Would you as an atheist EVER do this?

[emjay]

Suppose you have a religious person with a terminal illness. Would you as an atheist EVER try to convince him/her that there's no heaven or afterlife? I wouldn't! (Although I have a strong suspicion Dawkins would. )

No... at the end of the day, whatever gets people through the process of death is all good. But I don't any other time either really; I don't have any expectations of ever 'converting' a theist to atheism... I think that's something that can only come from within, if it comes at all. At the end of the day, when it comes to the crunch, the only difference I see between an atheist and a theist is expectations of what happens after the 'white light' as it were in an NDE or whatever... a theist expects heaven, and an atheist expects ceasing to experience... but the process of death... everything that leads up to that... the fear, the pain, the loneliness etc... is the same for everyone. Thinking of my own Christian family, if it's faith in God that gets them through all that, and makes that process a bit more bearable... then that's all good... but if it turns out that their 'faith' was more about hope than conviction, and they start to have doubts... and come to me, as an atheist, with what if questions about if it's not true, then all I'd try and do was assure them there was nothing to fear from ceasing to experience.

[The Valkyrie]

I've been in that situation and I would never do it. I also won't participate in the prayers of my patients or their families.

I also don't consider it my job, as an atheist, to try to de-convert a theist. Let them believe what they want, so long as they don't impose it on others, or use it to persecute or deny rights to others.

I will argue with theists until I'm blue in the face, though.

[Edwardo Piet]

Suppose you have a religious person with a terminal illness. Would you as an atheist EVER try to convince him/her that there's no heaven or afterlife? I wouldn't! (Although I have a strong suspicion Dawkins would. )

I certainly would if they were afraid they were going to hell.

[purplepurpose]

Priest from Russia said about ill people approximately this "Why should God cure you from your illness?" Meaning that unless you repent and accept God seriously, you won't be get better.

[Whateverist]

Maybe if the person was convinced he was going to hell I might try to ease his mind by telling him the good news.

[Abaddon_ire]

Suppose you have a religious person with a terminal illness. Would you as an atheist EVER try to convince him/her that there's no heaven or afterlife? I wouldn't! (Although I have a strong suspicion Dawkins would. )

Why do you think it would be even necessary? How old are you? You sound like a teen. And even my teens are long beyond that mode of thinking.

[Cyberman]

Very little makes me as blazing angry as using someone's death, imminent or post factum, as a preaching opportunity, in any context. Therefore I will never inflict it on others.

[Abaddon_ire]

Priest from Russia said about ill people approximately this "Why should God cure you from your illness?" Meaning that unless you repent and accept God seriously, you won't be get better.

He did? What a prick.

[Athene]

No. 
I would see it as serving no purpose other than my own, and I recognize that not everything's about me.

Also...It's an excellent way to your face pounded in by surrounding loved ones.

[The Valkyrie]

Very little makes me as blazing angry as using someone's death, imminent or post factum, as a preaching opportunity, in any context. Therefore I will never inflict it on others.

This.

Wholeheartedly.