Death Bed Conversions

[Jokerman]

My wife's Grandfather (Robert) passed away recently. He was adamantly anti-religion for as long as anyone can remember so I was more than a little surprised to hear a minister at his funeral tell us that Robert had "taken Jesus into his heart" on his death bed.

Turns out that this minister visited Robert in the hospital just days before he died. Robert was incapacitated by a severe stroke and unable to speak. According to the minister Robert communicated by blinking his eyes. During this "conversation" Robert accepted Jesus and "prayed" with the minister for salvation.

Personally, I don't buy this story. I think it is nothing more than wishful thinking by the minister and a few of Roberts relatives. Even if Robert was aware of the conversation and did agree to be saved, how can a last minute conversion change 89 years of non-belief? Did Robert really want to be saved or was he just going along just in case he had been wrong all these years?

I keep thinking of an episode of "The Simpsons" when Homer thought he was about to die and yelled, "Jesus, Buda, Allah, I love you all". Is that all it takes to be accepted into the Christian concept of Heaven?

[BurtWorm]

1. Seems like a cruel thing to do to someone who's dying

and incapacitated. Of course if you believe in that shit, it probably seems cruel NOT to try to save a soul before he dies. It's stories like this that make me totally understand Richard Dawkins' characterization of religion--Christianity in particular--as a virus.

[HawkerHurricane]

2. I don't trust death bed conversion stories...

I was once told by a fundie that Darwin 'recanted' on his deathbed... and he provided 'proof' from a fundie book about a woman who was there when it happened.

So, I did my research, and found a book by Darwin's son, which said that the stories about Darwin's recanting his theory were a lie, and that he never saw the woman in his father's house, ever. Turns out the woman had never been to England before Darwin's death; hard to do a deathbed conversion several years after the death...

There are stories of noted athiests who refused to even allow religious folks into thier presense while near death to avoid the start of any conversion rumors after they were gone.

[Az]

8. There seems t o be a great deal of angst

tied up in the believers that atheists can exist and do so contentedly. We fly in the face of what they believe the world to be. Many believe that you simply cannot go through this life without god to lean upon. It amazes them to find someone who does not walk the same path as they do.

[sybylla]

3. More hocus pocus from those who have to believe

Many believers don't understand non-believers and they can't accept that non-believers can be happy, well-adjusted, whole people who don't need to rely on religion to live their lives. When my grandfather died a slow death due to cancer, my fundie sister-in-law couldn't conceal the gleam in her eye and the lightness in her attitude that told me she was hoping I would convert and join her fundie church over his passing. She was shocked and obviously confused by how I handled the difficult times in my life and continues to be to this day. When I die, I'm sure she will be telling everyone about my death-bed conversion because she just can't handle the fact that I don't believe.

[TXlib]

4. This is true

I have some deeply religious acquaintances who are frequently trying to tell me what I *really* believe; they are convinced that I really do believe in god and that I am merely rebelling.

I tell 'em to believe whatever they want, to go ahead and pray for me if it makes them feel better.

To the extent that somebody else's beliefs don't hurt or affect me, I don't care what they think.

[Az]

7. Some are amazed

I have a friend that is studying to become a minister. He was dumbfounded when he asked who I turned to when it seemed the world is against me and I replied I turned to myself and my friends. He was simply amazed that someone could survive without having god to turn to. I would possibly be likewise amazed that some can turn to god (who I believe to be nonexistant) if it were not for the fact that I believe I understand the psychology at work creating their belief.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. Bingo.

The first thing I thought about that minister is "what a dirty con artist!", but I'll give him the benefit of doubt and assume he's deluded like you speculated.

Either that or Robert went along like "yeah, yeah, whatever, I'll 'say' what you want. Now go away, you annoying twit."

[Az]

6. It would not be the first time

A member of the Clergy performed a death bed convsersion. I have known a number of atheists that recieved such a conversion. There are also a number of famous attempts at this as well. Lady Hope and Darwin's supposed convsersion is one of the more famous attempts. Lady Hope claimed to be present at his death and she claims he recanted his ways and accepted Jesus. This despite his wife claiming that she was at his death and had never seen this Lady Hope present.

While it is not impossible for an atheist to convert on their death bed (covering all the based etc) it may be worth noting that funerals are for the living. The minister may be attempting to ease the pain and suffering of those that survive by giving them some glimmer of hope. Of course this is an afront to those that do not believe but his context is that of a believer. Personally I find the behaviour dishonest and would object if I had any evidence to refute their claim.

[afraid_of_the_dark]

9. There are no atheists in foxholes...

Or so the quote goes. To answer your question, yes (well, it is true at least for those who convert to Catholicism on their deathbed). By converting, making a confession of one's sins, and receiving the Last Rites, all of one's sins are forgiven, giving one a clean slate. Now, they may end up in Purgatory first, but if they die with a pure soul, they are guaranteed to go to heaven.

But, the conversion must be sincere... although I don't know how a priest, or anyone could judge that other than the individual in danger of death.