Among Atheists, Talk Of Death

I've been thinking a lot lately about the "nones" — the one in five Americans who answer "none of the above" when asked about religion on surveys — and how this growing segment of America's population approaches the end of life.

Most nones have some kind of belief in God, spirituality or a higher power without attributing it to a specific religion, but unlike followers of many religions, they don't always have a concrete belief in the afterlife. And among the nones, the increasing number of atheists by definition don't believe in a spiritual existence after death.

But of all of the deaths the nation has experienced in the last year — including but not limited to the horrific shootings in Aurora, Colo. and Newtown, Conn. — the public conversation about suffering and mourning has often been couched in the language of faith.

In "The Blessings of Atheism," a New York Times opinion piece that ran this weekend, atheist author Susan Jacoby took issue with the "endless talk about faith in God as the only consolation for those devastated" by murders, such as in Newtown. "Some of those grieving parents surely believe, as I do, that this is our one and only life," she wrote.

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Seymour Kleerly

This anti- Religion believer in God has no idea (no one does) if there's an afterlife. I hope the good that I do will live on through those I've met and touched (spiritually). Christ's life is the ultimate example of dying phsyicaly yet living on spiritually.
- edc
  
  Sad to know you are so close, but so far away. I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to save me not by works of righteousnes, but by faith in His shed blood and ressurection from the dead,
- Michael G.
  
  Jesus Christ died physically and spiritually on that cross 2,000 years ago. But He was raised, not revived, to the fullness of life He had before the Cross; but now has it forever more.
- Tout
  
  SEYMOUR Hope you get a clearer knowledge about Christ, Who died and rose again. He left his teaching. Appointed Peter(and all Popes) as his representative. Some were bad in human live, never in Religious Teaching.
Luzmark1

I think the reason most have difficulties believing in a yearned for afterlife is that they havn't been born from above and or living heartilly ( how much to they spend on this life as compared to the next) like they believe it. If you know the Father and the Son in reality, you know that the earth in it's sinful cesspool will soon be burned up.and replaced. Yeeaaa!
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
  
  Lest presumption get the better of us, let us look toward that Day with fear and trembling, repentance and contrition, that we may be counted among the righteous and that great and terrible Day of the Lord, as it was so well put in Dies Irae:
  
  Day of wrath and doom
  impending,
  David’s word with Sibyl’s blending,
  Heaven and earth in ashes ending!
  
  Oh, what fear man's
  bosom rendeth,
  When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
  On whose sentence all dependeth.
  
  Wondrous sound the
  trumpet flingeth;
  Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth;
  All before the throne it bringeth.
  
  Death is struck, and
  nature quaking,
  All creation is awaking,
  To its Judge an answer making.
  
  Lo! the book, exactly
  worded,
  Wherein all hath been recorded:
  Thence shall judgment be awarded.
  
  When the Judge his
  seat attaineth,
  And each hidden deed arraigneth,
  Nothing unavenged remaineth.
  
  What shall I, frail
  man, be pleading?
  Who for me be interceding,
  When the just are mercy needing?
  
  King of Majesty
  tremendous,
  Who dost free salvation send us,
  Fount of pity, then befriend us!
  
  Think, kind Jesu! –my
  salvation
  Caused thy wondrous Incarnation;
  Leave me not to reprobation!
  
  Faint and weary, thou
  hast sought me,
  On the Cross of suffering bought me.
  Shall such grace be vainly brought me?
  
  Righteous Judge! for
  sin's pollution
  Grant Thy gift of absolution,
  Ere the day of retribution.
  
  Guilty, now I pour my
  moaning,
  All my shame with anguish owning;
  Spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning!
  
  Through the sinful
  woman shriven,
  Through the dying thief forgiven,
  Thou to me a hope hast given.
  
  Worthless are my
  prayers and sighing,
  Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
  Rescue me from fires undying!
  
  With Thy sheep a place
  provide me,
  From the goats afar divide me,
  To Thy right hand do thou guide me.
  
  While the wicked are
  confounded,
  Doomed to flames of woe unbounded
  Call me with thy saints surrounded.
  
  Low I kneel, with
  heart submission,
  See, like ashes, my contrition;
  Help me in my last condition.
  
  Ah! that day of tears
  and mourning!
  From the dust of earth returning
  Man for judgment must prepare him;
  Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!
  
  Lord, all-pitying,
  Jesus blest,
  Grant them thine eternal rest. Amen.
  - Luzmark1
    
    Beautiful poem and prophecy Andrew , I will copy this and check out Dies Irae. There is a poem from William Cooper that is similiar to this but I can't find it right now.
  - Tout
    
    PATTON Wasn't this sung in Catholic church at 'stations of the Cross' but in Latin ? We sang it in Flemish(Dutch).
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
      
      Sung in Latin? Yes. At the Stations of the Cross? Probably not, as you'd more likely hear Stabat Mater Dolorosa at Stations of the Cross. Still, if a church does have Stations of the Cross during Advent, you might have heard Dies Irae then. Stabat Mater Dolorosa is a hymn about Mary standing at the foot of the Cross and beholding Jesus as He was crucified, died, and taken down from the Cross.
  - mallen11
    
    There is no fear or trembling for those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior.
    True Biblical Christianity is GRACE vs. the works of man as in all other beliefs or religions. When people put their faith in anything (including science, humanism, etc.) besides Jesus Christ and His gospel they will be led astray. One may call themselves “Christian” but if they have not believed in Jesus Christ as their savior there is no eternal life. Religions do not teach the grace of God for salvation and living the Christian way of life; they have some type of “working” for their salvation and do-goodism to please their god. Every religious system only has dead leaders – Jesus Christ is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father – our savior. It is the risen Christ that confirms His substitutionary spiritual death on the cross. If at God consciousness one is positive to get information about God; He makes sure they get His message of salvation. Religions are the Devil’s Ace Trump.
    Phil 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
    John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
    I John 5:11-13 And this is the deposition, that God has given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
    Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
      
      "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12b
      
      "If anyone thinks he is secure, he should take care not to fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12
      
      We are instructed to examine ourselves to confirm that we really are faithful servants of God, for there are many who profess the Lord with their lips but deny Him in their actions. Who among the Apostles suspected Judas was capable of betraying Jesus? They trusted him with their money, after all, never suspecting that he was embezzling it. Matthew 7 illustrates that people are quite capable of even deluding themselves into thinking themselves great miracle workers when they in fact have no relationship with Christ. Those who sin flagrantly and deliberately deny the Lord, and graver still is the denial given by those who use God's grace as an excuse to sin, or who present themselves for Communion without repenting of their sins.
      - mallen11
        
        Some of the things you said I believe but this is what I believe about Phil 2:12 and 1 Cor 10:12 from my notes…
        First of all this is what I believe about Phil 2:12b. This text is often misused to instill fear into people, warning them that it means that they can lose salvation. What does it mean to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? Paul can hardly be encouraging believers to live in a continuous condition of nervousness and anxiety. That would contradict his many other exhortations to peace of mind, courage, and confidence in the God who authors our salvation. The Greek word translated "fear" in this context can equally mean "reverence" or "respect." Paul uses the same phrase in (2 Corinthians 7:15) where he refers to Titus as being encouraged by the Corinthians’ reception of him “with fear and trembling,” that is, with great humility and respect for his position as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul himself came to the Corinthian church in “weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3), mindful of the great and awesome nature of the work in which he was engaged.
        
        The sense in which we are to work out our salvation in fear and trembling is twofold. First, the Greek verb rendered “work out” means "to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition." We do this by actively pursuing obedience in the process of sanctification, which Paul explains further in the next chapter of Philippians. He describes himself as “straining” and “pressing on” toward the goal of Christlikeness (Philippians 3:13-14). The “trembling” he experiences is the attitude Christians are to have in pursuing this goal—a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and an awe and respect for His majesty and holiness. "Trembling" can also refer to a shaking due to weakness, but this is a weakness of higher purpose, one which brings us to a state of dependency on God. Obedience and submission to the God we revere and respect is our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2) and brings great joy. Psalm 2:11 sums it up perfectly: “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” We work out our salvation by going to the very source of our salvation—the Word of God—wherein we renew our hearts and minds (Romans 12:1-2), coming into His presence with a spirit of reverence and awe.
        
        1 Cor 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
        • This is the culmination of the previous verses
        • Clear cut and simple to follow – what do you think is in your soul?
        • Use the example of the Exodus generation that you don’t do the same
        • What do you stand for? If no spiritual life you substitute other things that are distractions.
        Hoste – therefore –
        Histaymi – to stand – as a result of what you have just learned
        • Always continue to be aware of your foundation – the Grace of God
        • Never forget the grace of God is in every area of your life
        • We must not search for strength in our own power – it must always come from Bible Doctrine through the Holy Spirit
        • Must stand by and watch the deliverance of God = Have a relaxed mental attitude under pressure and apply Bible Doctrine
        • Must press on to the high ground
        • Pressing on to the high ground is grace orientation from God – use rebound (1 John 1:9) and move on
        • Continue to take in the Word of God as your number one priority – never neglect Bible Doctrine
        • Continue to rest & think on Bible Doctrine in your soul or life will be terrible.
        • Standing is using Bible Doctrine under pressure – Stand and watch the deliverance of the Lord
        • Those who do not have Bible Doctrine standards will influence you if you can’t stand in the strength of Bible Doctrine.
        • If you have confidence in the Lord you will stand – never forget them – and you will not be influenced by those without Bible Doctrine or those who do not apply it.
        • There is always a danger in falling but it does not mean we lose our salvation – all it takes to stand on the principles of Bible Doctrine.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
        
        They are right to warn that you can lose salvation, for you most certainly can! Those who spurn God, though they were once faithful Christians, shall perish. For it is written, "If a righteous man, presuming his righteousness, does evil, he shall die for it, and none of his former virtue will be remembered." Where did this heresy of presumption come from? Did not even St. Paul fear for his soul?
      - mallen11
        
        This is final… Once one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ they cannot lose their salvation. One may go astray, some call it backsliding, some call it reversionism, etc. but since we had nothing to do with our salvation then there is nothing we can do to get out of it. No one can live a sinless life and God cannot go back on His Word. It is sad when people who have believed and then reject it but it is too late. That doesn't mean we can go out and live anyway we want because are going to heaven; it does mean that if we do go astray after salvation we will be discipline by God. That is what Paul was talking about too.
        If you can't believe what I write then at least believe God's Word…
        That is why we have 1 John 1:9 from the grace of God to confess, acknowledge or cite our sins so we can get back into spiritual fellowship but we do not have to be saved over and over because that is like Jesus Christ having to be crucified over and over. He died once for our salvation and as He said, "It is finished."
        John 10:28-29 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
        I John 5:11-13 And this is the deposition, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who BELIEVE in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
        I Pet 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
        Eternal salvation from sin, death and hell is the free gift of God's grace, and is based solely upon man's personal faith and belief in Jesus Christ. He voluntarily died as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins and arose bodily from the dead, thus guaranteeing our own resurrection to eternal life. This salvation is not received by, nor based on, any sacrament, merit, or good work on our part. This one who receives Christ's salvation is eternally secure. (John 1:11-13, 3:16, 5:24, 10:28-30, 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23-26, 5:8, 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:24-25; I Peter 1:18-19, I John 5:11-13)
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
        
        Concerning sacraments and salvation: 1 Peter 3:21 declares that Baptism saves us. Concerning salvation, anyone who does not obey Christ is not in Christ, for it is written, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life." Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 warns that unworthy Communion causes one to eat and drink damnation onto himself. This warning was not given to unbelievers, but rather to believers, warning that their lives and souls were in grave danger if they dared take Communion irreverently or with unconfessed grave sin.
        
        History likewise rebukes you, for in the early Church the unanimous teaching was that salvation was NOT secure while on Earth, and that those who denied Christ during the persecution or committed other grave sins were in danger of Hell. And believe me, Confession was a lot more embarrassing back then than it is today, because while the confession of sins may have been private, the penance imposed to restore full communion was quite public, and in some cases lasted for several years (for instance, those who committed abortion were generally required to do penance for ten years starting from the day of the confession before they would be allowed to take Communion again). While you didn't have to publicly disclose what sin you committed, your presence among the penitents did publicly disclose that you had committed a grave sin.
        
        Here is a discourse on what Christian bishops who lived during and shortly after the Roman persecutions said about mortal sin, confession and salvation: http://bfhu.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/church-fathers-and-confession/
      - mallen11
        
        You do not have the right to rebuke me or judge me nor do any of your RCC writings. Only God the Father; he is my authority, no other. See Matthew 7:1-2. It is very dangerous when we judge. As far are the verses you referred to…
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
        
        You have read the Scriptures, but you do not understand them. If you did, you would understand what it meant when Christ said, "Upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it," and "Unless you eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, you have no life within you." You have no authority to judge for yourself whether or not the Church is biblical. The Church is biblical because the Church is biblical, and according to the Bible, the Church cannot teach error, for she is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth (1 Timothy 3:15). If you disagree, it is because you are in rebellion and subjecting Scripture to private interpretation, but the Scriptures say, "No word of prophecy is ever subject to private interpretation."
      - mallen11
        
        Andrew, it is between you and God that you stick with your religion; I prefer to stick with the Word of God. From my notes…
        The RCC believes the “rock” was Peter. Petros: the name Peter – His given name was Simon but Jesus changed his name to Peter. Peter means stone – but is not THE Rock who is Jesus Christ. “Stone” is in the masculine gender in Greek. Petra is in the feminine gender and cannot refer to Peter the man. Petra means a large rock – the fortress can only be the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter was a leader of the Apostles until Paul took over. Peter was reprimanded by Paul (Gal 2:1). Peter was the first to confess that Jesus Christ is God and it is that statement that His church would be built – not a building but all Church Age believers. Peter was not the founder of the Church: I Peter (was built on the person of Jesus Christ and no one can pick up the mantel of Christ). The Apostles were given the authority to write the NT Epistles that were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Everywhere they went they established local churches (usually in homes) and left them with a pastor-teacher for the dissemination of the gospel and Bible Doctrine to grow spiritually. No one can be an Apostle after those 12 who had seen Christ.
        Could no longer be Apostles for no one could meet those qualifications.
        The successors are not some man but the NT itself.
        
        II Peter 3:15-16 and regard the patience of our Lord to be delivered; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable Christian distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
        (Paul had to brace and denounce Peter’s legalism in Jerusalem at one time and Peter realized it…
        Gal 2:11-12 But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.)
        Col 1:18 He (Christ) is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
        1 Timothy 4:2-4 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;
- Chris
  
  Are you delusional? Science says you are completely wrong. Most other countries have figured out that there are no gods and get on with life.
  - Luzmark1
    
    Science is limited to the natural senses and has no spiritual discernment as Jesus said to Nicodemus and the woman at the well. How can these things be Nicodemus said ? John 3:9 And Jesus said to the Woman "God is Spirit and those who worship Him most do so in Spirit and in Truth John 4:23. Science can see a miracle from creation to a healing but can't discern it's origin and give it a natural interpretation.When have the naions ever figured anything out about God apart form natural revelation and the Prophets or have the people wholly kept the commandments of God?
    - Tout
      
      It's easy to give up religion. It takes usually lots of study in this life to find that God exists. After death, we will all know that God exists.
      - Luzmark1
        
        Lots of study? "Out of the mouths of babes and suckling hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies,that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." Psalm 8:2 Also see Matt. 11:25 and 21:15. God bless.
      - mallen11
        
        To give up religion is very important because it is not Christianity. If I did not believe God exist then why believe in Him and what He tells us in His Word? Once a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ they know He exist especially since He is in us.
        The indwelling of the Trinity – John 14:23, 2 John 9
        God the Father: The Planner of all things John 10:30, Eph 1:3, 6, 12, Rom 1:3-6
        God the Son: Carries out God’s plan John 14:20, 17:2 & 23, Rom 8:10, II Cor 13:5, Gal 2:20, Col 1:27, I John 2:24
        God the Holy Spirit: basis for spirituality and spiritual growth: John 14:26, John 15:26 Rom 8:11, I Cor 3:16, I Cor 2:9-16, 6:19-20, II Cor 6:16, Eph 6:18
  - Michael G.
    
    Why do you persist, Chris? Science says nothing of the kind. You say most other countries have figured out there are no gods; so, how do you know this? You present not one convincing argument. All you present is your own opinion, and it is only yours. You are above all to receive the most pity. How sad. You can rail all you want, and you'll never convince me otherwise.
    I sure hope you figure this thing out…
  - Tout
    
    CHRIS Poor fellow. Science is unable to prove this wrong. Many intelligent men learned this. You get on with life, learn Truth after you die.
    - mallen11
      
      John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
      No need to wait until we pass from death to eternity when we know from His Word who and what He is and we have eternal life with Him if we have believed in Him.
      I John 5:19-20 We know that we are of God and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
      John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
      John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears MY word, and believes Him who sent ME, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
      Phil 1:16 For me to live, Christ; to die gain.
  - mallen11
    
    We are not other countries and there is no other country where I would want to live; especially godless ones. They are not happy people.
John Adams

There is a real Heaven, and there is a real Hell. How one deals with Jesus Christ determines which one is in one's future.
- Michael G.
  
  You're absolutely right. Eternity is real; I know, I've seen it–oh, not physically like I see this computer screen; but vicariously during the moments of my wife's death. Eternity is more real than the physical world we live in. To reject that Eternity is playing with fire.
fliteking

Article: "took issue with the "endless talk about faith in God as the only consolation for those devastated"

How dishonest and short-sighted is Jacoby? Quite.
LoneStar

Death, is only the Beginning. [Jesus, Dont leave this world without him]
Michael G.

I feel sorry for atheists, I really do. They have nothing to look forward to. But their position doesn't change anything–there is a life after this one. I don't care if no one believes it or not, looks for it or not, or gets involved in it or not. Truth is truth; and that isn't changing. One second after death, you'll know where you're going to be spending Eternity.
One place to be avoided, Hell, Christ talked about more than He did about Heaven. A person can be born Once, and die Twice; or he can be born Twice, and die Once.
That simply means this: A person is born physically–once. He grows and experiences physical death. During the Judgement, if he is completely lost, he will experience the 2nd Death (the Lake of Fire). If a person is born once, physically, and accepts what Christ did on the Cross for him, personally, he will miss the 2nd Death; and will move from Death to Life with Christ forever.
Now, which one do you want?
Joe Anzilotti

Among Atheists, talk of Death–I am afraid that, that is all they talk about! If not their own then everyone else's. It is the devil's thing. Just the title of the article is on the money.
Joe Anzilotti

BTW is there anything else that Atheists can talk about? Oh, pardon me, I just thought of something–SELF. If there is something else, someone please remind me.