Dealing with Death as an Atheist

[Salacious B. Crumb]

As others have said on here: Everyone dies. I think as most people get older, deep down, look forward to their death, because their health begins to decline and life isn't as enjoyable as it was when they were young. For some, this happens earlier in life. So, as far as dealing with it, as you put it, I think many people deal with it quite well. The theist believes that there will be a blissful eternal life for them, and the atheist believes in an eternal rest (non-existence). Either way, people deal with their own deaths pretty well, I think. People fear for others deaths more than theirs.

[Minimalist]

[emjay]

I think death will be a chaotic experience unlike anything we have ever known, as the brain and body both shut down, but I think there will be peace in its last moments; as the brain dies, the neurons die and all memories, hopes, and fears will all fall away leaving no fear of death at the end nor any desire for immortality.

As for how I feel about death, I love the idea of ceasing to exist. I much prefer that to the idea of an afterlife or reincarnation. I've already made my peace with the idea that my life will mean little to anyone once I am gone. Even the greatest figures in history are only remembered for the things they have done, not for all the details of their life. And mine will be forgotten probably within a generation.

[henryp]

I've said this before, a lot of first worlders have a period of upwards of 60 years where death isn't a threat.  That's unheard of in the history of mankind.  It just has never happened.  We're not being drafted into wars.  Our countries aren't under any real threat of invasion.  Diseases and accidents are mostly flukish.  You can coast through decades without having to worry about it.

I'm not scared of crippling arthritis.  I don't quake in my boots at the idea of dementia.  But if my body becomes wracked with pain, or my mind starts going, my attitude towards it is going to change in a hurry.  

In the end, I just don't think humans are able to project that far into their future.  We are relatively short term thinkers.  That's why we'll skip the 1 minute it takes to put on sunscreen even though we all know about skin cancer.  Or we'll eat unhealthy.  Or smoke cigarettes.  Because we view the consequences of maybe getting cancer or heart disease somewhere down the road as abstract.

What's telling will be what happens when the end game roles around, and things get real.  I don't doubt that some people will be able to play it cool while others lose their shit.  At the same time, I'd guess that who's who on the spectrum of going out with grace and who's filled with terror will have pretty light correlation to the game they talked during the easy years.

[VeggieDog]

It appears to me that atheists feel the anxiety of death a little more than the average theist. I collaborated with many other artists to create something that illuminated this issue:>snip<. As atheists, I am interested to know how you are affected by and deal with the prospect of a definitive end to your existence. Any thoughts?

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I'm happy with my life, and I'm not worried about the afterlife (there isn't one).  It's the transition that terrifies me.  

[robvalue]

There's the whole "no atheist in a foxhole" nonsense. But anyone hiding in a foxhole is someone who does not believe a God is protecting them in any meaningful way.

Actions speak louder than professed beliefs.

[Regina]

I find I fear actual death itself less since becoming an atheist. I'm sure it'll be nothing (certainly not the Heaven or Hell situation of Abrahamic religions anyway) so I don't see reason to be scared of it. I won't know.

What scares me more is if it'll be long drawn out or painful. I have to admit, I would be scared if I was in a situation where I knew it was coming, like a terminal illness, and probably wouldn't be able to deal with living my last few weeks as a vegetable. I hope to die in my sleep or otherwise unexpectedly.

[henryp]

There's the whole "no atheist in a foxhole" nonsense. But anyone hiding in a foxhole is someone who does not believe a God is protecting them in any meaningful way.

Actions speak louder than professed beliefs.

You guys' standards for the behavior of the religious are absurd. (not just you, and not just in this thread) 

I know not wearing sunscreen can cause skin cancer.  I REALLY don't want skin cancer.  And I still don't wear sunscreen all the time.  

Are you telling me that I don't really believe not wearing sunscreen increases my risk of skin cancer?  Or that I really don't care if I get skin cancer?  Those are both undeniable facts and I STILL can't behave accordingly.  The human brain just pushes us to do some wonky shit, and the oft repeated bullshit argument that if a theist doesn't do every single fucking thing absolutely perfectly in line with every belief they have, then they are awful and/or don't really believe is just dumb.


 

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I believe a roller coaster is 99.9999% safe. I still get nervous when it's going up the big hill. That's probably a better analogy.

[Simon Moon]

I will reiterate what most are saying here.

I don't fear death, I fear how I will die.

I had more anxiety about death when I was a theist than I do now. I am glad that there are no afterlives as depicted in any religious texts.

[Marsellus Wallace]

TBH, death scares the shit out of me :/