Do atheists have deathbed conversions to faith? New study says this might be the case...?

Question

http://www.psmag.com/navigation/books-and-culture/do-atheists-have-deathbed-conversions-43291/

Conducted by scholars from three countries, reports that death-related thoughts lead us to reaffirm whatever belief system gives our lives meaning—and for atheists, that’s something other than religious faith.

“Our tentative conclusion is that even nonreligious people are tempted toward religious belief, if only implicitly, in the face of death,” writes Oxford University psychologist Jonathan Jong. He is lead author of a paper entitled “Foxhole Athiesm, Revisited,” published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

Answer 1

I am sure that is true. Then again I am also sure there are Christians and people of all religions who have doubted their belief when faced with death.



I believe there have been quite a few deists who have had doubts near death, and I am a deist.

Answer 2

Those who work with the dying say it almost never happens. Relatives and preachers have been known to lie about it, but objective observers say conversions are extremely rare.



Your own quote says so: "Conducted by scholars from three countries, reports that death-related thoughts lead us to reaffirm whatever belief system gives our lives meaning—and for atheists, that’s something other than religious faith. " In case your reading comprehension skills are sub-par, that's saying that atheists stay atheists when faced with death.

Answer 3

Our tentative conclusion is that even nonreligious people are tempted toward religious belief, if only implicitly, in the face of death,”



- WOW, a fundie tap dancing around intelligence, I don't think Baryshnikov could do it any better.

Answer 4

The source you quoted actually says no such thing.



It actually notes that when confronted with reminders of death, atheists tend to reaffirm their world view, believing there is no god and no afterlife.



I guess you're not really very good at critical reading, huh?

Answer 5

My grandfather didn't have any priests or anything come in on his deathbed. The man couldn't have given less of a crap about religion if he tried.

Answer 6

totally false and unsupportable!



The opposite is true!



Christians renounce Chrsitianity on the death of a loved one or their own imminent death and there is far more evidence for that!

Answer 7

This seems like an ad for a paper rather than a question

Answer 8

You are advancing horse poo poo..



An atheist who became an atheist by education, by researching History.....A real atheist is one who has done his homework...An atheist has learned that:

>All of the million or so religions are Man made.

>All of the 100,000 + gods are anthropomorphic creations.

>There are no supernatural, metaphysical or spiritual realms.

>Natural Selection and Evolution is the best explanation for the existence of life and is content with that.



How does one reverse all that and reaccept nonsense?

Answer 9

That the same lie as "No atheists in foxholes"

That's a fear driven lie from theists projecting their irrational fears into atheists.

Answer 10

Articles in The Watchtower tend to be biased. .

Answer 11

Contracts signed under duress are invalid

Answer 12

May be one or two...



There again, I have met ex Christians who became so in a 'fox hole'

Answer 13

do drowning men clutch at straws - research would show they do - but what does that prove? are all straws really made of steal rope?

Answer 14

that link doesn't go to any such research story.



but i do find it endlessly fascinating that priests and other religious parasites think it's ok to go and prey on the sick and dying - trying to scare them out of their wits.



you want to convert me - go for it - but i will have specific instructions as to who will have access to me when i'm sick and or dying.



no religious parasites...

Answer 15

"might" be the case......"might not" then as well.



Mo

Atheist

Answer 16

Lots of famous atheists last words...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF6cvAqv4Nc