What do Atheists think?

I'm Jewish, but I have never found Death a depressing subject. As a Freudian, I believe that we should make the most of life while we can and never think about Death. This movie, as tromitizing as it is, is extremley beautiful and clever. I think it was Bergman's religious let-out, to show how afraid he was of Death and how important it was to him. Having said this, I am not Athliest, but I thought I should give you my views as a man of God.

im an atheist
shawshank1, an intelligent religious man is better than a stupid atheist. its not always bad, what you cant understand. btw, you are american, right?

I can see this movie being massively not to an individual's taste.

But I still have a hard time understanding giving it a "1". I would think that the imagery / cinematography / photography alone would merit an increase over the absolute minimum possible score.

"you become a believer in the religion called "Atheism". "

Fallacy. Atheism is a religion in the same way that not collecting stamps is a hobby. It certainly might have some religious atheists, those who believe with 100% certainty there is absolutely no chance of god ever existing in any form, however, this is rare.

What is most often found in atheists, or at least, the more intelligent atheists, is the idea that since god could get around anything, he might well exist, but so might invisible unicorns, dragons in the garage and diamonds the size of fridges. Because there is an equal amount of evidence for all the above statements, we must conclude that none exist, but if evidence were shown, these opinions would be revised.

I too am impressed with the level of maturity and intelligence present in this conversation. I expected one or two posts of eloquent conversation, followed by "yOu'RE all GoinG to HelL!!!11!1!" type religious idiots (note, not all religious people are stupid, in case anyone gets the wrong impression) and a tide of "lol god is silly lol" atheist morons.

Why fear?

Epicurus: "Where death is I am not; where I am death is not".


Woody Allen: "I don't mind the idea of dying. I just don't want to be there when it happens".

These ideas initially seem similar, but are almost entirely opposed - emphasising that there is a world of difference between the 'state' of 'death' and the 'act' of 'dying'.


Existentialism is a philosophy of intellectual and spiritual courage.

Shakespeare: "Cowards die many times before their deaths/ The valiant never taste of death but once".

Does anyone else see this in the film?

In the thrashing 'act of dying' on the part of the thief (with even more neurotic-twitch and wail than prime Woody Allen could muster), or in the Knight, who, despite the suffering it brings him, saves the young family through his mental courage and strength, and enters the 'state of death' in quite a different way?

Or maybe in the absurd and complex, yet weirdly joyful and life-affirming (and life-acknowledging) song sung in Swedish by the artists, drowned out by the Latin-dead-language wailing of the 'Christian' death-cult, the rival theatrical group, which drags itself blood-stained into the village to crow about the power of death, to delight in tormenting the villagers? They have turned their lives into a painful simulation of the act of dying, rejecting all possibilities of life.


Mia and Jof seem to acknowledge Death as only given meaning by its opposition to they joy of life, to wild strawberries and milk and songs and the forest footfall of horse hooves, and the just-rightness of springtime.

And of having your bruises tended in the lap of a young Swede who loves you. Or of tending the bruises of the young Swede you love.



If I ever die, I hope to pass directly from life into death. In one footstep. I refuse to waste my life by spending its time in the act of dying. In thrashing mentally like the Thief did physically. Live while alive, be dead when dead.

Many apologies for the long rambling post. I hope I didn't waste too much of your short time here. There are unlikely to be further extensions. Unless you play chess, obviously.


I am now going outside to lie in the sunshine.

My answer, as a Christian, is that I find it inspiring and comforting. All people (not just Christians) struggle with doubt and uncertainty, just as Block did throughout the movie. This can be, to me, a picture of Jesus, who also had doubt in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before he was to die. Yet, in spite of those doubts, he willingly layed down his life to save others, just as Block did.

Unfortunately, most Christians tend to forget that truly following Jesus is about humbly embracing the same doubts that everyone else has and making them the essence of your faith, while willingly living a life of sacrifice and service to others, no matter what their beliefs or lifestyles might be. Most tend to fall into the trap of "I have to defend this at all costs," and so arrogantly they put up a mask of no doubts, and with that, tend to forget about sacrifice and service.

In short, Blocks willingness to die with unanswered questions and the possibility of nothingness is the picture of what a person of true faith- any faith, atheism included- would do in that situation as it presented itself (faith, not religion- HUGE difference, and is true in all streams of faith like Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, etc. that there are those who are of faith, and those who are religious, and there is a big difference- but that's another topic, altogether).

Anyway, that's how I feel.

I think the best line in the film is "Why can't I kill God in me? Why does he live on in me despite my wanting to evict him from my heart?" Im skeptical by nature but yet at times i have inclinations to believe. I dont know if athiests ever feel like that. I guess im the opposite of the theist who has doubts every now and then. So that scene really struck a chord with me.

<Ever consider reading Lee Strobel's 'The Case for the Creator'? Its made many believers, and you may find it an interesting read. In the very least it is well written.

Its a document written by an atheist who couldn't believe and eventually, through research and historical sources found real evidence to believing. He has written a few books, including also 'The Case for Christ', detailing the historical accuracies in calling Jesus Christ the son of God.

Anyway, just thought you might be interested.>

There's a thorough academic consideration of 'The Case For Christ' here:
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder/strobel.html