How does atheistic existentialism impact on death and suffering?

Answer 1

The suffering and/or death of any living thing is abhorrent to most people, atheist or theist.

No one should have to suffer before they die, that is why a lot of atheists subscribe to the view that voluntary euthanasia should be the right of everyone who requests it and is of sound mind.

Answer 2

There is a huge range of atheists - Bertrand Russell - one of the most respected moral philosophers of the 20th century and Stalin - one of the biggest mass murderers in history were both atheists and doubtless had widely different views on suffering.

Answer 3

Suffering can be experienced either personally or by observing it in someone else.

• For themselves, atheists tend to avoid suffering. This is common in almost every human being regardless of their outlook on life.
• When observing suffering in others, there is nothing in the atheist position (not believing in the existence of gods or the supernatural) that would prevent compassion, pity, sympathy, a desire to relieve the suffering or any other of the "noble" human responses to suffering. There is no parallel to the religious point of view that the person observed to be suffering brought it on themselves by ignoring religious positions or that the suffering is ""good" and meant to teach a (incomprehensible) lesson to the sufferer

Answer 4

Generally most people (atheists, theists and other group) tend to dislike their own suffering and avoid their own deaths . Some people in these same groups do not seem to care as much about the suffering and deaths of others. This is the result of personal positions on who is doing the suffering and dying. External pressures and positions on who gets to suffer or die often are imposed by philosophy or religion. Atheist have no core beliefs in any external philosophy to religion.

Answer 5

Atheism isn't a belief system, it's an absence of belief in god or gods so there will be a huge range of opinions and thoughts about death and suffering.

Answer 6

Suffering is an unfortunate aspect of existence. Atheists try to avoid it.

An atheist would try to relieve suffering if she could, just the same as most people would.

Answer 7

Like good people of religion (whether Buddhist, Christian, Jew or Muslim), atheists abhor suffering. Many atheists contribute time or money to alleviate the suffering of others.