Death,Why is it so Scary?

[SigurdReginson]

Well... My beliefs I guess are that death is it. Nothing after that. Finito.

With that in mind, I wouldn't say I'm afraid to die, but I will do everything in my power to fight against my own end. It's going to happen some day, and it's a natural process that everyone must face, but I'm not looking to hasten that process by any means. I enjoy living!

 

[Fool]

Why is death so scary to many? Are you afraid of dying? Why or why not?

change is always scary. stepping into the unknown takes a leap of faith, belief.

 

[Brian2]

I'm afraid of dying. I know my body and mind will naturally go through the grieving process and fear is natural in those respects. One gets to acceptance they will die but many believe in there is some form of continuation. But if they found out they-soul-will longer exist, and they have nothing to leave behind I think fear is natural. Here's a ted talk you may like:

I don't believe in life after death so it is what it is.

 

[Brian2]

I like this post. Only one thing, is there is really no mystery here what death is like. All of us were dead prior to being born, so everyone already knows what it's like.

The thing you nailed squarely is the prospect of suffering. We project all our emotions onto our eventual corpse without realizing that all the suffering only applies to the living. We make scenarios of just about everything that inflicts pain and suffering up to the point where it will disappear.

That's what makes death so terrifying, the aspect involving pain and suffering. Our minds become our own worst enemy.

We weren't really dead before we existed, we just did not exist.
What then is death? Is it what we see happening to the body or does our life that is in us go on in another way than in a body?

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

Why is death so scary to many? Are you afraid of dying? Why or why not?

I have a feeling that the road leading to death might (probably will) suck really hard. That's what a fear more than death itself. I don't fear the actual death. To my mind, it is very likely that it is no different than what it was like before I was born. Do you remember what it was like before you were born? No? EXACTLY. Why would that state be "scary?" There is nothing to fear at that point. Nothing left TO DO the fearing.

 

[YoursTrue]

I am not afraid of dying, been close a few time but obviously not ready yet. What does concern me is those i leave in the land of the living. I hope i can hang around at least until my kids fledge the nest

One thing is for sure, life is addictive but it always kills you in the end.

I don't think animals such as birds, dogs, and cats, etc., think much about death like we do. Any flight from death in animals is likened to instinct, I am rather sure they don't wonder much about dying.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I don't think animals such as birds, dogs, and cats, etc., think much about death like we do. Any flight from death in animals is likened to instinct, I am rather sure they don't wonder much about dying.

But unless you've been another species, you really don't know that, do you?

I delivered to a house yesterday and saw a dog on the other side of the storm door that was clearly disappointed that he couldn't interact with me. Is this disappointment instinct?

 

[YoursTrue]

Why is death so scary? Perhaps because so many have expectations (often coming from some sort of religious belief) as to what might happen after death - some afterlife (good, bad, or indeterminate) - or for all the various other obvious reasons, like not wanting their current lives to end and/or how such affects those they love or might look after.

Apart from the obvious of not wanting to die an agonising death or one prolonged where one is not really there any more, my gripe with death (but which we all have I presume) is in humankind carrying on and my not getting to know how it all works out for humans. I don't have any beliefs about any kind of life after death and if such happens then that is what will happen, and I don't see how anything I can do on this Earth will alter that - despite all the pronouncements from those with some particular religious belief warning about not being a believer and hence deserving some particular fate. I've had enough pain in my life to know that I usually cope with such, so death is not scary for me - just an annoyance, and the price we pay for being born mortal.

Humans think in general they would rather stay alive than die. We are, in general, afraid of that which would kill us. But the Bible says that we can be rescued, saved, from death.

 

[YoursTrue]

But unless you've been another species, you really don't know that, do you?

I delivered to a house yesterday and saw a dog on the other side of the storm door that was clearly disappointed that he couldn't interact with me. Is this disappointment instinct?

I figured someone would say something like that. Animals have feelings. They haven't spoken to me about musings about death, I am happy to say. If you think animals such as ants, caterpillars, horses, etc., ponder over death, the why's and wherefore's, that's how you think, not me. I am convinced animals do not think about death, what it is, why do they die, etc. Nope. And if someone says an animal spoke to them about these things, I would be concerned for the state of being of that person.

 

[YoursTrue]

I have a feeling that the road leading to death might (probably will) suck really hard. That's what a fear more than death itself. I don't fear the actual death. To my mind, it is very likely that it is no different than what it was like before I was born. Do you remember what it was like before you were born? No? EXACTLY. Why would that state be "scary?" There is nothing to fear at that point. Nothing left TO DO the fearing.

Right now we all face the possibility of death. There is only one escape. Through Jesus Christ.

 

[YoursTrue]

Death should be terrifying, it's the literal end of everything you know. Whether you're about to be renewed into a different type of existence, another life, or if you just end entirely - it's all over. But we all march toward it and there's no turning around.

So... something we have no control over, it's inescapable, and it's the complete end of everything you know. To the one dying, death is a cosmic horror event in which they have no idea what's coming next.

But, we only have to die once. Face it when the time comes, don't imagine it over and over again during life.

The Bible says there can be more than one death. There's a temporary death and a forever death. Interestingly, the one to fear is the One who makes eternal life in happiness possible.

 

[Ashoka]

Why is death so scary to many? Are you afraid of dying? Why or why not?

I think it’s because it is so unknown. We all have our own beliefs about what life is like after death, if there is indeed life after death. But we don’t know for sure, and I can be scary. Personally, I’m not afraid of death. I’m just afraid of the way that I might go out, it could be violent and painful. I kind of hope I die like rose in titanic, warm and safe in my bed.

 

[robocop (actually)]

Why is death so scary to many? Are you afraid of dying? Why or why not?

I think we're just hard-wired to it.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Humans think in general they would rather stay alive than die. We are, in general, afraid of that which would kill us. But the Bible says that we can be rescued, saved, from death.

I'm not sure that is true - about us being afraid of what will kill us. It's sensible to take note of such and to avoid the consequences of anything one might do - which is what I did for the many years when I was doing some rather dangerous activities (rock-climbing, mountaineering, and such). I just made sure I was competent enough and focused so as not to make mistakes - fear seldom was there - and it tends to interfere. I'm sure many religious faiths have advice to their adherents but it makes no sense to me I'm afraid.

 

[Wandering Monk]

Why is death so scary to many? Are you afraid of dying? Why or why not?

Loss of ego, identity, the individual.

 

[JustGeorge]

I don't think animals such as birds, dogs, and cats, etc., think much about death like we do. Any flight from death in animals is likened to instinct, I am rather sure they don't wonder much about dying.

When my son young, he was very attached to an ancient cat. Him and the cat did all kinds of things together. They would read, and play chess, and had all sorts of make believe games.

The cat's health declined, as often does in very old age. One morning, it became apparent the cat would be leaving, and leaving soon. We gave him an hour. The cat was still holding on. We had to leave for awhile, and came back, and assumed he had gone on. Nope. Our son got off the bus from school, and we thought maybe that was what he was waiting for. No, he hung on all evening. My son and him had a 'going away party', with all the games they normally played. My son fell asleep. Within minutes, the cat passed on. That was what he was waiting for, I believe.

 

[Vee]

Why is death so scary to many? Are you afraid of dying? Why or why not?

Because it's the one thing that at the moment, is definitive. Something you can't change no matter what you do it scary.
I'm not afraid of dying per se, but since I'm alive, I'd rather enjoy my life than worrying about dying. I guess believing in God and having a hope for the future helps keeping my mind at ease.

 

[firedragon]

Why is death so scary to many? Are you afraid of dying? Why or why not?

I have no idea why I am afraid of death. I honestly think about death, but since you opened this thread I am just thinking about it in order to figure out if I am afraid of death, and if I am, "why". And I can feel that I am afraid of death but I do not have a clue why.

The problem is, I dont think of death. Sometimes I think of old age and illness. I dont wish to be ill in my life ever. Thats fact. I am also afraid of not having some wealth for my wife and children. I am also afraid that I might never be able to help enough children in this world because I simply dont have enough money and the ability to.

I am wondering if Freud was correct He said that people are not really scared of death but are actually showing their feelings about some other trauma they had in their lives. I am no psychologist but I was reading a book on this just to reflect. But then, in the 70's an award winning study by Ernest Becker says that we are simply denying death on a daily basis. Freud sounds very deep, but Becker sounds absolutely practical. He says that all of this attempts at making money or showing people a kind of success in life, showing others or achieving things to create an aspiration in others, are acts of denying death.

"Achieving goals and socially defined success keeps our mind off death"

 

[stvdv]

Why is death so scary to many?

The unknown usually is scary for many, esp. when you have never seen people return from death
Man suffers most because of the suffering he fears .. this is particularly true for "fear of death"

Are you afraid of dying?

No

Why or why not?

Only gross and subtle body die, both of which I am not
I am the causal body, which can not die, hence no need to be scared

I have "experienced" this so called "dying", and there was no fear, just pure light and peace

Having experienced this "having to let go the gross and subtle body" a few times, death has become my friend now

 

[Irate State]

I guess the apprehension is for the suffering, and the act of consciously dying. After that, there would be just nothingness. So dying I'm scared of, being dead, hell no.