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''See also:'' [[Atheist fear of death]]

''See also:'' [[Atheist fear of death]]

''Science Daily'' reported that "Death anxiety increases [[Atheism|atheists]]' unconscious belief in God".<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God], ''Science Daily'', Date: April 2, 2012</ref>  In a ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref>[http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god Atheists, Death and Belief in God The Effects of Death Reminders on Atheists' Supernatural Beliefs], ''Psychology Today'', Published on May 25, 2012 by Nathan A. Heflick, Ph.D. in The Big Questions</ref>  

''Science Daily'' reported that "Death anxiety increases [[Atheism|atheists]]' unconscious belief in God".<ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God], ''Science Daily'', Date: April 2, 2012</ref>  In a ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref>[http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god Atheists, Death and Belief in God The Effects of Death Reminders on Atheists' Supernatural Beliefs], ''Psychology Today'', Published on May 25, 2012 by Nathan A. Heflick, Ph.D. in The Big Questions</ref>  

=== Stress and unconscious thinking processes ===

=== Stress and unconscious thinking processes ===

In addition, under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>

In addition, under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>

*[http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en Brain processing under stress], Ruhr-University BochumPress release

*[http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en Brain processing under stress], Ruhr-University BochumPress release

*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html How The Brain Learns Successfully, Even Under Stress], ''The Huffington Post'' By Carolyn Gregoire, Posted: 07/31/2013 1:00 pm EDT Updated: 07/31/2013 1:14 pm EDT</ref>

*[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html How The Brain Learns Successfully, Even Under Stress], ''The Huffington Post'' By Carolyn Gregoire, Posted: 07/31/2013 1:00 pm EDT Updated: 07/31/2013 1:14 pm EDT</ref>

=== Unconscious thinking and complex decisions ===

=== Unconscious thinking and complex decisions ===

Perhaps, the reason why death anxiety appears to increase unconscious belief in God in the irreligious is that under stressful conditions, such as conditions which arise under death anxiety conditions, atheists' deep seated beliefs that God exist increase in intensity. As mentioned above, under stressful conditions, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>

Perhaps, the reason why death anxiety appears to increase unconscious belief in God in the irreligious is that under stressful conditions, such as conditions which arise under death anxiety conditions, atheists' deep seated beliefs that God exist increase in intensity. As mentioned above, under stressful conditions, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>

*[http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en Brain processing under stress], Ruhr-University BochumPress release

*[http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en Brain processing under stress], Ruhr-University BochumPress release

*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html How The Brain Learns Successfully, Even Under Stress], ''The Huffington Post'' By Carolyn Gregoire, Posted: 07/31/2013 1:00 pm EDT Updated: 07/31/2013 1:14 pm EDT</ref>

*[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html How The Brain Learns Successfully, Even Under Stress], ''The Huffington Post'' By Carolyn Gregoire, Posted: 07/31/2013 1:00 pm EDT Updated: 07/31/2013 1:14 pm EDT</ref>

=== Dr. Nathan Heflick's commentary in the magazine Psychology Today ===

=== Dr. Nathan Heflick's commentary in the magazine Psychology Today ===

Study co-author Associate Professor Jamin Halberstadt says these results fit with the theory that fear of death prompts people to defend their own worldview, regardless of whether it is a religious or non-religious one.

Study co-author Associate Professor Jamin Halberstadt says these results fit with the theory that fear of death prompts people to defend their own worldview, regardless of whether it is a religious or non-religious one.

"However, when we studied people's unconscious beliefs in the two later experiments, a different picture emerged. While death-priming made religious participants more certain about the reality of religious entities, non-religious participants showed less confidence in their disbelief," Associate Professor Halberstadt says.<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God], ''Science Daily'', Date: April 2, 2012</ref>}}

"However, when we studied people's unconscious beliefs in the two later experiments, a different picture emerged. While death-priming made religious participants more certain about the reality of religious entities, non-religious participants showed less confidence in their disbelief," Associate Professor Halberstadt says.<ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God], ''Science Daily'', Date: April 2, 2012</ref>}}

==== Richard Dawkins crying out to God on live radio under a stressful situation ====

==== Richard Dawkins crying out to God on live radio under a stressful situation ====

It was a golden minute of radio. But as well as being hilarious, it was hugely symbolic. In The Daily Telegraph yesterday, Baroness Warsi highlighted the militant secularism on the march in Britain. But as Dr Fraser revealed, the atheist army is led by an embarrassingly feeble general. The arrogance and intolerance of the atheists, exemplified by Prof Dawkins, is their Achilles’ heel.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9082059/For-once-Richard-Dawkins-is-lost-for-words.html For once, Richard Dawkins is lost for words]: Atheists’ arrogance is their Achilles’ heel, as a cringemaking radio performance has proved. ''The Telegraph'' By Stephen Pollard, February 14, 2012</ref>}}

It was a golden minute of radio. But as well as being hilarious, it was hugely symbolic. In The Daily Telegraph yesterday, Baroness Warsi highlighted the militant secularism on the march in Britain. But as Dr Fraser revealed, the atheist army is led by an embarrassingly feeble general. The arrogance and intolerance of the atheists, exemplified by Prof Dawkins, is their Achilles’ heel.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9082059/For-once-Richard-Dawkins-is-lost-for-words.html For once, Richard Dawkins is lost for words]: Atheists’ arrogance is their Achilles’ heel, as a cringemaking radio performance has proved. ''The Telegraph'' By Stephen Pollard, February 14, 2012</ref>}}

So the theory that one could have stress induced increased unconscious religious thoughts and these could have a significant effect due to one's brain processes preferring unconscious thoughts during times of stress is certainly plausible - especially with the addition of the previously cited study from ''Science Daily''.<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God], ''Science Daily'', Date: April 2, 2012</ref>

So the theory that one could have stress induced increased unconscious religious thoughts and these could have a significant effect due to one's brain processes preferring unconscious thoughts during times of stress is certainly plausible - especially with the addition of the previously cited study from ''Science Daily''.<ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God], ''Science Daily'', Date: April 2, 2012</ref>

==== Bible believers are more courageous than atheists/agnostics ====

==== Bible believers are more courageous than atheists/agnostics ====

=== Larry King and cryonics ===

=== Larry King and cryonics ===

[[Larry King]] is an atheist.<ref name="normlive">{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpKgXcDNuo4&feature=youtu.be&t=47m20s|title=Norm Macdonald & Larry King - Norm Macdonald Live - Video Podcast Network |publisher=[[YouTube]]|date=April 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://ppsimmons.blogspot.com/2014/05/howard-stern-and-larry-king-on-atheism.html Howard Stern and Larry King on Atheism and Homosexuality] by Michael Shoesmith, Wednesday, May 7, 2014</ref>  In 2011, ''The Telegraph'' in an article entitled ''On Larry King and an atheist's fear of death'' reported about the atheist Larry King, "Larry King, the former [[CNN]] broadcaster, made the news this morning after saying he wants to be frozen after his death, so that he can be revived when medical technology improves.<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100122576/on-larry-king-and-an-atheists-fear-of-death/ On Larry King and an atheist's fear of death]</ref>

[[Larry King]] is an atheist.<ref name="normlive">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpKgXcDNuo4&feature=youtu.be&t=47m20s|title=Norm Macdonald & Larry King - Norm Macdonald Live - Video Podcast Network |publisher=[[YouTube]]|date=April 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://ppsimmons.blogspot.com/2014/05/howard-stern-and-larry-king-on-atheism.html Howard Stern and Larry King on Atheism and Homosexuality] by Michael Shoesmith, Wednesday, May 7, 2014</ref>  In 2011, ''The Telegraph'' in an article entitled ''On Larry King and an atheist's fear of death'' reported about the atheist Larry King, "Larry King, the former [[CNN]] broadcaster, made the news this morning after saying he wants to be frozen after his death, so that he can be revived when medical technology improves.<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100122576/on-larry-king-and-an-atheists-fear-of-death/ On Larry King and an atheist's fear of death]</ref>

=== Michael Shermer and other atheist/agnostic critics of cryonics ===

=== Michael Shermer and other atheist/agnostic critics of cryonics ===

On October 22, 2014, the atheist [[PZ Myers]] bolstered the case that atheists have an unconscious belief that God exists. Myers wrote in a [[Pharyngula (blog)|Pharyngula]] blog post: "I woke up from a dream a little too early this morning. I dreamt that I had died and gone to a cliché. That’s right, I was standing before the Pearly Gates…"<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/10/22/just-another-dream/ Just another dream] by [[PZ Myers]], October 22, 2014</ref>

On October 22, 2014, the atheist [[PZ Myers]] bolstered the case that atheists have an unconscious belief that God exists. Myers wrote in a [[Pharyngula (blog)|Pharyngula]] blog post: "I woke up from a dream a little too early this morning. I dreamt that I had died and gone to a cliché. That’s right, I was standing before the Pearly Gates…"<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/10/22/just-another-dream/ Just another dream] by [[PZ Myers]], October 22, 2014</ref>

It is evident that Myers has no intellectual/evidential justification for the non-existence of God.  For example, when the evangelist [[Ray Comfort]] asked Myers why he is an atheist Myers gave the illogical, [[Circular reasoning|circular argument]] response of: "Why am I an atheist? Because there is no God".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0u3-2CGOMQ Evolution Vs. God Movie]</ref>  Previously, the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Ken Ammi]] criticized Myers for merely presupposing God's non-existence, but not providing argumentation for this position.<ref>[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/pz-myers-emotively-vociferous-intellectually-mute PZ Myers Emotively Vociferous but Intellectually Mute] by [[Ken Ammi]]</ref>

It is evident that Myers has no intellectual/evidential justification for the non-existence of God.  For example, when the evangelist [[Ray Comfort]] asked Myers why he is an atheist Myers gave the illogical, [[Circular reasoning|circular argument]] response of: "Why am I an atheist? Because there is no God".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0u3-2CGOMQ Evolution Vs. God Movie]</ref>  Previously, the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Ken Ammi]] criticized Myers for merely presupposing God's non-existence, but not providing argumentation for this position.<ref>[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/pz-myers-emotively-vociferous-intellectually-mute PZ Myers Emotively Vociferous but Intellectually Mute] by [[Ken Ammi]]</ref>

   

   

There have been no reports of [[theology|theologians]] or [[creation science|creation scientists]] having dreams that atheism is true.

There have been no reports of [[theology|theologians]] or [[creation science|creation scientists]] having dreams that atheism is true.

In contrast to the religious funeral, the secular memorial service faces one massive problem. What if the deceased didn’t merit the effusive praise of the recently appointed biographer? What if they had done little of note? Or indeed, even more problematically, what if they had been a total sh*t throughout their lives and no one has a good word to say about them? The secular memorial service is generally based on the optimistic idea that the deceased was worthy of some sort of public commendation – which is why the whole idea of a secular memorial service for a paedophile or a mass murderer feels totally impossible. Would people really stand up to laud their achievements? Would people tell funny little stories about them? Of course not. I use this extreme example to make a point. The secular memorial service began as something for important statesmen and was then adopted by the increasingly Godless bourgeoisie as a way of celebrating their personal achievements. But it’s often poorly designed for those of us who are not a part of the great and the good.

In contrast to the religious funeral, the secular memorial service faces one massive problem. What if the deceased didn’t merit the effusive praise of the recently appointed biographer? What if they had done little of note? Or indeed, even more problematically, what if they had been a total sh*t throughout their lives and no one has a good word to say about them? The secular memorial service is generally based on the optimistic idea that the deceased was worthy of some sort of public commendation – which is why the whole idea of a secular memorial service for a paedophile or a mass murderer feels totally impossible. Would people really stand up to laud their achievements? Would people tell funny little stories about them? Of course not. I use this extreme example to make a point. The secular memorial service began as something for important statesmen and was then adopted by the increasingly Godless bourgeoisie as a way of celebrating their personal achievements. But it’s often poorly designed for those of us who are not a part of the great and the good.

And one unexpected consequence of the rise of the secular memorial service is that funerals are more full of half truths and evasions. Yes, the atheistic mindset is happy that the lie of God has been eliminated. Everything is more honest now, they say. Death is death. No more dressing it up. But things turn out to be far more complicated – for in the secular funeral this so-called lie about God is commonly replaced by another sort of lie, a lie about humanity. Or, at least, a lie about how good this particular person was.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2015/aug/21/at-a-christian-funeral-all-are-equal-before-god-even-cilla-black At a Christian funeral all are equal before God – even Cilla Black], ''The Guardian'',  Reverend Giles Frasier</ref>}}

And one unexpected consequence of the rise of the secular memorial service is that funerals are more full of half truths and evasions. Yes, the atheistic mindset is happy that the lie of God has been eliminated. Everything is more honest now, they say. Death is death. No more dressing it up. But things turn out to be far more complicated – for in the secular funeral this so-called lie about God is commonly replaced by another sort of lie, a lie about humanity. Or, at least, a lie about how good this particular person was.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2015/aug/21/at-a-christian-funeral-all-are-equal-before-god-even-cilla-black At a Christian funeral all are equal before God – even Cilla Black], ''The Guardian'',  Reverend Giles Frasier</ref>}}

Penelope Nixon, ''The Guardian'', letter to the editor concerning a ''Guardian'' article by the Reverend Giles Fraser:

Penelope Nixon, ''The Guardian'', letter to the editor concerning a ''Guardian'' article by the Reverend Giles Fraser:

{{cquote|Life tends to be short in east London, so I have attended scores of funerals in my 68 years. Secular funerals are often dominated by those with the loudest voices and the crassest anecdotes. They confuse the function of the funeral with the function of the post-funeral wake.

{{cquote|Life tends to be short in east London, so I have attended scores of funerals in my 68 years. Secular funerals are often dominated by those with the loudest voices and the crassest anecdotes. They confuse the function of the funeral with the function of the post-funeral wake.

The one [[secular humanism|humanist]] funeral I have attended was well-ordered and polite but had to be followed by religious services for family who found the secular event lacked comfort. I am grateful to the Rev Giles Fraser for being so honest in saying what needed to be said.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/26/secular-funerals-can-lack-the-requisite-dignity-and-fail-to-provide-comfort Secular funerals can lack the requisite dignity and fail to provide comfort], Penelope Nixon, ''The Guardian'', letter to the editor concerning a ''Guardian'' article by the Reverend Giles Fraser</ref>}}

The one [[secular humanism|humanist]] funeral I have attended was well-ordered and polite but had to be followed by religious services for family who found the secular event lacked comfort. I am grateful to the Rev Giles Fraser for being so honest in saying what needed to be said.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/26/secular-funerals-can-lack-the-requisite-dignity-and-fail-to-provide-comfort Secular funerals can lack the requisite dignity and fail to provide comfort], Penelope Nixon, ''The Guardian'', letter to the editor concerning a ''Guardian'' article by the Reverend Giles Fraser</ref>}}

For additional information, please see: [[Atheist funerals]]

For additional information, please see: [[Atheist funerals]]