How would you comfort a dying atheist? - Page 2

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  1. Guide
    Jul 4, '09 by
    I like to think that at the moment of Death God gives us the truth.
    Only if we then reject it and are we condemned.

    Of course this is a personal belief, not scientific truth.
  2. Jul 4, '09 by
    Quote from herring_RN
    I like to think that at the moment of Death God gives us the truth.
    Only if we then reject it and are we condemned.

    Of course this is a personal belief, not scientific truth.
    Mebbe so ... that's between the dying person and the deity ... it's not for me to mediate.

    My job is to promote peace and serenity as best I can ... Leslie said it better than I could back on the first page.
    I<3H2O, Merlyn, tvccrn, and 3 others like this.
  3. Guide
    Jul 4, '09 by
    Quote from heron
    Mebbe so ... that's between the dying person and the deity ... it's not for me to mediate.

    My job is to promote peace and serenity as best I can ... Leslie said it better than I could back on the first page.
    You are so right.
    I went off topic.
    leslie :-D likes this.
  4. Jul 4, '09 by
    Quote from herring_RN
    You are so right.
    I went off topic.
    i'm sorry???
    you can go off topic, but you didn't.
    that went right over my head...
    which doesn't take much.:chuckle

    leslie
  5. Guide
    Jul 4, '09 by
    Quote from leslie :-D
    i'm sorry???
    you can go off topic, but you didn't.
    that went right over my head...
    which doesn't take much.:chuckle

    leslie
    I know it is OK to go off topic in ALLNURSESCENTRAL.

    I explained my personal belief.
    It was not how I do my best to comfort all patients.
    Atheists and all.
    leslie :-D likes this.
  6. Jul 4, '09 by
    Quote from herring_RN
    I know it is OK to go off topic in ALLNURSESCENTRAL.

    I explained my personal belief.
    It was not how I do my best to comfort all patients.
    Atheists and all.
    fwiw, i do believe that we are shown the 'light'...the truth, when we die...
    (light/truth/love...all interchangeable.)
    and depending on how one defines "condemned", i suppose if one fights/opposes the truth at the time of death/transition, then they are fated to a realm where they can learn about truth and love and light.
    as they slowly learn, it brings them that much closer to the light.

    herring, i do believe that if you and i talked about this over a cup of coffee, we would agree that we are on the same page.

    leslie
    herring_RN likes this.
  7. Jul 4, '09 by
    Quote from herring_RN
    You are so right.
    I went off topic.
    :uhoh21: If I came across like the thread police, I apologize. Wasn't intended ... just making my own observation.
    herring_RN likes this.
  8. Jul 10, '09 by
    leslie :-D
    you try and give their life meaning.

    I am an atheist, and I think this is what I would want - to reflect on what my life meant to me, and to my loved ones. Very nice, leslie.
    Orizza, Lennonninja, Merlyn, and 6 others like this.
  9. Jul 10, '09 by
    Quote from LaneyB
    leslie :-D
    you try and give their life meaning.

    I am an atheist, and I think this is what I would want - to reflect on what my life meant to me, and to my loved ones. Very nice, leslie.
    thank you, laney.
    that means a lot.

    i think that regardless of our religious (or lack) affiliations:
    regardless of social class, culture, politics;
    that we humans, possess and share certain core values...
    and they are universal.
    and so, as a hospice nurse, it's not so much as to how one comforts an athiest...
    but how to reach one's soul, where none of the aforementioned 'identifiers', reside.

    it's absolutely and totally what connects and bonds us as creatures of this universe.

    leslie
    herring_RN, Moogie, and VivaLasViejas like this.
  10. Jul 12, '09 by
    I believe that I would ask them what their wishes were and, to the best of my abilities, I would see to it that they were carried out. Although they are devoid of religion, I am positive that being there for them, even if it is only holding their hand and making sure that they weren't alone when the time came, would help their "soul". I had a friend once, she was atheist, and she said that she welcomed prayer. So, anything that you can do for them will help. And if they inquire about your personal religion, by all means start the conversation. They don't need to be converted unless they wished it so, they just need a friend.