Or reconciled? Accepting? At peace? Happier, maybe? Less charitably: happily deluded?
In any event, it's good to see a positive spotlight on humanism on the front page of the Sunday Times.
An Atheist Chaplain and a Death Row Inmate’s Final Hours
Devin Moss spent a year ministering to convicted killer Phillip Hancock. Together, they wrestled with one question: How to face death without God.
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“It’s well known that people that really believe, that really have faith, die better,” he said. “How can we help people die better that don’t have supernatural faith?” nyt
As noted recently, Andrew Copson, and before him Corliss Lamont, have some ideas on this front.
So has Professor Dennett."People make a mistake in thinking that spirituality [necessarily]
has anything to do with religion, immateriality, or the supernatural."
The humanist chaplain should consider the words as well of my late great mentor John Lachs in Stoic Pragmatism, about not counting on winning the supernatural afterlife lottery. "I am prepared to be surprised to learn that we have a supernatural destiny, just as I am prepared to be surprised at seeing my neighbor win the lottery. But I don't consider buying tickets an investment."
Better to invest in smelling the roses, loving life, being grateful for the time we've got.
And staying out of prison.
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