Madalyn Murray O'Hair Atheism?

[lewisnotmiller]

But I'm just asking a question being afraid of death is this not proof that there is no such thing as an Athiest?

I do not get it why would you be afraid of death if you don't believe?

Sorry, I just noticed this.
Atheists aren't afraid of what comes after death for themselves. But they can be terribly afraid of;
1) The process of dying
2) The impact them leaving has on loved ones
3) Unfinished business...for example 'But my son and I fought and I called him terrible things and I'll never be able to set it right...'

If anything, those who believe in an afterlife and a just God should be the ones unafraid of death, no? But ultimately, humans and humans.

 

[SomeRandom]

Umm fear is a natural human instinct. Why wouldn't someone who was kidnapped not be afraid?
Not sure what that has to do with any position of theism or indeed lack thereof. Athiests still have human instincts and emotions.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

No I am not making apologies for this thread nor do i take it back. The reason is Madylin Murray O'hair opened her big fat mouth and fought with Christians and laughed in the face of death bragging that she would never be afraid of death and laughed it off while making fun of Christians for believing in hell and heaven all those years.

That's why this thread is up she opened her big fat mouth and bragged about never being afraid to face death. The way she talked about it laughing at death yea I think she deserves some criticism.

I don't fear death. But on the interstate, in a torrential downpoor, high gusts of wind, and being surrounded by semi-trucsk, that is a very stressful and fearful experience, especially when you hydroplane and realize you are at the mercy of hydroplaning, the gusts of wind, and the turbulence thrown at you from the trucks. I wasn't afraid to die as a Christian, but the time I almost drown did set off a huge wave of panic and fear and it would be several years before I could comfortably get in a wave pool that allows inter tubes.
If you are put in a such a dangerous life or death situation as the lady in your OP, if you don't experience fear you probably have some serious mental health issues going on because it certainly would not be normal, regardless one's attitude towards death.

 

[Trailblazer]

It's natural for us all to fear death.
But for atheists, it's not because a sky fairy would judge us harshly.

I do not worry about being judged by God because I do not think God judges anyone....
For me, it is not fear but rather anxiety, because there is no brochure, so I don't know what the accommodations and scenery and itinerary are going to be on the other side, and eternity is a long time not to know these things....

I think that God could have told us a little bit more about where we are going for eternity given everything we had to endure in this mortal life....

 

[HonestJoe]

Yea I know some will say its natural to be afraid but I don't think so, if your an atheist who claims not to be afraid?

There’s a distinction between fear of the process of dying and fear of what might happen afterwards. Anyway, that would apply equally to Christians (and others) who believe in a positive afterlife still fearing death in similar situations too. A fear of flying isn't the same as a fear of airports.

There’s also a distinction between a rational fear based on knowledge and understand and irrational fear based on instinct and our subconscious. For example, we fear the dark because of animal instincts and a natural fear of the unknown but even if we know we’re somewhere perfectly safe, darkness can still make us scared.

 

[Trailblazer]

There’s a distinction between fear of the process of dying and fear of what might happen afterwards. Anyway, that would apply equally to Christians (and others)

That is a good point. I do not really fear of the process of dying because I have no idea how that will take place, so to me there is no point worrying about it. However, I know that after I die I am going to another realm of existence for eternity so that is something to worry about, since I do not know much about where I will be going or what I will be doing for all of eternity.... now that is something to be worried about.

I do not really worry about being judged by God because I know I am doing the best I can to obey the Will of God and I will continue to do so till the end of my life... that is ll I can do, my best.

But it is the nebulousness of the afterlife that is troublesome.

I recently discovered this book I am reading that is very interesting. It is entitled Heaven and Hell, and the ideas it sets forth are closely aligned to what the Baha'i beliefs are about heaven and hell and the afterlife. I am very excited about this book and I might post a thread on it later, as soon as I have time. It is kind of like a "guidebook" to the afterlife, ways to strive towards heaven and avoid hell and help others do so. Much of this I already know, but there are some important details I have learned. Mind you, I have not completely bought off on it, but it makes perfect sense to me so it seems as if it could be true, at least in part. There are some things the author could not have known however, given the book was written in 1758. Time has marched on since then and God has spoken again.

 

[QuestioningMind]

Sense I have been debating Christians so much thought I would bring up a debate for Atheists.

Madalyn Murray O'air. I watched her speak on the Phil Donahue Show a few times. She always said she would welcome death and not be afraid.

I watched the investigation show too. She was kidnapped a long with her son, and they had gold tons of money in the bank. The killers later reported what happened and also witnesses that spoke to her son at the bank or where ever they kept their money that she and her son were terrified.

He kept having to calm her down. He had to go get money out of the bank for the kidnappers, they threatened to kill her if they did not get the money and guess what they got killed anyways.

Considering the fact that she as old and claimed she was not scared to die on the Phil Donahue show whats with all the fear.

Yea I know some will say its natural to be afraid but I don't think so, if your an atheist who claims not to be afraid?

Besides I have heard stories of Buddhist's who went to their grave with a smile on their faces gladly when they were put to death for their religion.

But why were they so stupid anyways? I thought she was smarter then that. Any time you get kidnapped and the kidnappers threaten to kill you if they can not have the money that means once they have your money your dead, your the only living witness. Never give over your money because the next ting that comes is death.

so why????????

I don't recall the exact quote from the show, but it seems to me that she was making a statement about not fearing any sort of retribution from any sort of a god when she died, not so much a declaration that she had no fear of no longer being among the living. The fact that I don't fear any judgement from god when I die doesn't mean that I won't make every effort possible to keep on living as long as possible.

 

[viole]

Sense I have been debating Christians so much thought I would bring up a debate for Atheists.

Madalyn Murray O'air. I watched her speak on the Phil Donahue Show a few times. She always said she would welcome death and not be afraid.

I watched the investigation show too. She was kidnapped a long with her son, and they had gold tons of money in the bank. The killers later reported what happened and also witnesses that spoke to her son at the bank or where ever they kept their money that she and her son were terrified.

He kept having to calm her down. He had to go get money out of the bank for the kidnappers, they threatened to kill her if they did not get the money and guess what they got killed anyways.

Considering the fact that she as old and claimed she was not scared to die on the Phil Donahue show whats with all the fear.

Yea I know some will say its natural to be afraid but I don't think so, if your an atheist who claims not to be afraid?

Besides I have heard stories of Buddhist's who went to their grave with a smile on their faces gladly when they were put to death for their religion.

But why were they so stupid anyways? I thought she was smarter then that. Any time you get kidnapped and the kidnappers threaten to kill you if they can not have the money that means once they have your money your dead, your the only living witness. Never give over your money because the next ting that comes is death.

so why????????

Well, foxholes are full of atheists. They would not be in foxholes, otherwise, but they would go with a smile to the next bomb tearing them to pieces. Why waste time in a stinking hole when you can meet Jesus, Buddha, Apollo or Whomever that very night?

In other words: being afraid of dying is probably a sign of distrust in cosmic designs and plans, and not the other way round.

Ciao

- viole