Facing Death: Still an Atheist in the Foxhole
October 8, 2015
by Linda LaScola
Editors Note: Frequent contributor and Clergy Project Communications Chair, Drew Bekius, offers us insights from his personal Atheists in Foxholes experience. In addition to showing that God belief isnt needed to face death, he describes how facing our human vulnerabilities can be inspirational and calming. The following is a condensed version of a post from his personal blog, reprinted with permission.
Im guessing weve all heard the repeatedly overstated there are no atheists in foxholes argument the claim that in war, every soldier turns to God for rescue. The point is that on ones deathbed, facing the Imminent and Pitch Black Darkness, any one of us would finally repent and cry out to God in prayer.
This is because even atheists secretly know the truth of Gods reality, and deep down, theyre terrified of the hell they cant completely deny.
I mentioned a couple weeks ago that Id been recently in the hospital. I had contracted a severe bacterial infection that was rapidly subjugating each corner of my body. Wednesday evening, I felt like I might be coming down with a cold. Thursday afternoon, I had a painful inflamed gland. Thursday evening, I noticed some mild swelling and came down with a fever. I woke up Friday to discover my body swelling to double the size, crazy-intense pain, profuse sweating, difficulty walking, and a fair case of disorientation. I decided to cab it to the local immediate care where I was sent to the ER.
There they discovered a bacterial skin infection that in less than 48 hours had made its way into my blood stream. That afternoon, double pneumonia set in. It was moving so quickly that if I had waited just one more day, doctors might not have been able to save me.
Drew Bekius was an evangelical pastor for 12 years before deconverting and leaving the ministry behind. Today Drew is the customer service manager for a downtown Chicago steakhouse and is an open atheist, serving on the Board of Directors for The Clergy Project as Communications Chair. He blogs at DrewBekius.com and is finishing his book The Rise and Fall of Faith: A Once Evangelical Pastor Tells His Story.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rationaldoubt/2015/10/2717/
Iof all the reasons to believe in a god, death is the least of them.