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| No Atheists in Foxholes - An Ignorant Statement I would like to take a look at what is generally meant when someone says there are no Atheists in foxholes. Those who say this seem to be under the impression that, faced with certain death, an Atheist breaks down and calls to a god for saving. In other words, the Atheist abandons atheism for theism. There're a few things wrong with this thinking: the purpose of saying it, the reason such things may occur, and that it is an unreliable assumption. I see no point in spewing such things about Atheists. Is it supposed to debunk atheism? Make us look as though we are actually psuedo-Atheists or in the closet theists? Perhaps it is to make the Atheist look weak. In the end, it's a pointless thing to say other than to defame. Do Atheists actually call out to "God" when faced with death? Some probably do. When faced with what is perceived as certain death, many of us probably realize that we would rather keep on living. We get desperate for life, we see that this life is about to end. Rational thinking breaks down and logic no longer rules the court when a person begins to panic. The realization of one's demise can certainly bring panic. This opens the window for an Atheist to cry out to a god he/she does not believe in. We mustn't forget socialization. From birth most of us are socialized to believe that God or Jesus (or whatever god[s] are being worshiped) is there for us. Even though such things can be outgrown, the seed may still be buried deep within the subconscious. Anyone can proudly march through life wearing armor of reason, but, when death comes, it really doesn't matter. We're human beings, we're subject to the effects of our environment and genes. If we're told (believing it or not) our entire lives (especially from birth by the people we trust and love most: our parents) that this or that will save us or help us, we may very well call out to that particular device of saving when we realize nothing else will work. It's desperation, not a conversion or proof that Atheism is bunk. It is someone trying to escape death, nothing more. There is no reason to think the saying "there are no Atheists in foxholes" has any reason to be considered true. There is no way of knowing how many Atheists die "in the foxhole". Since death tends to be rather permanent, we can't ask them later if they suddenly realized that they weren't really an atheist at all, if it was just a phase. Those people who like to spew such words as "there are no Atheists in foxholes" either choose to ignore or are ignorant of the fact that many theists become atheists while "in the foxhole". I was lucky enough to hear the story of a man who was in Vietnam. He went there a Christian, returned an Atheist. War, death, and fear will induce different behavior and thoughts from different people. I don't defame Christianity because people abandon it after disaster. Please don't defame Atheism because someone is afraid of dying. Personally, I believe that most theists are aware that the saying "there are no atheists in foxholes" is ridiculous. Hopefully, most of those who realize this don't say it. Hopefully I'm not wrong in believing this, I know I've been hearing it quite a bit lately. Atheists are subject to the same fears and psychological responses to death as anyone else. It shouldn't be used as a toolt o belittle or attack us. We are, after all, only human. |
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