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Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?

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Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
Anomalocaris Offline
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#21
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 10:23 am
(July 25, 2018 at 1:37 pm)DodosAreDead Wrote: Assume the child is very young, somewhere in the range of 4-8, perhaps? Their parents are religious. They're worried about hell. What will your response be?

I would say you will be at peace.
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Gawdzilla Sama Offline
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#22
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 10:34 am
(July 26, 2018 at 9:59 am)Mister Agenda Wrote:
(July 26, 2018 at 1:52 am)DodosAreDead Wrote: But then when they're about to die you're gonna leave them feeling betrayed, sad and confused.

Do you think anyone knows which breath is their last?

Lethal chamber.
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Alexmahone Offline
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#23
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 12:03 pm
(July 26, 2018 at 7:08 am)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: I'd lie to him/her and say "Yes, you're going to Heaven." Because theists have made that acceptable.

Atheists agree there's no good reason to believe that there's a Heaven. But this is different from proving there's no Heaven. So, going to Heaven is a real possibility.

Am I wrong?
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Angrboda Offline
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#24
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Sure, heaven is a real possibility. And monkey's might fly out of my butt. Just watch and you'll be amazed.
[Image: extraordinarywoo-sig.jpg]
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Crossless2.0 Offline
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#25
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 12:09 pm
(July 26, 2018 at 12:03 pm)Alexmahone Wrote:
(July 26, 2018 at 7:08 am)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: I'd lie to him/her and say "Yes, you're going to Heaven." Because theists have made that acceptable.

Atheists agree there's no good reason to believe that there's a Heaven. But this is different from proving there's no Heaven. So, going to Heaven is a real possibility.

Am I wrong?

No, you're not wrong. Not believing in unevidenced claims is not the same as proving the claim untrue.

That said, for me, the 'possibility' of such a thing being true pales in comparison with the 100%, rock-solid fact that people often believe things that bring them comfort, no matter how outlandish the claim.
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purplepurpose Offline
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#26
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 12:15 pm
What kid did to earn eternal bliss? What adult did to earn eternal vacation? It sounds stupid.
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AFTT47 Offline
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#27
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 5:52 pm
I would avoid this situation because I'm not a good bullshitter.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

Albert Einstein
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The Grand Nudger Offline
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#28
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 5:56 pm (This post was last modified: July 26, 2018 at 5:56 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
Tell them that there;s no such place. Then I'll tell them that I took their kitty cat to a farm upstate and killed it.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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Angrboda Offline
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#29
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Tell them that they're not going to suffer and that after they go to sleep their soul will be uploaded into a robot where they will live forever? Fuck if I know.

I'd probably smile, nod sagaciously, and assure them that everything is going to be all right. What's the point of an excursion into more elaborate fictions?
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The Grand Nudger Offline
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#30
RE: Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?
July 26, 2018 at 6:07 pm (This post was last modified: July 26, 2018 at 6:08 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
I see no dilemma in lying to a child in order to comfort them...honestly. I do it all day every day. If heaven is important to that kid...by god..that's where that kid is going, lol.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Find
Reply


Atheist Forums › Community › Atheism v
Atheists: What would you say to a dying child who asks you if they'll go to heaven?

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