist did call me...And I know he will try to talk about this stuff with me. So it's inevitable.
Dude forget the fact of him being a theist and remember he is your friend. If they wont let you leave work then fine, but you get to him asap.
?What? he's going to bring this stuff up to me, I'm not. Did some of you even read the OP and follow up posts?
EDIT: I was looking for advice as in what to say when he brings it up.
If the hypothetical idea of an afterlife means more to you than the objectively true reality we all share, then you deserve no respect.
Posts: 25314
Threads: 239
Joined: August 26, 2010
Reputation:
156
RE: My best friends mom just died an hour ago.
July 15, 2014 at 4:17 pm
Let's all cool our jets. I haven't seen anyone here being presumptuous; we're all going by the information you shared. Also, nobody's trying to be a dick to you. We're all basically advising you to separate your friend as a theist from your friend as a vulnerable human being.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
|