Alzheimer's, families and faith

**mek42** · 06-16-2010, 08:37 AM

I had this thought form after hearing previews for an Alzheimer's story on NPR on my drive in today.

Let's say that a couple shares a belief system whereby the eternal reward is dependent upon active faith at the time of death (I'm specifically thinking Christianity, but I don't want to leave anyone else out). Let's then say that one of the couple experiences Alzheimer's. How often is the stress of the caregiver amplified by concerns that their partner will forget the faith due to the disease and thus lose out on the reward?

**ilovechocolate** · 06-16-2010, 08:52 AM

My mom, a devout Christian, has Alzheimer's and most days doesn't know who I am. Yet, when we sing hymns, she sometimes remembers the words.

I don't want to get into a theological discussion about "once saved, always saved" or "working out your salvation," but in the case of my mom, I believe it doesn't matter if she forgets her faith. God hasn't forgotten her, and he knows her heart and her beliefs.

**2ndGenGranola** · 06-16-2010, 05:33 PM

The God I know will not disinherit one who looses their mental abilities.

**pollypurebred39** · 06-16-2010, 06:09 PM

**Saule** · 06-19-2010, 02:41 PM

Your hypothetical is that an active faith is necessary at time of death. I suppose there might be some sects that require a conscious affirmation of faith for heavenly reward, but that would mean that in that sect infants and very young children would not go to heaven, as well as people with some illnesses. I myself would probably be looking for another denomination, but that's just me. None of the mainstream denominations that I know of are that rigid. My personal belief is that God wants us to achieve heavenly reward, and does not set up impossible barriers.