So my question is how do you guys deal with grief? I was previously in a religion (Christianity) when I had lost someone before, so of course I thought I'd "see them again". Now as an Atheist I do not have such a comfort. My sister is still a Christian and stuck in the "I'll see him again" loop, so she is no help.
At least I gave him a cuddle and a kiss before he went outside
Sorry to be such a downer - you can delete this thread if you want.
Sorry to hear about your dog.
It's been a hectic ole week for me (and family). My mother is still hanging on, though the doctors had suggested that she might not pull thru after the op. She is still hooked up to machines. The cancer spread much further that the scans/x-rays revealed.
So I was prepared for grief this week. Hence my absence for a while.
I even prayed. Everyone saying you must pray for your mother. How could I not even though deep down I did not believe it would have any effect?
To think your pet is going to heaven so you can meet up in an afterlife is kin of naive. Its just pie in the sky teachings to make people in the faith.
What if your child eventually became an idol worshipper? They are supposed to go to hell according to christianity and Islam. But you say your favourite things go to heaven.
With heaven and hell you have such extremes. How can someone going to heaven really enjoy it knowing their loved ones may be in hell. I'd grieve more in heaven knowing people I loved were roasting in hell.
Hence I'd rather not believe such places exist. Rather I'd like to think we all merged into some higher spirit if it exists or basically we just cease to be.
My mother died last year of cancer that spread throughout her abdomen.
I'm don't remember if I prayed or not, I was also losing my faith then, two losses at once, God and my mother died. I didn't fear hell so much as not being able to be rejoined with my mother, and being seperate from God (I forget in which order). In some ways I still avoid having to deal with her death, even more than a year past.
The only consolation I have for the both of you is that time erodes pain. You will live, change comes without your permission, as it often does. Everyone of us must die, like the whole world before us. Live, and try to make the world a little better before you also leave. That is how you can honor your lost.
"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones." -Marcus Aurelius
You both have nothing but my best wishes and good intentions.