Deathbed Conversions

[joreth]

In October, 2009, we lost a great man. Basava Premananda was a skeptic from India who spent his life fighting woo, pseudo-science, and so-called "magic". He lived in a time and place where skepticism is met with true harm to life, including death. His lost battle with cancer is a terrible loss to our cause.

One of his last gifts to humanity was to write a letter from his deathbed to continue to fight woo by declaring that, faced with his imminent death, he has had no deathbed conversion to spirituality. One of the things the religious insist on claiming is that there are no atheists in foxholes and that any life-threatening situation will spontaneously create a belief in the divine. The idea is that atheists aren't really atheists, we don't REALLY disbelieve in god, we're just mad at god, and as soon as we have to face the reality of our death and possible non-existence or eternal punishment, our hidden belief in god will pop back and we will beg forgiveness and to be saved. Which is patently untrue.

So, anyway, on his deathbed, Premananda wrote a statement denying any such deathbed conversion. And I archive it here for convenience.

 

TO WHOMEVER IT MAY CONCERN

Declaration of attitude and temperament

I, B. Premanand s/o late Sri Basava Prabhu, 80 years of age resident Chettipalayam Road, Podanur, sound of mind though suffering from physical complications caused by metastases in many organs caused by carcinoma of the stomach herein solemnly wish to place on record the following:

I have been closely associated with the rationalist movement from 1975 onwards and have been a rationalist of full conviction since then and continue to be so.

It is common for the purveyors of superstitions and such anti rational forces to start spreading rumors about rationalists turning to god and other supernatural forces at the end of their lives and becoming devotees of gods and god men of various types.

It is also claimed that at times of crises that we staunch rationalists through the major part of our lives, turn to spiritualism and religion.

I wish to clarify that as on today the twentieth of September, 2009 I remain a staunch rationalist and wish to place on record the following:

• I continue to be a rationalist of full conviction.
• I do not believe in any supernatural power. All the powers that we encounter are in the realm of nature and nothing exists beyond that.
• I do not believe in the existence of the soul or rebirth.
• I have not turned to any religion, god or any sort of spiritual pursuits.
• When I pass away I shall be leaving only my body which is to be donated to a medical college and no spirit or soul to cause problems for the living.

I want to convey to all that the struggle against the exploitation by god men and so called supernatural forces is a long and hard one but the ultimate victory will be ours.

My very survival has been a challenge to astrologers and their so called “science” of astrology, as they had all predicted that I would die soon after birth and refused to cast a horoscope for me.

I wish to convey to my colleagues of the rationalist movement to continue the work that I have been doing with renewed vigor and that will be the best of tributes for me.

Abhirami Hospital
Podanur
(B. Premanand)
Witnessed by: Dr. Maya Prabhu and Suneera

Comments

[terriaminute.livejournal.com]

This whole "there are no atheists in foxholes" attitude reminds me of a person who tells me there are no straight women. It is an assumption of "this is how I am so this must be how everyone is" or some such. I'm not sure "reasoning" applies here. It is all emotional-"gut" so-called argument. Meaningless. But those who are unsure or who have not thought about it will pick up on an emotional argument as if it's fact, and off we go in a flurry of stupid again.

Thanks for copying this letter. I hope I'm this cogent and able when I'm dying, so I can perhaps do the same.

[alumiere.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this; I doubt I'd have run across his words otherwise, and your commentary adds to his words in a good way.