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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]FYI to the minister -- your last few communications have been with a different poster.

Getting back to your #4 - are you saying you regularly see "deathbed conversions"? Maybe not always to an established religion, but from people who have said they were atheists who when close to death say they they now believe in "god"?

If so, I'd imagine this would be a common occurrence in Hospice and would think there'd be a lot written about it.
I didn't find anything in a cursory google search.   Could  you direct me to information on this?

Thanks[/quote]

We were just talking about exactly this at my Hospice Center. There are four Ministers working at the center.  One of them is a more traditional protestant minister.  One is a Catholic Nun.  One is an AME Pastor.  And then me.  I am an Interfaith Minister.  I am one they call for anyone who isn't mainline Protestant or Catholic. I am trained to minister to people of all faiths.  I by default, get all the Atheists (along with a lot of people from Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist faiths).  To me, it's all the same.

I don't see what most people would describe as "deathbed conversions". Not in the sense of people asking for my help to "accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior".  I have literally never had that happen.  However, most of the people I spend time with at the end of life seem to become more spiritual as they approach their final days.  Maybe not religious, but certainly interested in talking about after-life, benevolent God, forgiveness, etc.

BUT - and I think this is really important - Keep in mind that I am a minister.  I visit everyone who comes into our center regardless of faith at least a couple of times.  I introduce myself, do a quick spiritual assessment, talk with the family, and let them know there is a minister on call any time they might need us.  I can't visit every patient every day.  We have 50 patients in our center and between 30 and 50 under Home Hospice Care.  A lot of my visits are at the request of the family or the patient.  If a patient has asked to see me or has asked that I remain bedside, chances are they are already thinking about religious or spiritual issues.  A person who is not interested in talking about religion is not likely asking to see a minister.

I guess my answer would be that in my experience even atheists who had no interest in talking with me when they were admitted to Hospice often ask for me when death becomes more of a reality.  But it's less about a "conversion" and more a need to express renewed interest in spirituality. Really it's not that different than the Catholic who hasn't been to Mass in many years - They will often ask me to give them Holy Eucharist.  Or they'll ask for a Priest to come in and give them Last Rites.

My discussion with my fellow Minsters led us to a couple of possible conclusions - The most obvious is that an atheist who was raised in a religious family finds comfort in the familiarity of religious sacrament.  Another is that the atheist who was raised in an evangelical church starts to question.  And that's scary.  I know how powerful those images of hell are.  I was raised Southern Baptist. The patient may be seeking that "Blessed Assurance".  But more often, I see patients who begin to experience and feel things they can't explain.  They aren't interested in hearing me read the Bible or preach.  But they do want to talk about God.  [/quote]

Thanks for this look into hospice life.   Please tell me, regarding my original question -- what do you know about writings on atheists regularly becoming more religious or spiritual in hospice.  [/quote]

Reminder to the hospice minister -- could you respond to the above question?[/quote]

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