I'd like the atheists on this forum to honestly and sincerely answer the above question.Do u hv so much convictn in ur positn that the thought of reconciling with "any god",be it Allah,Buddha,Jesus etc. will not cross ur mind at death?.Would u remain unflinching even in d face of death?(ps-the topic of this thread is not intended 4 critism)

What kind of death ?
If it is a violent death you are talking about then the question is this. If the atheist accepts the religion to avoid death at the hands of his aggressor, is he really accepting it in the true spirit of whatever religion his attacker adheres to ?

If you mean however a peaceful death, the type where you feel your life is ebbing away and you know there is no more time left, then the answer is an open one.
I personally would not even consider it. I can speak for myself only.

I do have to point out that you used a very wide term ie "cross your mind". I am answering you within a narrow context because I dont think you mean the word in its fullest sense. I think the term "consider" would be much better.

@Op.
Many  dont really understand what athiesm is about. This kind of question is what really makes athiest laugh at religious people. It proves that religious belief itself is not grounded on anything concrete, but rathe, isr grounded on the fear of the unknown. If I have to believe in and worship  a god for the fear of what he might do to me, then that god is simply not worthy of the respect and adoration that is acorded to it.
Athiesm is very simple.: A lack of belief.
It is quite hard to imagine that an all-knowing, loving  and wise god who created the univerese 8 billion yrs ago, waited another 4 billion yrs later to create the earth, then waited another 4 billion yrs again to create humans, just so that we can spend less than a hundred yrs to beileve, worship him and then die. We athiests think that is just wishful fantasies that dont make any sense.

Since everything that lives must eventually die, why would an athiest or anyone for that matter,be afraid of death?
If atheist are wrong and there is indeed a god, we are still of the opinion that religion is an insult to such a being. So Athiests, in my mind, would be the ones who stand to be commended by the diety for thier courage in asking questions and seeking answers instead of walking with blind faith.

@ jayriginal,i mean a peaceful kinda death on a deathbed where u hv tym 2 reflect on ur life. @plaetton,u wud agree wif me dat several of us in nigeria hv religious root.many were born n bred in religion.so there's a possibility of being doubtful of ur stance at death.i read dat thomas payne,voltaire,francis newport n some odas were doubtful of their positns when on their deathbeds.

I have had a brush with death once and all the Gods of man made religions were the last thing on my mind, my mum and my girl friend were the only things that popped out of my mind and the thought of death itself, I was wondering if it was going to be painful and slow. . . It all happened in a flash was so lucky. . .The two people beside me shouting Jesus, Jesus were the ones that ended up dead. . . .Luckily I survived. .  .The thought of all the Gods of man made religions and all the imaginary places(heaven, hell, life after death, reincarnation) that religions thrives on will always be the last thing on my mind when I come face to face with death again. . . .Am not afraid of death, am afraid of dying(the process) not death, cos the FACT is NOBODY knows ANYTHING about death, people are ONLY going to profess the opinions, fantasies and mythologies  of others they have been indoctrinated and made to accept which have NOTHING to do with the reality of death. .  . . . .So YES, I will remain an atheist in the face of death. . .

We face death every day.
With travelling and all kinds of risks we take.
Even with what we eat.
If death comes, I have lived a good life.
I lack nothing.
Praise my God.
No need to fast and pray.

What will be will be. . . .NO ONE CAN STOP THE FUTURE.
Get ready to die ANY MOMENT FROM NOW.

About twelve years ago while on a British Airways flight to Nigeria i faced (what Nigerians would call) a near death situation. About two hours into our while passengers were queueing to use the toilet talking to friends in other seats etc an announcement came on the speakers saying that all passengers and flight staff should return to thier seats and fasten thier seatbelts that the plane would be flying through turbulence.

Everybody including the flight crew returned to thier seats and fastened thier seatbelts. About five minutes later the plane began to shake violently. And to add to this the plane was going down to avoid the turbulence. Which gave the body the sensation of being in a roller coaster.

Checkout all the Nigerians who were all praying at the top of thier voices as this plane was going down and shaking violently. See thier body language. Praying as if they think thier going to die. Now you compare this to the (white)  cabin crew I observed who appeared cool and relaxed because they've been there many times before and the only white person in economy class who was just relaxed and chilling reading bis magazine.

You guys should've been on that flight to compare the behaviour of our Godfearing Nigerians who are afraid of going to heaven to the civilized white people on the flight.

Wasn't even afraid in the face of supposedly death. Would've just been disappointed that I hadn't had the chance to pass my genes onto my next generation.

He or she who has never been on a plane experiencing turbulence WITH NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS ON BOARD. . .has missed the entertainment of of a LIFETIME!!!

This topic is too serious.

Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisco Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

manmustwac:


You guys should've been on that flight to compare the behaviour of our Godfearing Nigerians who are afraid of going to heaven to the civilized white people on the flight.

The highlighted part says it all. . . They know very well that they are deluding themselves, if not why won't they be happy to die and go to heaven if they know its real. . . . .Delusion at its best. . . .

Martian:

This topic is too serious.

Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisco Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Really funny

Well,i fink d reason why religious pple re afraid to die is because they dont liv by d tenets of the holy book dat they claim 2 bliv.Many nigerian xtians dont even liv like pple who bliv in a terribl,fearful,fiery place like hell fire.this makes me wonda if religion is on point.

yes, yes i will.

Everyone must die and then find out if he really made the right choices, You can't be dying and be flinching thats cowardice and stupidity. Hold on to what you believe

Most religious people don't understand atheists, they place so much assumptions as our underlying reasons. Yea I would be afraid, but the word Jesus sounds so useless and helpless. I just know that life and everything ends for me and that will be the sad part. Afterlife is wishful thinking. I too aware of many cultures with that mentality.

Dumb topic, brilliant answers,

@manmustwac and lasinoh, its really an experience to pass through turbulence with Nigerians. First time I experienced it, I simply held on to my seat. Come and hear my compatriots screaming and "cabashing".
All I could think of was the pilot and how he must have nerves of steel flying Nigerians on a constant basis. When we were up in the air, I looked down and nodded to myself. Simply I was thinking what are the chances of surviving a crash. Needless to say, I didnt rate the chances to highly. Therefore when the turbulence started, I wasnt bothered a bit. I simply held on to my seat. Screaming Jesus has no effect whatsoever.

mazaje:

I have had a brush with death once and all the Gods of man made religions were the last thing on my mind, my mum and my girl friend were the only things that popped out of my mind and the thought of death itself, I was wondering if it was going to be painful and slow. . . It all happened in a flash was so lucky. . .The two people beside me shouting Jesus, Jesus were the ones that ended up dead. . . .Luckily I survived. .  .So YES, I will remain an atheist in the face of death. . .

I've had a gun pulled on me twice. The first time, I was with my girlfriend and they hit me over the head with the gun and threatened to kill me. Then they made us lie face down on the floor. I whispered to my girlfriend not to put her head on the floor (in case they want to step on our heads) but to rest her head face down on her arms.

Now apart from a cut on the head, we didnt suffer any further injuries.
Meanwhile, in one of the rooms nearby, a christian was praying and speaking in tongues (he turned out to be from christ embassy). He started out praying softly, gradually increasing in volume and tempo until with a great shout, he charged out of his room and chased the thieves out of the compound. This is all real, and for the sake of brevity, I've left out a lot of details. He chased the thieves out of the compound armed with only the imaginary power of God.
Sometimes these things happen and would seem to vindicate the religious minded but there are a number of other explanations I can offer as alternatives.

Now I was in Lagos on the 3rd of February and I met an old friend who told me he had started going to church once again. He was robbed (it was even reported here on Nairaland. I believe it made the front page. He said the robbers made them all lie down and they beat him up. Then one of them asked him where he was from and he replied he was Ibo. The robber then spoke Ibo to him and he replied. They left him alone and beat the guy lying down next to him and then shot him in the head. My friend reports that all his childhood prayers came back to him in a flash and that he was expecting to die next.
Having not died, he is now a church goer these days.

Everybody is different. The same experience would provoke different reactions in different people.
I just thought I should share with the house.

jayriginal: @manmustwac and lasinoh, its really an experience to pass through turbulence with Nigerians. First time I experienced it, I simply held on to my seat. Come and hear my compatriots screaming and "cabashing".
All I could think of was the pilot and how he must have nerves of steel flying Nigerians on a constant basis. When we were up in the air, I looked down and nodded to myself. Simply I was thinking what are the chances of surviving a crash. Needless to say, I didnt rate the chances to highly. Therefore when the turbulence started, I wasnt bothered a bit. I simply held on to my seat. Screaming Jesus has no effect whatsoever.


I've had a gun pulled on me twice. The first time, I was with my girlfriend and they hit me over the head with the gun and threatened to kill me. Then they made us lie face down on the floor. I whispered to my girlfriend not to put her head on the floor (in case they want to step on our heads) but to rest her head face down on her arms.

Now apart from a cut on the head, we didnt suffer any further injuries.
Meanwhile, in one of the rooms nearby, a christian was praying and speaking in tongues (he turned out to be from christ embassy). He started out praying softly, gradually increasing in volume and tempo until with a great shout, he charged out of his room and chased the thieves out of the compound. This is all real, and for the sake of brevity, I've left out a lot of details. He chased the thieves out of the compound armed with only the imaginary power of God.
Sometimes these things happen and would seem to vindicate the religious minded but there are a number of other explanations I can offer as alternatives.

Now I was in Lagos on the 3rd of February and I met an old friend who told me he had started going to church once again. He was robbed (it was even reported here on Nairaland. I believe it made the front page. He said the robbers made them all lie down and they beat him up. Then one of them asked him where he was from and he replied he was Ibo. The robber then spoke Ibo to him and he replied. They left him alone and beat the guy lying down next to him and then shot him in the head. My friend reports that all his childhood prayers came back to him in a flash and that he was expecting to die next.
Having not died, he is now a church goer these days.

Everybody is different. The same experience would provoke different reactions in different people.
I just thought I should share with the house.

out of all posters on this thread,i think u understand me the most.

if becoming an extremist muslim will keep me alive.. Hell Yea.. (for the duration) only devout extremist will die for a God who took his time to create them for absolutely no reason..

Yes. What else can I be?

I think virtually all atheists will stick to atheism in the face of death.

Uyi Iredia: I think virtually all atheists will stick to atheism in the face of death.

You mean like an atheist martyr, that's a first

lagerwhenindoubt:

You mean like an atheist martyr, that's a first

I simply think death won't cause them to rescind their beliefs.

[s]If you ask me to renounce atheism or die, I'd renounce and denounce it on the spot. It would be a very easy decision to make, really. Very easy.[/s]

Seun: If you ask me to renounce atheism or die, I'd renounce and denounce it on the spot. It would be a very easy decision to make, really. Very easy.

...

[s]Atheism is not a religion. It's not something you are meant sacrifice your life for. Atheists treasure this life because they know of no other life.[/s]
It seems I was answering the wrong question. Apologies.

Interesting.

Seun: [s]Atheism is not a religion. It's not something you are meant sacrifice your life for. Atheists treasure this life because they know of no other life.[/s]
It seems I was answering the wrong question. Apologies.

i didn't mean it dat way.what i was asking is if u'd renounce atheism n embrace a belief in god when u know death is near.

Beretta92: i didn't mean it dat way.what i was asking is if u'd renounce atheism n embrace a belief in god when u know death is near.

I doubt it, I've been an atheist for too long to have any reasonable doubts.

But I would not look down on an atheist/agnostic who decided to "embrace God" at the last moment. Death must be a very hard thing to face, and it's not my place to quarrel with a dying person's choice of how to cope with it. Let's not forget that atheism is not a religion!

seun you're an atheist?
hmm...never knew that.

Martian: https://www.nairaland.com/861381/remain-atheist-face-death#10109118

LMFAO!