tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post404659998617004013..comments2023-09-20T23:25:07.245+10:00Comments on Atheism and Me: Being an atheist when my dad died.MrOzAtheisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626532423754936984noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post-4518792043204715532016-12-17T08:32:22.990+11:002016-12-17T08:32:22.990+11:00This is honest and truthful. Much of it reminds me...This is honest and truthful. Much of it reminds me of the night my mom died, though it was not expected, and my heart aches for both of us. I hope someday, in the not so distant future I can write about the loss of my mom with the bold honesty and emotion that you've displayed here. I'm sorry you lost your dad so young. He must have been very proud to be your father. You're a good man. ZenHeathen https://www.blogger.com/profile/00184890911733039946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post-57824770088341556902014-03-08T11:28:23.604+11:002014-03-08T11:28:23.604+11:00When u all die u will find out u were 100 percent ...When u all die u will find out u were 100 percent wrong.satan is at work on u all.he will take u all to hell with him after death.no faith in jesus.i would hit my knees right now and pray to him.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post-46113315425820482912013-07-03T23:22:10.608+10:002013-07-03T23:22:10.608+10:00Thanks Donovan for this. My Dad is dying as we spe...Thanks Donovan for this. My Dad is dying as we speak. He is having an operation now that he may not survive. I hadn't even thought of considering an afterlife - nor has he. He just wants to stick around if he can for the NOW. That's what we really have, and what us atheists are honest enough to admit we have. It's what makes life really worth living.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07125964817251736635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post-958389885341563162013-03-31T02:59:25.911+11:002013-03-31T02:59:25.911+11:00Wept in public when I read this. I went through a ...Wept in public when I read this. I went through a very similar ordeal.<br />My dad passed away about 3 weeks before yours did, albeit about 15 years earlier in life (guesstimate). <br /><br />My reaction to his sudden illness, which would turn him from an active and always-happy midlifer to a frail old man in a matter of months,<br />was of an emotional and a rational, sober kind.<br /><br />His wife, his daughter and myself (his son) were at his bedside, at home, when he drew his final breath. While it was hard to determine when exactly this took place, given how irregular and moist his intakes were (and how these are sometimes due to the body's reflexes), I think it dawned on us all on the exact same moment. He was free.<br /><br />In the hours following his passing, people would still interact with him.<br />Like you said, to have a moment. My moments were of a mental kind though, <br />as that is where he is now. <br /><br />To me, the afterlife is a concept consisting of three parts.<br />The memories people have of you, the legacy you leave behind and the very atoms you consisted of during your life.. which will find their way as they always have.PeterPantheonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05074484256345300354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post-77941054615597696992013-02-07T16:15:02.574+11:002013-02-07T16:15:02.574+11:00Very well put, and I imagine helpful to anyone unc...Very well put, and I imagine helpful to anyone uncomforted by the promise of a life beyond the only one we know.<br /><br />If it helps, I can tell you that the emotions you feel when strong memories of him are stirred will change over time. It takes years--it did for me anyway--but those old clothes, songs, pictures, whatever it is that remind you of him will eventually bring a smile to your face rather than a lump to your throat. The pride that is exclusively yours to have known him as only you knew him will outweigh the recognition of loss. In the meantime, I encourage you to cherish those lump-in-the throat moments. Grief is the ultimate expression of love we have for another.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03173565223385118131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post-60470414571645896262013-02-01T00:51:38.698+11:002013-02-01T00:51:38.698+11:00Read with interest Donovan, which began when you t...Read with interest Donovan, which began when you teweeted about your Dad a few weeks ago. I lost my father six years ago now, and the one thing that has always startled me is the level of affinity and empathy I am able to feel with anyone who has lost a parent. It's not that odd, I guess, but people who've lost a parent just get it, they understand. I don't imagine it is easy to understand if you haven't, and I wouldn't want anyone who hasn't to feel that way.<br /><br />It all starts to sound a little spiritual, but it isn't of course, because in the end it just comes down to people. It's the people that matter, the ones who will make a difference to you and your understandable sense of loss. I don't mind if people feel the need to believe in a bearded man in the sky who is nice to people, even if I think it's faintly embarrasing for a grown up person to think that way, as long as they don't preach about it. Unfortunately they have a habit of doing just that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post-23608268507476503072012-12-23T17:37:43.545+11:002012-12-23T17:37:43.545+11:00Thank you for this. Your blog is helping me unders...Thank you for this. Your blog is helping me understand things from an Atheist perspective, and I was wondering about just this sort of situation. Very powerful stuff, and once again, thank you for sharing. (sara7133)Flavorsofgodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00170390125780736307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post-28053904268974717842012-10-19T12:30:10.551+11:002012-10-19T12:30:10.551+11:00Your title piqued my interest. After finishing it ...Your title piqued my interest. After finishing it I felt a recognition of what you must have felt emotionally as well as intellectually. Although my experience was likely very different, (my brother Tim was only 45, healthy, & died suddenly) I suspect we felt many similar emotions--thought many similar thoughts. <br /><br />I know very much, (in my own, unique way), what you meant at the beginning, and at several of the poignant moments you've described. You did so with obvious love, respect, and in a way I identified with utterly. Too much in fact, to note here. Briefly, and most significantly, I recognized the devastation. That feeling... knowing the only brother I'll ever have, who I love more than words can convey, was now gone. Man, it comes back strong sometimes. I recognized that comprehension of loss. That I'll never see him again, and that life was NOT... EVER... going to be the same. And it has not. <br /><br />That an omnibenevolent god would suddenly take him at 45 years old, thus robbing my small family, his few friends, and those who would never get to meet him is as ludicrous as it would be immoral.<br /><br />I've been agnostic (couple years) and then atheist for at least 20-25 years. It's given me time to readjust my thinking, to contemplate how it was (perhaps) going to feel after losing someone, or facing death myself. It's VERY different from the "we'll see 'em in heaven" BS, as I am sure you know. For most of us (especially if indoctinated young, as I was), it isn't something we appreciate fully, until it happens, or until we leave faith behind, and take the time to analyze what atheism means in this context. IMO, that is.<br /><br />I respect the dignified manner in which you wrote. Thank you for this piece. -- Tony. (Twitter under mizcreant handle).Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13274989173690533225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983892264455291683.post-84329115070735902512012-09-28T00:10:27.815+10:002012-09-28T00:10:27.815+10:00Very powerful post. I've recently wondered how...Very powerful post. I've recently wondered how I would deal with death now that I am an atheist. Thank you for sharing.Hausdorffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01690401058367596952noreply@blogger.com