ucbmonet.arnold@ucbcad.UUCP (05/25/83)
#R:rlgvax:-48500:ucbmonet:22400025:000:1191 ucbmonet!arnold May 25 10:25:00 1983 I have met several people who became athiests after being involved in war because they could not believe that, if the universe was designed, it could not possibly have such creulty and viciousness in it. Of course, there are also conversions to religion. Under periods of great stress, all sorts of opinions change. This neither surprises me nor worries me. It is a normal psychological release. As for reconsidering upon being close to death, since I haven't yet been there, I can't say for sure. However, the family history gives no evidence of last minute conversions (we've been athiests for several generations on my father's side). Of course I think about the meaning of death, but I don't (yet) feel that I have anything to be concerned about if there is an afterlife. I have attempted to conduct myself morally since it allows me to shave in the morning (should I choose to, which I currently don't), so if any resonable creator looks over my life, S/He couldn't have any complaints I would recognize as valid. And if S/He can't deal with my rejecting His/Her hypothetical Existence, screw 'Em/'Er. So, no, I don't expect to re-evaluate my non-belief on my deathbed. Ken