We want to hear these people's first conversation with God
Bob Jones Sr.
1. "Mary Gaston, get my shoes; I must go to preach." – Bob Jones Sr.
Robert Reynolds Jones Sr. was an American evangelist, pioneer religious broadcaster, and the founder of Bob Jones University. Concerned with the secularization of post-secondary education Jones Sr. began the Bob Jones University to fill the need for an orthodox Christian college. A man of God to the very end, Mrs. Jones recounted that his last words before slipping into a semi-coma leading up to his passing were “Mary Gaston, get my shoes; I must go to preach.”
William Claude Dukenfield
2. “I’m looking for loopholes.” – W.C Fields
William Claude Dukenfield was an American comedian, actor, juggler, and writer during the beginning of the 20th century. With humble beginnings as a silent juggler, he quickly began to incorporate comedy into his acts, eventually landing him in Hollywood staring in some of the first films with audio known as “talkies”. In 1936, Field’s lifestyle as a heavy drinker began to have severe impacts on his health. Despite not being particularly religious, towards the end of his life he was found reading the bible. When asked why he replied “I’m looking for loopholes”.
Kurt Vonnegut
3. "And if I should ever die, God forbid, I hope you will say: 'Kurt is up in heaven now'. That's my favorite joke." – Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was an American writer born and raised in Indianapolis. Vonnegut attended the University of Cornell until withdrawing in January 1943 to join the US Army during World War II. His breakthrough novel didn’t come until the release of Slaughterhouse-Five in 1969. After his death he was hailed as one of the most important contemporary writers and a dark humor commentator on American society. A self-proclaimed “Christ-loving atheist”, his final wish was that people would joke about him being up in heaven after his death.
(Voltaire) François-Marie Arouet
4. “Now is not the time for making new enemies.” – Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet, better known simply by his pen name, Voltaire was a famous French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit and criticism of Christianity. Despite being born in 1694 he was known to advocate against many widespread practices of the time. Some of his “controversial” beliefs included the abolishment of slavery, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. On his death bed when asked by a priest whether he renounced Satan and all his promises he replied “now is not the time for making new enemies”.
Frederick Whiting Adams
5. "If there is a Christian's God, I am not afraid to trust myself in his hands." – Frederick W. Adams
Frederick Whiting Adams was a noted physician, author, and violin maker. Born in Pawlet, Vermont in 1786, he studied medicine at Dartmouth College. A skilled violin player, his avocation was building violins. Being of the opinion that Amati and Stradivarius’ instruments superior tones was the result of being made from old and seasoned wood he carefully selected the wood for his violins from the forests of Vermont and Canada.
Emperor Pedro II
6. "May God grant me these last wishes—peace and prosperity for Brazil." – Emperor Pedro II of Brazil 5 December 1891
Emperor Pedro II of Brazil was the second and last monarch of the Empire of Brazil. Born in Rio de Janeiro as the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I he eventually grew to reign of more than 58 years. After his fall from power, many Brazilians remained attached to the former Emperor, who was still a popular and highly praised figure. He lived the remainder of his France, where his final wish was for the peace and prosperity of his native land.
Pope John Paul II
7. "Let me go to the house of the Father." – Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II, was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in the town of Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920. Forced to do manual labor during the Nazi occupation of Poland, by the age of 20 he had lost his mother, father, and only brother. He has been credited with helping to end the Communist rule in his native Poland as well as the rest of Europe. Perhaps the most beloved pope of all time, his funeral was attended by four kings, five queens, at least 70 presidents and prime minister, more than 14 leaders of other world religions, and an estimated four million mourners gathered in and around Vatican City.
Leonardo Da Vinci
8. “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have” – Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance period who was an active painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. As can be seen in his many drawings and paintings Da Vinci took an observational approach to science and tried to place emphasis on describing phenomenon in clear detail instead of conducting experiments or theoretical explanations. Da Vinci deied at the age of 67, possibly of a stroke, where he lamented on his deathbed that he was not able to have accomplished more before dying.
Sarah Good
9. "You are a liar; I am no more a Witch than you are a Wizard, and if you take away my Life, God will give you Blood to drink." – Sarah Good
Sarah Good was one of the first three women accused of witchcraft during a series of hearings and prosecutions in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693 known as the Salem witch trials. Good was of lower economic status, having been reduced to homelessness by inheritance customs which cut out daughters, but left her the debt from her first husband. She was accused by her neighbors because she challenged Puritan values, and was accused of possessing two women whose afflictions were often sporadic and inexplicable.
Werner Heisenberg
10. "When I meet God, I am going to ask him two questions: Why relativity? And why turbulence? I really believe he will have an answer for the first." – Werner Heisenberg
Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German theoretical physicist who is know for being one of the key pioneers of quantum mechanics. Heisenberg received the Nobel Prize in Physics for the creation of quantum mechanics in 1932. A German scientist during World War II, Heisenberg was captured and held at Farm Hall in England along with 9 other German scientists. Their recorded conversations known as the Farm Hall transcripts reveal that Heisenberg, along with other physicists interned at Farm Hall were glad the Allies had won World War II. Heisenberg died of kidney cancer at his home in Germany on February 1, 1976.
