The BBC reports on a study completed by the University of Pitsburg into religious belief and terminal illness. It seems that the true believers are the ones least likely to accept their own death. The researchers followed 345 people with terminal cancer. According to the study:
Those who regularly prayed were more than three times more likely to receive intensive life-prolonging care than those who relied least on religion…As well as receiving resuscitation, they were much more likely to be placed on mechanical ventilation in the last few days of life.
Now to me this seems counter intuitive. Surely if you believe that you are going to live forever in heaven with God then you ought to actually be quite happy that you are on your way. It would be natural to assume that it is the heathens who are likely to do everything in their power to prolong their life.
As an atheist I certainly don’t look forward to death, but it is something that I know is inevitable and have no fear of. I like to think that when my number is up I’ll go quietly.
This study confirms something that I have thought for quite a while – that religious people use their faith as a psychological prop since they cannot accept death.
I expect they’d say it’s because life is a precious gift which is not to be throw away without a fight. Otherwise they’d rejoice at suicide, euthanasia and abortion.