Meh. People say Stupid Things when they are dying or in severe pain. If you feel free to believe that a lifetime of atheism can be erased by a few choice words in the last few minutes of life, then you must also accept that a lifetime of devotion to God by a long-time Christian can be erased by renouncing God from the deathbed... This notion speaks to a very fickle God; one who measures a person by whatever distressed thoughts/words are blurted out under duress of fear and pain;
"welcome to heaven, lifelong atheist! You said the magic words in the last five seconds, and are now a lucky winner!!!! Grab a toga and a cloud of your choice"
"Sorry dedicated Christian, those eighty years of devout faith are meaningless... you cursed and renouced me in the last minute of your life. No, it doesn't matter that the pain of the cancer raging through your body incited the outburst... Its off to the Pit of Fire with you!"
IMNSHO, it would be far more just to take the measure of a person by what they stood for and accomplished in the majority of their lives.
No, not "forced", they're merely people acting like people, when faced with overwhelming pain, fear, and/or suffering.
Basically it comes down to regression, like calling out for one's mother, or, grasping at straws.
I've heard people say it proves that we all actually believe in god.
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