Friday, September 19, 2014

The preferable alternative.

Baffles me. Why the very religious, the people who believe in an afterlife, take extraordinary and heroic measures to extend the lives of their grievously ill loved ones. Even those in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. Doesn’t make sense. The kind thing, it seems to me, would be to whisper in their ear, ‘It’s all right to let go.’ And to be joyful when the suffering comes to an end. Peace finally. Transition to a better form of life. Of course, if one is a non-believer. Convinced that an afterlife is no more than a fairy tale. Maybe then the prolonged suffering is a price worth paying. But I don’t think so. Nothingness remains the preferable alternative. –Jim Broede

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