Struggling because I'm agnostic

My dad is in hospice and it's not far away now that he will probably pass😕 It's heart wrenching seeing him miserable, and now it's affecting his mind and cognitive abilities. Yet I hope for any amount of time for him to last a bit more

But I'm really struggling trying to accept his nearing passing. I used to be religious growing up but about a decade ago I became agnostic. I wish I could truly feel his soul is going to a Paradise and Heaven. I think I wouldn't feel as frightened. But I don't know what will happen, I feel angst and helpless on him leaving me and Earth. Have you ever felt this???

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valentini · 61-69, M Best Comment

This why we have religion in the first place. To explain the unexplainable and provide a source of hope when confronted with things that are frightening, overwhelming, or cannot be dealt with any other way. In short "It's only human." It's among the various things our brains do i.e. explain things, protect us, and allow us to order the world.

Just because the tenets and doctrines of all religions are probably wrong and the concepts they provide are wrong, doesn't mean there's nothing out there. Even Richard Dawkins said he can't be sure there's no God and no Heaven. Even though heaven almost certainly is not what the Abrahamic religions tell us it is doesn't mean there is no place we go after this world. It's just not the "celestial theme park" we've been told it is.

I am like you. I grew up with all that Bible stuff then learned things and concluded it's folk fiction. Most of it never happened. But to say "and therefore a God, an afterlife, souls, etc do not exist" is non-sequitur.

Baybreeze · 41-45, F

@valentini I wrote a very similar reply to an SW member here right as you posted this. And you summed it up eloquently, how maybe religion is not all we believe but we don't truly know what occurs after our body passes. Thank you..🪻