Two points stand out:
- Nobody lives forever - death is unavoidable
- Sometimes it hurts - however life in a bubble is no fun at all
The suffering and/or death of any living thing is abhorrent to most people, atheist or theist. No one should have to suffer before they die. Many atheists subscribe to the view that voluntary euthanasia should be the right of every person who requests it.
Atheistic existentialists hold that when we die we simply cease to exist. They accept death as an inevitability and as the end of life.
Generally, atheists
feel much suffering is random. True, along the lines of existentialist thinking--- some do contribute to the onset of their own suffering, such as smokers who come down with lung cancer.
Yet,
for the most part,
much suffering
is random. Parents whose child comes down with a horrific disease have not contributed. In such situations, all parents struggle with
the question, "Why MY child?" but atheists are free from the perceived
answers that popped into their minds 'from a god', or
from their religious friends/pastors saying things like:
- "It's god's way of getting your attention."
- "God works in mysterious ways."
- "God wanted you to be closer to Him/pray more/appreciate life more/learn patience/learn grace/etc etc".
What kind of god would crumple up an innocent child to cause their parents (who may already be religious) to pray more.