Accepting Death
by The conclusions of an atheist about the nature of death.
I was raised a Christian since birth. As a Christian I accepted death. I was sure that once I died I would go to Heaven and spend the rest of eternity in paradise. Death was not something to fear, it was sort of akin to changing your clothes. Once my earthly “clothes” were worn out, I would go to Heaven, where I could enjoy my heavenly “clothes”. Being a human being on earth was akin to having shorts and a t-shirt on, whereas being in heaven was akin to having an extremely nice tux on. I was living with total security pertaining to the world beyond this one. Then I became an atheist.
During the time that I transitioned from Christianity to atheism I wrestled with many questions. Christianity told me that there is a God watching over us and that there will be a Heaven after we die and many other nice things. When looking at atheism in comparison the belief system was more like there is no God so you are on your own in this world in that sense and when we die we are buried in the ground where we rot and our bodies are eaten by worms and shit out as little specs of dust. The Christian views are much more optimistic, but I chose to go with the atheist views largely for one main reason: they are true. I could believe that there was a God and that we went somewhere when we died, but then I would just be lying to myself to feel better. Instead I chose to accept the world as it was, with its harshness and everything.
As an atheist I had to find new answers to questions such as “why are we here?” and “what happens when we die?”, among others. The latter question I struggled with up until earlier this week. My reasoning told me that the most likely thing that happens when we die is that we simply cease to exist. Thats it, game over. I didn’t like that, but it was the truth and there was no use hiding from it. My beliefs about life after death have not changed. When we die, thats it, its game over, there is no after life, there is no reincarnation, there is nothing after we die. We simply cease to exist. However the other day I had an epiphany that made this truth acceptable.
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Post Commentdlcobb
On June 10, 2008 at 2:52 pm
very strange
phaedrus
On June 14, 2008 at 12:42 am
“However, in my mind, this classifies as a glorious death”
What a waste of a human life!
Paul Corvus
On June 14, 2008 at 9:50 am
Interesting read, I’ve had similar experiences. I was raised in a Christian family, but never embraced religion. I was an atheist up until a few years ago when I started studying buddhism. Now, I still don’t believe in god, but I don’t ‘not believe in god’ either. I am closest to a zen buddhist, but I don’t believe in reincarnation. I just believe in the here and the now.
I’ve heard stories of people being satisfied with life, and stopping eating.
There was once a master who had become content with life and stopped eating, he only meditated. A student came to him and said, “It is selfish for you to die now, for it is winter, and when we bury you, we will be outside in the cold.”
So the master continued to eat, just so he wouldn’t make others suffer for the inconvenience of the timing of his death. Later on he stopped eating, and died as spring arrived.
Jerry Wonker
On September 7, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Im an atheist too, the idea of heaven sounds horrid, can you imagine existing forever, doing the same things over and over, with no purpose?
Speed Limit
On October 28, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Undoubtedly interesting. How about suicide? What’s your view on that?
mysticguy77
On April 7, 2009 at 1:36 am
I absolutely agree with this.
I am also an atheist. I was surprised to see such an insightful article so in line with what I believe. I have always thought that by accepting death, and I mean fully drilling it through your head that it is the ultimate liberation, one could find peace. It is really not a bad thing, in actuality. Just non-conscious existance. I also agree that we can make our lives so much less painful, as long as they last, by embracing this truth. It’s beautiful: formless, timeless, and permanent. Thank you so much for getting this message out. Also, 1 more idea: I believe it is also possible, yet difficult, to grasp the concept of nonexistance. It can’t be done through traditional mental imagery. It is possible through letting go, contemplating formlesness, thinking of nothing whatsoever, etc. etc. but it can be done, and once you do it and align yourself with that, it isn’t ominous at all.
Kate
On July 12, 2009 at 5:55 pm
But your very questions themselves mean you’re questioning life. Who are you asking “why are we here?” If there is no God, why does it matter? There is no hope, no anything in such case. We’d be a random happening and the things that happen to you just do because it sucks to be you, not because there is a divine being intervening for the right reasons on your behalf. I don’t understand your view and I really don’t think you do either.
And I don’t believe a true Christian can become an atheist. If you are truly an atheist, you never were a Christian.