Near death experiences for atheists or agnostics

[JohnCU]

has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

 

[Legendary]

I have - however it was a head injury so I don't have any recollection of what I thought at that time.

If it's any consolation, the people around me at the time were probably praying and yelling 'Holy shit!' so maybe that helped :laugh:

 

[Rufus12]

A baseball backstop cracked my head open when I was 8, but I didn't really believe in anything back then besides santa claus and the boogie man.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

yes, it is, and i think i'd do the same

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

yes, it is, and i think i'd do the same

insurance

 

[NarcoticHobo]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

Only if they live in a society where people are religious around them...

For instance here in China that's not really the case at all. I mean in provinces where there is a lot of buddhism I'm sure some non-buddhists would call out to buddha, but say you live in a daoist or confucian area, it would be inconceivable to call out to a "god" on your death bed.

Edit: A quick MSN chat reveals to me that this also does not occur in Japan, a strongly Buddhist country.

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

yes, it is, and i think i'd do the same

insurance

Yeah, but it doesn't work that way...much like insurance.

"Yeah, Geico, can I open a new policy? I was in an accident...yesterday."

 

[NarcoticHobo]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

yes, it is, and i think i'd do the same

insurance

Yeah, but it doesn't work that way...much like insurance.

"Yeah, Geico, can I open a new policy? I was in an accident...yesterday."

Actually according to Christian doctrine it does work that way, as most sects of Christianity hold that deathbed repentance still gets you in.

If we are working outside of Christian doctrine it becomes pretty much a non-issue for most other religions per my last post.

The only way i could see it not working that way is in some very small sects of christianity.

I don't know if it would hold that way in Islam or not, don't know enough about the fine details.

 

[aircooled]

I'm an atheist, I've almost died. Didn't change my beliefs and I didn't pray to anyone.

 

[0roo0roo]

anyone driving for a while has had one

 

[NarcoticHobo]

Originally posted by: aircooled
I'm an atheist, I've almost died. Didn't change my beliefs and I didn't pray to anyone.

/thread

 

[JRich]

I don't pray. I hope that I don't die.

 

[invidia]

Head-on collision at 55-60mph couple years ago. Is that a NDE? If it is, I'm still an atheist today.

 

[DefDC]

Yup. I was t-boned by a Firebird who'se driver passed out drunk behind the wheel. Hit me doing over 90. Threw the minivan I was drive was thrown 150 ft and flipped 3 times. I wasn't seriously injured, but I was scared as hell as the car was flipping. No religion before or after....

 

[I4AT]

Anyone that would call out to God at any time ever isn't an atheist, they're a closet believer. An agnostic I could completely understand, cause they can't make up their minds about anything, they believe when they want to, and don't when they don't want to.

 

[CKent]

I was in a wreck that should have killed me. Beliefs are the same.

When talking about NDEs you should specify if you're talking about almost dying, or having a spiritual out of body experience.

 

[Amused]

NDEs are hallucinations and feelings of euphoria caused by a lack of blood to the brain. People in centrifuges experience the same thing as they pass out: The bright light, the feeling of being outside one's body and the total euphoria. Add to that what the person believes and they will see what they think they will see.

In short, NDEs have nothing to do with anything spiritual. It is the mind simply starving for oxygen and shutting down.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Amused
NDEs are hallucinations and feelings of euphoria caused by a lack of blood to the brain. People in centrifuges experience the same thing as they pass out: The bright light, the feeling of being outside one's body and the total euphoria. Add to that what the person believes and they will see what they think they will see.

In short, NDEs have nothing to do with anything spiritual. It is the mind simply starving for oxygen and shutting down.

Agreed, but the more common definition of NDEs as spiritual experiences is different than what the OP is asking. I've seen two threads on NDEs lately which would have more appropriately been titled "have you come close to dying?". I think clarification is in order.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

No, what's really odd is the number of people who claim to believe in the great cosmic muffin who, when they have an accident or heart attack call a doctor, an ambulance or the fire department before they start praying. When push comes to shove even the most fervent bible-thumpers call the trained professionals first and the invisible man in the sky second. Odd, isn't it?

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: Amused
NDEs are hallucinations and feelings of euphoria caused by a lack of blood to the brain. People in centrifuges experience the same thing as they pass out: The bright light, the feeling of being outside one's body and the total euphoria. Add to that what the person believes and they will see what they think they will see.

In short, NDEs have nothing to do with anything spiritual. It is the mind simply starving for oxygen and shutting down.

I think you're confusing what the OP is talking about. He's talking about the fear of death causing you to pray to a god you don't believe in in the hopes that he's real and spares your life. You're talking about an out of body experience that people who were literally dead (and then resuscitated) or on the verge of death due to massive trauma requiring immediate medical intervention have.

I thought the same as you when I read the thread title though.

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: aircooled
I'm an atheist, I've almost died. Didn't change my beliefs and I didn't pray to anyone.

qft

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

No, what's really odd is the number of people who claim to believe in the great cosmic muffin who, when they have an accident or heart attack call a doctor, an ambulance or the fire department before they start praying. When push comes to shove even the most fervent bible-thumpers call the trained professionals first and the invisible man in the sky second. Odd, isn't it?

You're getting off on a tangent. I presume in a mocking tone that you are saying anyone who believes in God should pray for him to come down and save them and not rely on those who are on this Earth to help us?
Imagine, someone who doesn't even believe presuming to know that someone who does believe wouldn't be praying first as they call for help and not after. Not odd at all. Expected.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

No, what's really odd is the number of people who claim to believe in the great cosmic muffin who, when they have an accident or heart attack call a doctor, an ambulance or the fire department before they start praying. When push comes to shove even the most fervent bible-thumpers call the trained professionals first and the invisible man in the sky second. Odd, isn't it?

Exactly. I dont even know why religious people need health insurance. Just stay at home. If you die, its what Gawd-Jeebus-Lawdy wanted anyway. He has a plan for everyone, right?

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: AbAbber2k

Originally posted by: Amused
NDEs are hallucinations and feelings of euphoria caused by a lack of blood to the brain. People in centrifuges experience the same thing as they pass out: The bright light, the feeling of being outside one's body and the total euphoria. Add to that what the person believes and they will see what they think they will see.

In short, NDEs have nothing to do with anything spiritual. It is the mind simply starving for oxygen and shutting down.

I think you're confusing what the OP is talking about. He's talking about the fear of death causing you to pray to a god you don't believe in in the hopes that he's real and spares your life. You're talking about an out of body experience that people who were literally dead (and then resuscitated) or on the verge of death due to massive trauma requiring immediate medical intervention have.

I thought the same as you when I read the thread title though.

He was replying to my post.

Originally posted by: Ocguy31

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: JohnCU
has an agnostic or atheist here ever had a NDE? i haven't really, but there are times where i felt so sick that i got scared and prayed that god would help me, even though i don't believe in him, weird.

People who don't believe still seem to call out to God on their death beds. Odd, isn't it?

No, what's really odd is the number of people who claim to believe in the great cosmic muffin who, when they have an accident or heart attack call a doctor, an ambulance or the fire department before they start praying. When push comes to shove even the most fervent bible-thumpers call the trained professionals first and the invisible man in the sky second. Odd, isn't it?

Exactly. I dont even know why religious people need health insurance. Just stay at home. If you die, its what Gawd-Jeebus-Lawdy wanted anyway. He has a plan for everyone, right?

The both of you should be preaching in P&N :laugh: