Giorgia

Indeed, fascinating! Reading this article, I was reminded of something I haven't thought about in ages: the fact that European teenagers and college students speak openly about death as part of "growing up;" that people who haven't thought about suicide at some time aren't really considered to be very mature; and that it comes as no surprise to Europeans that Americans don't do either, thus ensuring that we are looked upon as being chronically immature. (Before someone challenges my source: I grew up there, not on a military base, but "on the economy," as they used to say.)

Yes, indeed! As a matter of fact, we need to start thinking seriously about establishing our own communities, or, at the very least, a chain of secular hospices.

Thank you, Scigirl, for sharing this article!

Mad Kally

There are secular home health hospices all over the place. I work for the Visiting Nurse Association. Whatever the patient wants is what he/she gets. I don't discuss my beliefs because I've never had anyone ask me.

On the other hand. When I was a 14 year old atheist, I was naive enough to think that all doctors, scientists, and people with a higher education couldn't possibly be brainwashed cult members. Wow was I wrong. When they got through listening to me, every one of them looked at me and made the statement, "Well I am a Christian!" Guess they must have been really offended. I thought only ignorant F*ckwits believed that shit. I thought it was just people like my parents who believed in that disgusting superstitious nonsense. At least I had an atheist shrink for a few years, we laughed our butts off at xians and any other ancient crap made up by nomadic goat-herders thousands of years ago. I would look at the xians and say "DO YOU BELIEVE IN SANTA? WELL WHY NOT?" THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE!

Tell them what you really think and they WILL come out with the truth. They are too brainwashed to be able to shut up, or even try to understand a person with NO FAITH.

Read just two of my examples on the bottom of page one. Don't tell me it doesn't make a difference. It's happened more times than I care to remember, because I am HONEST to the people I'm going to trust my life with. They will be too if you push them far enough.

My cremation and burial is all paid for. No services of ANY kind. No obituary. Just cremate me and stick me in the ground. Everone can then just shut the F*ck up!

As far as JW's go, if it's a life threatening situation for the child under the age of 18, I've always seen the hospital get a court order to treat the child. If they are over 18, they can croak legally if they want to.