# alcholism **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 22, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcholism/313580 "2005-07-22T03:04:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcholism/313580/41 "2005-07-24T02:03:43Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I have never met an absolute atheist. During the times in my life when death seemed imminent, I and all others in the same situation prayed and acknowledged a higher intelligence. Sort of a “no atheists in foxholes” type thing. Later in life I volunteered to work in hospices. Among the dying patients I talked with were no atheists. I am no saying it’s impossible to be dying and still be an atheist, just that I have not experience this. > > But the 12 step programs speak to our spiritual nature, that is why they are successful. It is possible to go through the program as an atheist and still be helped. > > Yes, spiritual values and techniques are valuable aids to cope with life. Basically they turn a person from fear to love. Love is fearless. You just haven’t been around enough. I’ve met absolute atheists. I’m not one of tthen, but they do exist. One of the strangest encounters I have ever had was with an African Christian woman. She just couldn’t grok that I thought the idea of God was basically silly. Yeah, I acknowledged the logical possibility that God could exist, but how could someone actually believe this was obvious? ---
**Author:** ![stop-1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@stop-1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stop-1)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcholism/313580/42 "2005-07-24T07:47:14Z")
I used to be a type of alkie. I feel sure that it is not a disease (in the technical sense of the word - sure, you can say it is a disease of society). I feel sure that my genetic make-up had something to to with it - just like everything else in my life! Of course, environment has something to to with it. If there was no booze around I would never had been an alkie. If I had been squashed dead by a motor-car before I drank my first drink…etc etc. Jesus obviously liked the stuff, for it is said that he turned water to wine which considering the dire state of the world was a true tribute to alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcholism/313580/43 "2005-07-24T07:48:32Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > Is it inevitable? No. Is it highly likely that the person who reacts the way I did will become alcoholic? Yes. Here’s the crutch: after this first drink, is it or is it not, a matter of willpower? ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcholism/313580/44 "2005-07-24T08:23:56Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I remember one scientist announced he had found the gene that caused dumbness. How do we define dumbness. Something tells me _he_ defined it when he made that announcement. Do you have a link? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcholism/313580/45 "2005-07-24T10:45:03Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I have never met an absolute atheist. Knock on my door, and you’ll have met one ten seconds later. > [@](#): > > During the times in my life when death seemed imminent, I and all others in the same situation prayed and acknowledged a higher intelligence. Sort of a “no atheists in foxholes” type thing. I’ve had a gun pointed at my face from four inches away, but praying never occurred to me. I talked myself out of the situation instead and escaped with my atheism unscathed. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcholism/313580/46 "2005-07-26T03:28:01Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Knock on my door, and you’ll have met one ten seconds later. > > I’ve had a gun pointed at my face from four inches away, but praying never occurred to me. I talked myself out of the situation instead and escaped with my atheism unscathed. I don’t think it would have occurred to me either. I am not saying an atheist can’t face death and remain an atheist. I vounteered for hospice work, Dannion Brinkley, nationally known author and lecturer on near death experiences, asks all NDEers to do Hospice work. He has an organization called the CIA. Compassion In Action, so no one need die alone. I never encountered an atheist in a Hospice. Dannion was a covert agent involved in a lot of bad stuff until he got hit by lightening, literally, very interesting story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcholism/313580.md?page=2)