Comments on: Top British conductor and his wife choose to die with dignity in Switzerland

By: Tony E

Tony E — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:05:46 +0000

Many thanks for the informed replies. This is, in fact, the second time in as many years where I have been asked to join someone in prayer for an ill relative. Why me?

I do not believe myself, but if it helps someone I will mumble the words to any old nonsense (except Abba lyrics, thats where I draw the line!)

Again, cheers for the viewpoints.

By: Broga

Broga — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:31:08 +0000

What they are doing is building in an assumption that anyone at the table goes along with them. They same applies on Thought for he Day and the swamping of the BBC airwaves with religious and unquestioned superstition. If we do not express our views as atheists they will never be challenged. I do not agree with your comments on this.l

By: Ryan Georgioff

Ryan Georgioff — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:53:58 +0000

"The believer who asked a friend she knew to be a nontheist to pray with her clearly crossed the line, and he should have politely declined."

It is important to remember that the typical person of "faith" is (generally) neither seeking to alienate nor convert you when they ask you to join them in prayer. Having been raised Protestant, I feel a great deal of empathy for the religiously-minded, as wrong-headed as I believe them to be. I too, would have declined in almost all conceivable scenarios; this does not necessarily make the gesture inappropriate.

I suppose I simply would urge restraint in our lofty condemnations. It is generally more helpful to assume the best when we analyze the actions of the faithful. Not everyone is trying to brainwash our children and take away our liberty in the name of their respective FSM. Just something to keep in mind.

By: Bubblecar

Bubblecar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:09:30 +0000

The difference between euthanasia and "ordinary" suicide is that euthanasia deaths are assisted by others who believe they're acting in the interests of the person wanting to die. There'll probably always be examples of rational and understandable suicide that don't officially qualify for assistance, no matter what the legal situation may be.

By: Bubblecar

Bubblecar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:34:49 +0000

I think I'd gently remind her that I'm not a believer, and therefore me praying wouldn't be very meaningful, whatever the context. And of course I'd express sympathy for her and her mother given the tragic news, and ask what other help I might be able to offer.

By: William Harwood

William Harwood — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:20:34 +0000

When I was invited to dinner by some SDA friends of my mother in Australia 20 years ago, they expected me to sit quietly by and say nothing while they began the meal with a prayer and, since it was their house, that is what I did. They did not invite me to pray with them. Perhaps they feared that I would consider such an invitation insulting and offensive. But more likely they had sufficient human decency to realize that such an invitation would have been inappropriate.
The believer who asked a friend she knew to be a nontheist to pray with her clearly crossed the line, and he should have politely declined.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:09:09 +0000

With respect, I guess what I am wondering is what defines the separation between suicide and euthanasia? Can a mental illness such as untreatable schizophrenia be regarded as a reason and with the same rationality for choosing one’s own time of demise as an incurable physically painful disease? I watched as the hospice nurses, (and I even helped to administer) one dose of morphine after the other to both of my parents respectively until their hearts stopped. Was that euthanasia or was that just “making them comfortable” until their time came? It beats the hell out of me. It looked every bit like euthanasia, particularly when the hospice nurse began to tell us, “ok, there will be three more breaths, now two…”

I can only hope though that my children will make me just as comfortable when my time comes.

By: Tim_Danaher

Tim_Danaher — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:38:35 +0000

Hm. I think I'd offer to sit with them while they prayed, and to offer any emotional support that I felt I could give… but I could never clasp my hands and bow my head and pretend… even if it was for such a case as yours, Tony.

By: Tim_Danaher

Tim_Danaher — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:35:27 +0000

Because the latter is (generally) treatable.

By: Angela_K

Angela_K — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:29:19 +0000

Sorry Tony but no way would I ever, ever stoop so low to level of the religious. You can imagine the believer boasting to their chums how they got one those evil atheists to pray.