Just curious - what consolation could an atheist offer when a loved one has died?
> Just curious - what consolation could an atheist offer when a loved one has died?
The worms will surely find you delicious.
Not to be contrarian, but I would note that Buddhism is atheistic. The Buddha correctly discerned that the existence or non-existence of such beings as the Hindus call ‘gods’ is of no consequence for our moral and spiritual life, but, without the light of divine revelation, did not discern the existence of the one transcendent God. Buddhism contains many consolations for the grieving, without being theistic.
Now most Western atheists are also antagonistic to mind-body dualism and the existence of a soul which continues to exist after death. It is this error that renders them incapable of consoling the grieving, not their folly in saying there is no God.
Not being an atheist, I don’t know. Maybe something like their thoughts are with them and sincere hopes that the person will find peace within themselves after their loss? I’m sure some atheists here could elaborate if they see fit.
Just curious - what consolation could an atheist offer when a loved one has died?
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Exactly the same consolation as you would offer.
Is empathy now a uniquely Christian trait? Sorry, I completely disagree.
I once attended the funeral of a young girl who had died of leukemia. She was a beautiful, intelligent homeschooled teenager who had so much promise. But her family were atheists and her funeral was so full of secular readings, etc., and nothing of faith or hope or even eternal life. This couple had no comfort, had no faith or even hope of seeing their loved one again. It was the saddest funeral I’ve ever seen because it was devoid of hope. The parents are now divorced.
Around the same time, a young girl near us, Sarah Ann Wood, was kidnapped and murdered. They have never recovered her body. But her parents were able to go through this praising God in spite of it all. He was a pastor and they both had a great relationship with their Lord. They KNOW they will see their child again. That’s the difference.