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I wrote this article about grieving as an atheist. (sciactive.com)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by hperrin@lemmy.world to c/atheism@lemmy.world
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I talk about my beliefs about what happens during the process of death, and how that can provide comfort as an atheist.

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[-] APassenger@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

I want neither a religious leader nor some physicist with vague "energy" platitudes as a speaker at my funeral. But I think that's the thing. Death is personal. We want different things. And that's it's own beauty.

For me... I want an atheist with an understanding of pain, suffering, delight and nothingness. Someone to, without lecturing, explain that in my view I was not here for eons. Then, for a brief period I lived. I stumbled, loved, and grew old. I relished my moment. I saw it for what it was and made what I could of it. And now I return to the nothing.

Selfless, selfish, nurturing and angry. I did it all. I stayed at home for vacation, I traveled. I was poor. I had a season of money. I lived my moment. I am at peace with that. It could have been far, far worse.

And while returning to the nothing may seem ghastly to some, to me it has beauty. Symmetry.

Even this happy life has struggle. One day, the struggle ends.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

I honestly don't care what happens at my funeral because I won't be there. As long as my loved ones are satisfied, that's all I hope for. I just posted that because I know many atheists who grieve have found it comforting.

[-] APassenger@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

This is the same conversation my wife and I just had. Funerals are for the living. That's not to dismiss them, I think they serve a purpose in helping the living reconcile to their new normal.

this post was submitted on 11 Jun 2024
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