| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Justin Morris" |
| Date: |
22 Dec 2004 02:59:50 PM |
| Object: |
Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death like Joe
Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
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| User: "Clayton...Full Metal Jackass" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
22 Dec 2004 06:43:38 PM |
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"Justin Morris" <morris.justin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1103749190.674321.219790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death like Joe
Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
I saw "Meet Joe Black" and nearly died of boredom!
Seriously I've had many health scares and afterwards realised I hadn't once
thought of the invisible sky fairy. Once I came within seconds of choking
to death and was only saved when I slammed my body against a wall and
dislodged the piece of chicken...didn't pray or ask Gawd for help or
anything then either. But I haven't had anything that comes within a
hundred miles of what Joe Simpson went through. I would like to think I
would have the courage and will to do what he did, but I just don't know if
I would! It was strength of body and character....not strength of faith,
that got him through.
.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
22 Dec 2004 05:17:40 PM |
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I don't have any near death encounter stories to relate, and
hope I never do. Although I guess surving beats not surviving.
I did, however, see the movie on public TV very recently. It
was an incredible film!!
Catch it if you can.
LR
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
23 Dec 2004 02:28:49 AM |
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In article <1103749190.674321.219790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
"Justin Morris" <morris.justin@gmail.com> wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death like Joe
Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
I was in a car accident once. All I could think of was how pissed I was
that I wouldn't be able to give the presentation at work the next day
that I had spent a week working on. I survived (obviously) and though
banged up I gave my talk anyway.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
Which raises the question: Can a people that believes more fervently
in theVirgin Birth than in evolution still be called an Enlightened
nation?-Garry Wills, New York Times 11/04/04
.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
23 Dec 2004 06:21:04 AM |
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"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in message
news:jhachm-C84B51.00284923122004@news.giganews.com...
In article <1103749190.674321.219790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
"Justin Morris" <morris.justin@gmail.com> wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death like Joe
Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
I was in a car accident once. All I could think of was how pissed I was
that I wouldn't be able to give the presentation at work the next day
that I had spent a week working on. I survived (obviously) and though
banged up I gave my talk anyway.
I had a close encounter with a moving NJ transit train 20 years ago. My
Ford Escort was totalled, but I didn't get a scratch. The only thought
running through my head was "My father's going to kill me!"
--
---------
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
24 Dec 2004 01:39:19 AM |
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In article <32vrhgF3rtkfcU1@individual.net>,
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote:
"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in message
news:jhachm-C84B51.00284923122004@news.giganews.com...
In article <1103749190.674321.219790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
"Justin Morris" <morris.justin@gmail.com> wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death like Joe
Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
I was in a car accident once. All I could think of was how pissed I was
that I wouldn't be able to give the presentation at work the next day
that I had spent a week working on. I survived (obviously) and though
banged up I gave my talk anyway.
I had a close encounter with a moving NJ transit train 20 years ago. My
Ford Escort was totalled, but I didn't get a scratch. The only thought
running through my head was "My father's going to kill me!"
I guess that the fundies think that at moments like that, we are suppose
to pray to Jeebus to forgive us for something or other. The only
'praying' I did was to thoroughly cuss out the guy who cut me off and
caused the accident and left the scene before I could even get a plate
number.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
Which raises the question: Can a people that believes more fervently
in theVirgin Birth than in evolution still be called an Enlightened
nation?-Garry Wills, New York Times 11/04/04
.
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| User: "Mike Painter" |
|
| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
24 Dec 2004 12:46:31 PM |
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johac wrote:
In article <32vrhgF3rtkfcU1@individual.net>,
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote:
"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in message
news:jhachm-C84B51.00284923122004@news.giganews.com...
In article <1103749190.674321.219790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
"Justin Morris" <morris.justin@gmail.com> wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death
like Joe Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering
disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
I was in a car accident once. All I could think of was how pissed I
was that I wouldn't be able to give the presentation at work the
next day that I had spent a week working on. I survived (obviously)
and though banged up I gave my talk anyway.
I had a close encounter with a moving NJ transit train 20 years ago.
My Ford Escort was totalled, but I didn't get a scratch. The only
thought running through my head was "My father's going to kill me!"
I guess that the fundies think that at moments like that, we are
suppose to pray to Jeebus to forgive us for something or other. The
only 'praying' I did was to thoroughly cuss out the guy who cut me
off and caused the accident and left the scene before I could even
get a plate number.
Mine was a bit different. I was working in about 150 feet of water and my
mask kept leaking. I finally realized that I didn't need to see to finish
the job and let it fill.
I finished and reached up to clear it for the ascent to the surface.
It was gone.
For a second or three, but not long enough to be afraid I *KNEW* that I was
going to die.
Then training and experience kicked in and I put enough air in my dry suit
to make sure I was ascending and went to the surface.
I was absolutely euphoric when I hit the surface and experience a bit of
depression a few days later. Classic, but minor post stress disorder.
No thoughts of a god and no change in behavior during or after.
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
25 Dec 2004 12:39:18 AM |
|
|
In article <buZyd.2969$yV1.2479@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>,
"Mike Painter" <mddotpainter@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
johac wrote:
In article <32vrhgF3rtkfcU1@individual.net>,
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote:
"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in message
news:jhachm-C84B51.00284923122004@news.giganews.com...
In article <1103749190.674321.219790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
"Justin Morris" <morris.justin@gmail.com> wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death
like Joe Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering
disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
I was in a car accident once. All I could think of was how pissed I
was that I wouldn't be able to give the presentation at work the
next day that I had spent a week working on. I survived (obviously)
and though banged up I gave my talk anyway.
I had a close encounter with a moving NJ transit train 20 years ago.
My Ford Escort was totalled, but I didn't get a scratch. The only
thought running through my head was "My father's going to kill me!"
I guess that the fundies think that at moments like that, we are
suppose to pray to Jeebus to forgive us for something or other. The
only 'praying' I did was to thoroughly cuss out the guy who cut me
off and caused the accident and left the scene before I could even
get a plate number.
Mine was a bit different. I was working in about 150 feet of water and my
mask kept leaking. I finally realized that I didn't need to see to finish
the job and let it fill.
I finished and reached up to clear it for the ascent to the surface.
It was gone.
For a second or three, but not long enough to be afraid I *KNEW* that I was
going to die.
Then training and experience kicked in and I put enough air in my dry suit
to make sure I was ascending and went to the surface.
I was absolutely euphoric when I hit the surface and experience a bit of
depression a few days later. Classic, but minor post stress disorder.
No thoughts of a god and no change in behavior during or after.
I've bee in other scrapes, none as bad, but never did the thought of
prayers or gods entered my head. I was too busy thinking about how to
get out of the jam and survive.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
Which raises the question: Can a people that believes more fervently
in theVirgin Birth than in evolution still be called an Enlightened
nation?-Garry Wills, New York Times 11/04/04
.
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| User: "Enkidu" |
|
| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
25 Dec 2004 11:04:09 AM |
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johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in
news:jhachm-595548.22391824122004@news.giganews.com:
In article <buZyd.2969$yV1.2479@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>,
"Mike Painter" <mddotpainter@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
johac wrote:
In article <32vrhgF3rtkfcU1@individual.net>,
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote:
"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in message
news:jhachm-C84B51.00284923122004@news.giganews.com...
In article
<1103749190.674321.219790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, "Justin
Morris" <morris.justin@gmail.com> wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death
like Joe Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering
disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
I was in a car accident once. All I could think of was how pissed
I was that I wouldn't be able to give the presentation at work
the next day that I had spent a week working on. I survived
(obviously) and though banged up I gave my talk anyway.
I had a close encounter with a moving NJ transit train 20 years
ago. My Ford Escort was totalled, but I didn't get a scratch. The
only thought running through my head was "My father's going to
kill me!"
I guess that the fundies think that at moments like that, we are
suppose to pray to Jeebus to forgive us for something or other. The
only 'praying' I did was to thoroughly cuss out the guy who cut me
off and caused the accident and left the scene before I could even
get a plate number.
Mine was a bit different. I was working in about 150 feet of water
and my mask kept leaking. I finally realized that I didn't need to
see to finish the job and let it fill.
I finished and reached up to clear it for the ascent to the surface.
It was gone.
For a second or three, but not long enough to be afraid I *KNEW* that
I was going to die.
Then training and experience kicked in and I put enough air in my dry
suit to make sure I was ascending and went to the surface.
I was absolutely euphoric when I hit the surface and experience a bit
of depression a few days later. Classic, but minor post stress
disorder. No thoughts of a god and no change in behavior during or
after.
I've bee in other scrapes, none as bad, but never did the thought of
prayers or gods entered my head. I was too busy thinking about how to
get out of the jam and survive.
I drove my first car off a cliff when I was 16. My only thought was
"OHHH *****!". Then my face broke the windshield and knocked it clear of
the car.
Didn't see, hear, or call on God.
--
Enkidu
"Yee-Ha" is not a foreign policy.
.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
25 Dec 2004 11:10:51 AM |
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"Enkidu" <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95CA5C486AAFAenkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6...
snip
I drove my first car off a cliff when I was 16. My only thought was
"OHHH *****!". Then my face broke the windshield and knocked it clear of
the car.
Holy crap!! How the heck did that happen?!?
Didn't see, hear, or call on God.
Thank goodness you're here now to tell about it! Whew ;)
--
---------
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
.
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| User: "Enkidu" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
25 Dec 2004 11:19:45 AM |
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"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:335l8pF3rk4pnU1@individual.net:
"Enkidu" <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95CA5C486AAFAenkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6...
snip
I drove my first car off a cliff when I was 16. My only thought was
"OHHH *****!". Then my face broke the windshield and knocked it clear
of the car.
Holy crap!! How the heck did that happen?!?
A sever case of testosterone poisoning. Racing my little '68 street
beetle off road, drove up a hill at 40mph, only to find the back half of
the hill had been FUCKING CARTED AWAY!. I guess that's what happens in
gravel pits.
Didn't see, hear, or call on God.
Thank goodness you're here now to tell about it! Whew ;)
It was only a little cliff, 30 feet or so.
--
Enkidu
"Yee-Ha" is not a foreign policy.
.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
25 Dec 2004 11:37:41 AM |
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"Enkidu" <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95CA5EED8A635enkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6...
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:335l8pF3rk4pnU1@individual.net:
"Enkidu" <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95CA5C486AAFAenkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6...
snip
I drove my first car off a cliff when I was 16. My only thought was
"OHHH *****!". Then my face broke the windshield and knocked it clear
of the car.
Holy crap!! How the heck did that happen?!?
A sever case of testosterone poisoning. Racing my little '68 street
beetle off road, drove up a hill at 40mph, only to find the back half of
the hill had been FUCKING CARTED AWAY!. I guess that's what happens in
gravel pits.
Dang!
Didn't see, hear, or call on God.
Thank goodness you're here now to tell about it! Whew ;)
It was only a little cliff, 30 feet or so.
Oh, ONLY 30 feet or so. I take it the car didn't survive the experience?
--
---------
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
.
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| User: "Enkidu" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
25 Dec 2004 11:51:29 AM |
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"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:335mr4F3q1od1U1@individual.net:
"Enkidu" <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95CA5EED8A635enkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6...
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:335l8pF3rk4pnU1@individual.net:
"Enkidu" <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95CA5C486AAFAenkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6...
snip
I drove my first car off a cliff when I was 16. My only thought
was "OHHH *****!". Then my face broke the windshield and knocked it
clear of the car.
Holy crap!! How the heck did that happen?!?
A sever case of testosterone poisoning. Racing my little '68 street
beetle off road, drove up a hill at 40mph, only to find the back half
of the hill had been FUCKING CARTED AWAY!. I guess that's what
happens in gravel pits.
Dang!
Didn't see, hear, or call on God.
Thank goodness you're here now to tell about it! Whew ;)
It was only a little cliff, 30 feet or so.
Oh, ONLY 30 feet or so. I take it the car didn't survive the
experience?
My dad and I tried to save it . . . remember "The Six Million Dollar
Man"? Well, we couldn't rebuild it, make it stronger, faster, etc.
--
Enkidu
"Yee-Ha" is not a foreign policy.
.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
25 Dec 2004 12:06:58 PM |
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"Enkidu" <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95CA644F1BA5Aenkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6...
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:335mr4F3q1od1U1@individual.net:
snip
Thank goodness you're here now to tell about it! Whew ;)
It was only a little cliff, 30 feet or so.
Oh, ONLY 30 feet or so. I take it the car didn't survive the
experience?
My dad and I tried to save it . . . remember "The Six Million Dollar
Man"? Well, we couldn't rebuild it, make it stronger, faster, etc.
LOL, oh well. As long as you were okay. BTW, did your dad have a fit when
he found out what happened? My mother made my life a living hell for months
after my car accident :P
--
---------
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
.
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| User: "Enkidu" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
25 Dec 2004 12:35:59 PM |
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"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:335oi1F3tn5n4U1@individual.net:
"Enkidu" <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95CA644F1BA5Aenkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6...
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:335mr4F3q1od1U1@individual.net:
snip
Thank goodness you're here now to tell about it! Whew ;)
It was only a little cliff, 30 feet or so.
Oh, ONLY 30 feet or so. I take it the car didn't survive the
experience?
My dad and I tried to save it . . . remember "The Six Million Dollar
Man"? Well, we couldn't rebuild it, make it stronger, faster, etc.
LOL, oh well. As long as you were okay. BTW, did your dad have a fit
when he found out what happened? My mother made my life a living hell
for months after my car accident :P
They were glad I wasn't dead. And what could they do? Taking away the
car keys would have been pointless. :)
--
Enkidu
"Yee-Ha" is not a foreign policy.
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
26 Dec 2004 12:40:16 PM |
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On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 18:35:59 GMT, Enkidu <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote:
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:335oi1F3tn5n4U1@individual.net:
"Enkidu" <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote in message
news:Xns95CA644F1BA5Aenkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6...
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:335mr4F3q1od1U1@individual.net:
snip
Thank goodness you're here now to tell about it! Whew ;)
It was only a little cliff, 30 feet or so.
Oh, ONLY 30 feet or so. I take it the car didn't survive the
experience?
My dad and I tried to save it . . . remember "The Six Million Dollar
Man"? Well, we couldn't rebuild it, make it stronger, faster, etc.
LOL, oh well. As long as you were okay. BTW, did your dad have a fit
when he found out what happened? My mother made my life a living hell
for months after my car accident :P
They were glad I wasn't dead. And what could they do? Taking away the
car keys would have been pointless. :)
/fundy sputtering
"It's the principle of the thing, now hand over those keys!"
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
26 Dec 2004 02:55:42 AM |
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In article <Xns95CA5C486AAFAenkiduleaddogsorg@68.6.19.6>,
Enkidu <enkidu@leaddogs.org> wrote:
johac <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in
news:jhachm-595548.22391824122004@news.giganews.com:
In article <buZyd.2969$yV1.2479@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>,
"Mike Painter" <mddotpainter@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
johac wrote:
In article <32vrhgF3rtkfcU1@individual.net>,
"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote:
"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in message
news:jhachm-C84B51.00284923122004@news.giganews.com...
In article
<1103749190.674321.219790@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, "Justin
Morris" <morris.justin@gmail.com> wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death
like Joe Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering
disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
I was in a car accident once. All I could think of was how pissed
I was that I wouldn't be able to give the presentation at work
the next day that I had spent a week working on. I survived
(obviously) and though banged up I gave my talk anyway.
I had a close encounter with a moving NJ transit train 20 years
ago. My Ford Escort was totalled, but I didn't get a scratch. The
only thought running through my head was "My father's going to
kill me!"
I guess that the fundies think that at moments like that, we are
suppose to pray to Jeebus to forgive us for something or other. The
only 'praying' I did was to thoroughly cuss out the guy who cut me
off and caused the accident and left the scene before I could even
get a plate number.
Mine was a bit different. I was working in about 150 feet of water
and my mask kept leaking. I finally realized that I didn't need to
see to finish the job and let it fill.
I finished and reached up to clear it for the ascent to the surface.
It was gone.
For a second or three, but not long enough to be afraid I *KNEW* that
I was going to die.
Then training and experience kicked in and I put enough air in my dry
suit to make sure I was ascending and went to the surface.
I was absolutely euphoric when I hit the surface and experience a bit
of depression a few days later. Classic, but minor post stress
disorder. No thoughts of a god and no change in behavior during or
after.
I've bee in other scrapes, none as bad, but never did the thought of
prayers or gods entered my head. I was too busy thinking about how to
get out of the jam and survive.
I drove my first car off a cliff when I was 16. My only thought was
"OHHH *****!". Then my face broke the windshield and knocked it clear of
the car.
Didn't see, hear, or call on God.
Glad you survived.
This thread brings up an interesting point. We often hear that "There
are no atheists in foxholes." Now I was never in combat, or even in the
military, but if I were in such a situation, I think that I would be so
busy figuring out how to survive and stopping the other SOBs from
shooting at me that thoughts of mythological beings would be the
farthest thing from my mind.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
Intelligent Design has as much to do with science as reality
television has to do with reality. - Barry Lynn on CNN 12/25/04
.
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| User: "Mike Painter" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
26 Dec 2004 02:11:02 PM |
|
|
johac wrote:
<snip>
This thread brings up an interesting point. We often hear that "There
are no atheists in foxholes." Now I was never in combat, or even in
the military, but if I were in such a situation, I think that I would
be so busy figuring out how to survive and stopping the other SOBs
from shooting at me that thoughts of mythological beings would be the
farthest thing from my mind.
I commented to a friend about a show where a guy said he had become an
atheist in a foxhole.
The friend saw a lot of combat as a navy medic during Vietnam. He said that
it went both ways. Some gained and some lost the belief. He is an atheist.
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
27 Dec 2004 01:11:15 AM |
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In article <qVEzd.3498$yV1.412@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com>,
"Mike Painter" <mddotpainter@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
johac wrote:
<snip>
This thread brings up an interesting point. We often hear that "There
are no atheists in foxholes." Now I was never in combat, or even in
the military, but if I were in such a situation, I think that I would
be so busy figuring out how to survive and stopping the other SOBs
from shooting at me that thoughts of mythological beings would be the
farthest thing from my mind.
I commented to a friend about a show where a guy said he had become an
atheist in a foxhole.
The friend saw a lot of combat as a navy medic during Vietnam. He said that
it went both ways. Some gained and some lost the belief. He is an atheist.
I guess that people would react differently. Perhaps a religious person
to start with might get more religious, or less. However, for me as an
atheist, I don't see how the horror and the bloodshed and the misery of
war would bring me any closer to a supposedly all powerful, all good,
god who let it happen.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
Intelligent Design has as much to do with science as reality
television has to do with reality. - Barry Lynn on CNN 12/25/04
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| User: "Douglas Berry" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
23 Dec 2004 11:12:44 AM |
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In our last thrilling episode, "Justin Morris"
<morris.justin@gmail.com> was pushed over the cliffs of alt.atheism on
22 Dec 2004 12:59:50 -0800 by Zoog, minion of Zathar. As he fell, he
screamed:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death like Joe
Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
Well, I came bloody close during my fight with cancer. Even died on
the table during surgery.
No dead relatives calling me to the light, no sense of peace..
nothing.
I had one really bad day where if there was a God, the simplest act
could have made me a believer in an instant. Nothing.
--
Douglas E. Berry Do the OBVIOUS thing to send e-mail
Atheist #2147, Atheist Vet #5
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as
when they do it from religious conviction."
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Pense'es, #894.
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| User: "Andrew Lias" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
30 Dec 2004 12:21:51 PM |
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Justin Morris wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death like
Joe
Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
I have been close on two occasions and percieved myself as being close
on a third. Once as the result of a childhood illness, once as a
result of a foolish suicide attempt and once when I thought that I was
having a heart attack (I wasn't, but the symptoms were certainly close
enough to convince me otherwise).
The first time, I was eleven. I think that I could best express my
current religious perspective as a bit confused. [1] Never the less,
past a short bit of initial panic upon being diagnosed, I didn't give
the issue much thought. Over the course of that month, my primary
concern was simply getting well.
During the suicide attempt, my state was depressed and rather dazed due
to the halluceneginic effects of the sleeping pills I had taken. Never
the less, the closest I came to thinking about religion was during was
hallinatory episode where I thought that I had died and ended up being
laughed at by a fat man with a paisley tie and a very large cigar. I
remember clearly thinking, "Oh no! I've gone to the silly place!" --
no joke.
In the most recent case, I had no religious thoughts what so ever. My
concerns were on surviving the incident. It wasn't until afterwords
that it had even occured to me that I *hadn't* thought about God or
anything else of the sort.
As a whole, I find that when death threatens me, my attention is more
apt to be focused on my immediate circumstances. It actually surprises
me that there are people who have the time and presence of mind to
worry about their status in some hypothesized afterlife.
--
Andrew Lias
http://andrewlias.blogspot.com
[1] See http://andrewlias.blogspot.com/2004/04/encounters-with-god.html
for details.
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| User: "Abhi" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
25 Dec 2004 01:40:58 PM |
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Justin Morris wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death like
Joe
Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
In childhood, I was theist. Then at 18, I thought, why I am theist? And
after that I was neither theist nor atheist. To think about God is
useless thing and I ignored God completely.
It is not only at the time of "close encounter of death", presence of
God is felt.
For me, it happened something like this anology:
I was doing so many things since age of 16 which has abolutely no
relation to each other. Draw something on piece of paper, throw away,
draw something new on another piece of paper. Keep doing it for years.
Now so many pieces of paper are lying around me. One day, I gathered
"all the pieces" and found a definite pattern, a beautiful picture and
it set shockwaves in my mind.
It is not me. It is not theory of probability. It is Him. That was the
only one possible explanation.
So far close encounter with death is concerned, on 22 Feb 04, I have
pulled a chain of running local train in terrible panic when our
compartment was almost on fire. About a month ago, I avoided terrible
collision with speeding motor bike by just fraction of second.
I didn't said, "Thank God!". I warned myself to be always alert,
vigilant.
-Abhi.
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| User: "Rev. Karl E. Taylor" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
22 Dec 2004 03:37:14 PM |
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Justin Morris wrote:
Has any atheist here had an extreme close encounter with death like Joe
Simpson had? I loved how he told of his unwavering disbelief.
Please tell me your story!
Thought I was having a heart attack a few years ago, never sought a god,
drove to the doctors that took care of me.
Spent two years facing the forces of nature, to save others, in the
North Atlantic. Never once asked a god for help, and cheated enough to
tell about it here:
http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/foxholes/taylor.html
The reason I say cheated is because you can not beat the sea. You will
never win. But you can cheat, and come back to tell about it.
--
There are none more ignorant and useless,
than they that seek answers on their knees,
with their eyes closed.
____________________________________________________________________
Rev. Karl E. Taylor
A.A #1143 PLONKED by Bob
Apostle of Dr. Lao EAC: Virgin Conversion Unit Director
____________________________________________________________________
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| User: "Justin Morris" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
22 Dec 2004 04:18:45 PM |
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"There were times when I heard the "thank god" phrase that I wanted to
throw them back and see if a god really would answer their prayers."
LOL. I love how you don't capitalize god! Just like me ;-) Thanks
for the story Karl.
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| User: "Rev. Karl E. Taylor" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
22 Dec 2004 05:01:49 PM |
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Justin Morris wrote:
"There were times when I heard the "thank god" phrase that I wanted to
throw them back and see if a god really would answer their prayers."
LOL. I love how you don't capitalize god! Just like me ;-) Thanks
for the story Karl.
Your welcome.
And read the others posted there. There are some really great ones on
the site.
--
There are none more ignorant and useless,
than they that seek answers on their knees,
with their eyes closed.
____________________________________________________________________
Rev. Karl E. Taylor
A.A #1143 PLONKED by Bob
Apostle of Dr. Lao EAC: Virgin Conversion Unit Director
____________________________________________________________________
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
22 Dec 2004 05:22:58 PM |
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Karl: "There were times when I heard the 'thank god' phrase that I
wanted to
throw them back and see if a god really would answer their prayers."
Even the Pope admits to needing the "help of man."
"The passage of years has made ever more clear the need for God's help
and the help of man," said the 84-year-old pope as he exchanged
Christmas wishes with his cardinals and members of the Roman Curia at
the vatican."
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11758109%255E1702,00.html
I guess God's help isn't sufficient.
LR
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
23 Dec 2004 11:14:25 PM |
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Heh.
"That and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee."
or
"God's help and Man's help will set a broken leg."
Sometimes, if you pray *real hard, people show up to help. And,
sometimes if you don't.
Kermit
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| User: "skyeyes" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
22 Dec 2004 03:52:32 PM |
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Oh, you were Coast Guard!!! <Big kiss> My dad was in the Coast Guard.
You guys *rock*.
Brenda Nelson, A.A.#34
Chief Wrangler and Ramrod Emeritus
(and Professor of Feline Thermometrics)
EAC Equine Transportation Command/Carne Seca Division
in the Prefecture of Baja, Arizona
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| User: "Daniel Kolle" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
23 Dec 2004 05:41:45 PM |
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On 22 Dec 2004 13:52:32 -0800, "skyeyes" <skyeyes@dakotacom.net>
thought hard and said:
Oh, you were Coast Guard!!! <Big kiss> My dad was in the Coast Guard.
You guys *rock*.
Meh! The Marines are better! My father was one of the first group of
troops to go over to Vietnam, way back in '65.
My dad can kick your dad's *****! Nah-nah-na-nah-nah! :-P
--
-Daniel "Mr. Brevity" Kolle; 16 A.A. #2035
Koji Kondo, Yo-Yo Ma, Gustav Mahler, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Geirr Tveitt are my Gods.
Head of EAC Denial Department and Madly Insane Scientist.
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| User: "Rev. Karl E. Taylor" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
22 Dec 2004 04:08:55 PM |
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skyeyes wrote:
Oh, you were Coast Guard!!! <Big kiss> My dad was in the Coast Guard.
You guys *rock*.
Brenda Nelson, A.A.#34
Chief Wrangler and Ramrod Emeritus
(and Professor of Feline Thermometrics)
EAC Equine Transportation Command/Carne Seca Division
in the Prefecture of Baja, Arizona
Why thank you!
It's kind of tough now, being a former sailor, living in the desert.
What was your dad's rating? I was a Yeoman.
How long was he in for? I spent 8 wonderful years with those great people.
--
There are none more ignorant and useless,
than they that seek answers on their knees,
with their eyes closed.
____________________________________________________________________
Rev. Karl E. Taylor
A.A #1143 PLONKED by Bob
Apostle of Dr. Lao EAC: Virgin Conversion Unit Director
____________________________________________________________________
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| User: "skyeyes" |
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| Title: Re: Touching The Void - Atheist Close to Death... |
22 Dec 2004 04:23:15 PM |
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Rev. Karl E. Taylor wrote:
Why thank you!
It's kind of tough now, being a former sailor, living in the desert.
What was your dad's rating? I was a Yeoman.
How long was he in for? I spent 8 wonderful years with those great
people.
I don't know just how long he served; from shortly after Dec 7, 1941
until a year or so after the war's end. That makes it <duh> about 6
years or so, I guess.
He ended his days living here in the desert (Tucson, AZ), but never
lost his love of the sea. He was a Chief Petty Officer, but he served
during WWII and made rank quickly. He served SP on Oahu shortly after
Pearl Harbor.
When he died, we had the Coast Guard Honor Guard do his flag ceremony
at his funeral. I must say, I've *never* seen it done with more
precision, spit and polish than they had. Dad would have busted a gut,
he'd have been so proud.
Brenda Nelson, A.A.#34
Chief Wrangler and Ramrod Emeritus
(and Professor of Feline Thermometrics)
EAC Equine Transportation Command/Carne Seca Division
in the Prefecture of Baja, Arizona
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