OP, if you think your mother was wrong, then start out the conversation by telling her that she's wrong. This can't be the first thing that you've ever disagreed with your mother about.

Anonymous wrote:Op ~ you are making this about you.

Don't make it about you - and your mother letting *you* down.

That's not being very nice.

Ummmm... her mom is DEAD. Her grief is about her loss of her mother. Grief is always about the person doing the grieving and their loss. Always.

You're kind of an idiot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist and I talk with deceased friends and family all the time. They're in my head and in my heart.

I agree with this. Talk to her, OP.

But you're really talking to the idea of that person.

Of course -- it's just like when you have mental conversations with anyone who is not there, wether they are dead or alive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist and I talk with deceased friends and family all the time. They're in my head and in my heart.

I agree with this. Talk to her, OP.

But you're really talking to the idea of that person.

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist and I talk with deceased friends and family all the time. They're in my head and in my heart.

I agree with this. Talk to her, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist who thinks about my parents and sometimes talks to them as well. At least they don't misconstrue what I say and spout back nonsense in return, as often happens when I write on DCUM. And I am sure my parents did exist, whereas, for all I know, the folks I talk to on DCUM are just fancy AI programs invented by Jeff.

So you talk to the idea of them?

not pp, but when I talk with my deceased parents, I'm talking with them as I remember their personalities -- very much like mental conversations with people who are still living. You're not talking to them, but rather as you imagine (or hope) a conversation would be if they were there

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist who thinks about my parents and sometimes talks to them as well. At least they don't misconstrue what I say and spout back nonsense in return, as often happens when I write on DCUM. And I am sure my parents did exist, whereas, for all I know, the folks I talk to on DCUM are just fancy AI programs invented by Jeff.

So you talk to the idea of them?

I'm an atheist who thinks about my parents and sometimes talks to them as well. At least they don't misconstrue what I say and spout back nonsense in return, as often happens when I write on DCUM. And I am sure my parents did exist, whereas, for all I know, the folks I talk to on DCUM are just fancy AI programs invented by Jeff.

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.

You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,
And filter and fibre your blood.

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop somewhere waiting for you.

^^ it's never too late to follow Christ .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist who talks to my deceased atheist father all the time. It is about keeping the memories and feelings alive for me. That is all.

So you're talking to nothing but you're remembering him as you do it?

Yes -- Because what is now a memory was once a real person - with a real personality and history of interaction with the person who is remembering.

If people can talk to god and saints whom they've never seen, certainly it's easy to understand that they can talk to real humans who once existed in their lives.

Another example of talking to someone who isn't there --- Some children conjure up "imaginary friends" that they grow out of after a while. While it doesn't happen to all children, it's considered to be perfectly normal. Parents are encouraged to think of it as a phase and not to discourage the imaginary friendship.

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist and I talk with deceased friends and family all the time. They're in my head and in my heart.

+1. Religious now, but when I was not, I often thought as if I was talking with family who had passed.

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist who talks to my deceased atheist father all the time. It is about keeping the memories and feelings alive for me. That is all.

So you're talking to nothing but you're remembering him as you do it?

I'm an atheist who talks to my deceased atheist father all the time. It is about keeping the memories and feelings alive for me. That is all.

Anonymous wrote:What's dumb about it. Everything else would happen no matter what you do. It's worth the slim chance even if it's only 5% to believe . It's your easiest and only hope to have any positive effect on your eternal destiny .

it believing in Jesus is worth the slim chance, then it's worth a slim chance that Mohammed is the one who had it right, or one of the other many prophets and gods who insist their way is the right way.

Besides, the Christian god wants true believers only. You have to really believe and it doesn't sound like you do. It sounds like a calculated decision to hedge your bets and believe in a God -- just in case