
From Atheism to Faith: A Hospice Worker's Spiritual Journey
Opinion | 8/17/2025
A seasoned hospice worker, Scott Janssen, who initially identified as an atheist, experienced a transformative shift in his beliefs over his 33 years in the field. His journey into caring for the dying led him to encounter accounts of deathbed visitations from his patients, a phenomenon that challenged his preconceptions.
Janssen’s evolution from atheism to a deeper contemplation of faith was spurred by the profound experiences he witnessed while tending to individuals nearing the end of their lives. These encounters exposed him to a realm of spirituality and afterlife beliefs that prompted a reevaluation of his own worldview.
Reflecting on his encounters with patients’ experiences of visitations before passing, Janssen acknowledged the impact these events had on his perception of faith and existence beyond life. The intimate moments shared with individuals facing mortality offered insights that compelled him to question his prior stance on spirituality and the unknown.
In the context of hospice care, the intersection of personal beliefs and the profound emotional and spiritual encounters with patients can lead individuals like Janssen on a journey of introspection and reassessment. The delicate balance between skepticism and the unexplained phenomena witnessed in end-of-life care can challenge one’s perspectives on faith and the mysteries surrounding death.
As Janssen’s narrative unfolds, it underscores the complexities and nuances inherent in the human experience when grappling with themes of mortality, spirituality, and the afterlife. His firsthand encounters with the convergence of life, death, and the ethereal have shaped his evolving understanding of faith, highlighting the profound impact that caring for the dying can have on one’s beliefs and perception of existence.