Widow of Mark Fleischman reveals he turned from a 'complete Atheist' to believing in God

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

Finally, a wise answer. So rare for the religion forum.

I completely understand, PP.

I'm a scientist who intellectually cannot bring myself to believe in something I can't prove, but the rituals are comforting and sometime instinctive. They fulfill a different, more primal need.

In other words, you're above it all, too, but can understand how other, less educated people could find something comforting in religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

Who knows, maybe you'll die before your religious parents do and they'll be at your bedside being comforted by their religion and then give you a big religious funeral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

Who knows, maybe you'll die before your religious parents do and they'll be at your bedside being comforted by their religion and then give you a big religious funeral.

Wow.

No comment necessary. PP says it all themself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

Who knows, maybe you'll die before your religious parents do and they'll be at your bedside being comforted by their religion and then give you a big religious funeral.

I am the PP. Well, if I have to go before them, that’s fine with me. Why would I care if my parents give me a big religious funeral? It would comfort them and I will be dead so it would be irrelevant to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

I'm agnostic, but I suspect you do believe in your deepest self that god exists. It's clear reading your post. I had a near death experience as a child which caused me to 1) lose all fear of death and 2) decide my then religion was a bunch of hogwash. What remains is belief that...something....comes after, but I have no clue if it involves "god".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

Finally, a wise answer. So rare for the religion forum.

I completely understand, PP.

I'm a scientist who intellectually cannot bring myself to believe in something I can't prove, but the rituals are comforting and sometime instinctive. They fulfill a different, more primal need.

In other words, you're above it all, too, but can understand how other, less educated people could find something comforting in religion.

Those are your words, not anyone else’s. What a sad outlook on life you have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

I'm agnostic, but I suspect you do believe in your deepest self that god exists. It's clear reading your post. I had a near death experience as a child which caused me to 1) lose all fear of death and 2) decide my then religion was a bunch of hogwash. What remains is belief that...something....comes after, but I have no clue if it involves "god".

I’m the PP, and no, I don’t. I do not believe god exists. I do believe ritual can be comforting at end of life as well as ties to family, and that could make my childhood religion come back into my life.

Honestly the arrogance of some of the posters in this forum is pretty remarkable. You think you know my own beliefs better than I do? Absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

I'm agnostic, but I suspect you do believe in your deepest self that god exists. It's clear reading your post. I had a near death experience as a child which caused me to 1) lose all fear of death and 2) decide my then religion was a bunch of hogwash. What remains is belief that...something....comes after, but I have no clue if it involves "god".

I’m the PP, and no, I don’t. I do not believe god exists. I do believe ritual can be comforting at end of life as well as ties to family, and that could make my childhood religion come back into my life.

Honestly the arrogance of some of the posters in this forum is pretty remarkable. You think you know my own beliefs better than I do? Absurd.

Look into your heart, pp. Methinks thou protests too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

I'm agnostic, but I suspect you do believe in your deepest self that god exists. It's clear reading your post. I had a near death experience as a child which caused me to 1) lose all fear of death and 2) decide my then religion was a bunch of hogwash. What remains is belief that...something....comes after, but I have no clue if it involves "god".

I’m the PP, and no, I don’t. I do not believe god exists. I do believe ritual can be comforting at end of life as well as ties to family, and that could make my childhood religion come back into my life.

Honestly the arrogance of some of the posters in this forum is pretty remarkable. You think you know my own beliefs better than I do? Absurd.

Look into your heart, pp. Methinks thou protests too much.

Sure, Jan.

There are so many trolls on this forum now, both religious and atheist. It’s ridiculous. I don’t know why I even tried to give a thoughtful answer. There is no point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

Who knows, maybe you'll die before your religious parents do and they'll be at your bedside being comforted by their religion and then give you a big religious funeral.

I am the PP. Well, if I have to go before them, that’s fine with me. Why would I care if my parents give me a big religious funeral? It would comfort them and I will be dead so it would be irrelevant to me.

You said above that you'd likely revert to your childhood religion when you were dying, assuming your parents would be long gone. Maybe they will still be here and you can all be religious together before you die. It would bring them great peace, and as you say -- it would be irrelevant to you, assuming you still don't believe. But if you actually revert back to religion, then you'll have a chance at heaven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vegetable is a really offensive word to apply to a human being. Plus, how does someone in a non responsive state communicate religious beliefs or the desire to commit suicide?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/07/13/studio-54-mark-fleischman-suicide-dies/

More about it here.

“I don’t believe in the hereafter.”
-MF

We actually didn’t hear his words. We heard his wife’s message.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

Who knows, maybe you'll die before your religious parents do and they'll be at your bedside being comforted by their religion and then give you a big religious funeral.

I am the PP. Well, if I have to go before them, that’s fine with me. Why would I care if my parents give me a big religious funeral? It would comfort them and I will be dead so it would be irrelevant to me.

You said above that you'd likely revert to your childhood religion when you were dying, assuming your parents would be long gone. Maybe they will still be here and you can all be religious together before you die. It would bring them great peace, and as you say -- it would be irrelevant to you, assuming you still don't believe. But if you actually revert back to religion, then you'll have a chance at heaven.

That’s not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He only wanted to believe this as he got closer to death to make himself feel better about dying. I think many people feel this way as they get older.

I feel this way every time the airplane I'm riding in hits heavy turbulence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

Who knows, maybe you'll die before your religious parents do and they'll be at your bedside being comforted by their religion and then give you a big religious funeral.

I am the PP. Well, if I have to go before them, that’s fine with me. Why would I care if my parents give me a big religious funeral? It would comfort them and I will be dead so it would be irrelevant to me.

You said above that you'd likely revert to your childhood religion when you were dying, assuming your parents would be long gone. Maybe they will still be here and you can all be religious together before you die. It would bring them great peace, and as you say -- it would be irrelevant to you, assuming you still don't believe. But if you actually revert back to religion, then you'll have a chance at heaven.

That’s not true.

That's not your belief, but you won't know if it's fact or not until you die. Nothing supernatural can be proven, because it's beyond nature. People can believe whatever they want

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the snark here and I think OPs description was cruel and nasty (a vegetable? really?).

However, as to the general concept: I am an atheist who was raised in a very religious household, who became a secret atheist as a very young child. My family was and is very close and affectionate, and my parents remain devout. I believe it is highly likely that when I am dying, I will revert to my childhood religion. I doubt I will exactly believe in a god — I remember being skeptical very early though had no frame of reference to even explain that — but I am sure that the rituals and structure will be something familiar and probably comforting. My parents will be long gone, and I suspect that engaging with my childhood religion will be a way to feel close to them at a time when I am feeling scared and vulnerable.

That’s probably too earnest for this thread, though, and will probably make both the religious and atheist trolls who live in this forum now angry.

Who knows, maybe you'll die before your religious parents do and they'll be at your bedside being comforted by their religion and then give you a big religious funeral.

I am the PP. Well, if I have to go before them, that’s fine with me. Why would I care if my parents give me a big religious funeral? It would comfort them and I will be dead so it would be irrelevant to me.

You said above that you'd likely revert to your childhood religion when you were dying, assuming your parents would be long gone. Maybe they will still be here and you can all be religious together before you die. It would bring them great peace, and as you say -- it would be irrelevant to you, assuming you still don't believe. But if you actually revert back to religion, then you'll have a chance at heaven.

That’s not true.

That's not your belief, but you won't know if it's fact or not until you die. Nothing supernatural can be proven, because it's beyond nature. People can believe whatever they want

Yes, it’s rather difficult to prove a negative. Like it’s hard to prove that Santa doesn’t exist.