Death,Why is it so Scary?

[Unveiled Artist]

No, I’m not afraid of death. It’s just like being asleep. (John 11:11-14). Honestly, I believe we are living in the Last Days. (As many of you know, I have posted evidence in other threads that 1914 is recognized by many as a turning point in our way of life.) I’m hoping to live through the end of this System. But if I die, I hope the way I die is not painful; I’d rather die in bed.

I have strong faith in Jesus’ words, that in the future (John 6:44), in God’s due time, I would be resurrected along w billions of others. John 5:28-29; Acts of the Apostles 24:15

I'm curious. Without faith in jesus (if christianity and jesus never existed) would you fear death?
(Religion is people's solace but what is the person without his or her source of spiritual fulfilment)

 

[YoursTrue]

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.

I'm not looking forward to death, even if I don't know I'm dead. But...

 

[Earthtank]

Definitely scares me because well, what if this whole God talk is real?

 

[Deeje]

I'm curious. Without faith in jesus (if christianity and jesus never existed) would you fear death?
(Religion is people's solace but what is the person without his or her source of spiritual fulfilment)

What did the ancient Jews believe about death? Jesus was Jewish after all. They did not hold belief in life after death. They believed that death took them to "sheol" (translated "grave" in the Tanakh) and that it was a place of rest in an unconscious and inactive state. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) They believed that once their promised Messiah came, that he would set up his kingdom on earth and resurrect all the dead to join the living in that wonderful place. (foreshadowed by the Promised Land)

Belief in an immortal soul or invisible spirit that departs from the body at death did not come from either Judaism or Christianity.....it is a Platonic Greek notion that crept into both religious systems once apostasy led them to depart from the pure teachings of the scriptures.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

What did the ancient Jews believe about death? Jesus was Jewish after all. They did not hold belief in life after death. They believed that death took them to "sheol" (translated "grave" in the Tanakh) and that it was a place of rest in an unconscious and inactive state. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) They believed that once their promised Messiah came, that he would set up his kingdom on earth and resurrect all the dead to join the living in that wonderful place. (foreshadowed by the Promised Land)

Belief in an immortal soul or invisible spirit that departs from the body at death did not come from either Judaism or Christianity.....it is a Platonic Greek notion that crept into both religious systems once apostasy led them to depart from the pure teachings of the scriptures.

Would you have fear of death if you didn't have jesus and the bible?

 

[Deeje]

Would you have fear of death if you didn't have jesus and the bible?

That would depend entirely on what ideas I was fed as a child....by whom....and whether I believed them as an adult.

No one is born with a fear of death. One can only place the death of someone they love within the context of life itself. If its a child or young person who has not really lived a full life, death is a tragedy. For someone suffering from a terminal illness and has already endured much suffering, death is often a welcome release. For those advanced in years who have experienced life in many ways, many are ready for the "long goodnight" in the hope that the life to come will restore their youth and bring them back to their loved ones who have already passed away.
But with that said...no one with a measure of good health (mentally and physically) wants to die. Death is not something we normally look forward to. I don't believe it was ever supposed to happen. This life is a test.

Solomon summed it up the futility of death well I think....

Ecclesiastes 3:18-20...
"I also said in my heart about the sons of men that the true God will test them and show them that they are like animals, 19 for there is an outcome for humans and an outcome for animals; they all have the same outcome. As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit. So man has no superiority over animals, for everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place. They all come from the dust, and they all are returning to the dust."

If this life is all there is.....what superiority do we have over the animals?

 

[Deeje]

Would you have fear of death if you didn't have jesus and the bible?

It would annoy the soulcase out of me to not have an answer as to why it felt so wrong.

If we are a product of evolution as science suggests, then why, after all our 'evolving' didn't we accommodate death like the animals do? Why isn't it just accepted as a normal part of life? Why do we grieve? Hold funerals? Have elaborate burial plots to tell the world that we ever existed?

Jesus and the Bible are a vital part of the answer for me.

 

[Deeje]

Definitely scares me because well, what if this whole God talk is real?

God is not meant to be a form of 'after death insurance'......just sayin'

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Death isn't scary. Throughout all of the existence of the universe, with the exception of just 73 years, I never existed. My non-existence didn't bother me a bit, so I rather think that my future non-existence will be likewise untroublesome.

Dying, on the other hand -- well, that can be scary. Yes, it would be lovely to shuffle off this mortal coil while I'm in the midst of a nice dream while sleeping, but tragically, it seems, most of us will have some suffering during the process of passing from life to non-life. Yes, I admit, that scares me a bit.

But not death, that bothers me not at all.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

It would annoy the soulcase out of me to not have an answer as to why it felt so wrong.

If we are a product of evolution as science suggests, then why, after all our 'evolving' didn't we accommodate death like the animals do? Why isn't it just accepted as a normal part of life? Why do we grieve? Hold funerals? Have elaborate burial plots to tell the world that we ever existed?

Jesus and the Bible are a vital part of the answer for me.

In one way I understand that, people need a way to handle life's uncertainty and why we're here and all of that. Even if we were a product of evolution, we make purpose in our own lives whether we choose to find it outside ourselves as in god our inside ourselves as other religions may teach. I wonder what our expression would be if we found out our religions or so have you were totally false. I guess I understand as I can entertain the thought without people's belief in god but not what my values and practice-though, it doesn't hurt to be skeptical to get pass that cognitive dissonance-though may not be a fault in itself.

 

[Deeje]

In one way I understand that, people need a way to handle life's uncertainty and why we're here and all of that. Even if we were a product of evolution, we make purpose in our own lives whether we choose to find it outside ourselves as in god our inside ourselves as other religions may teach. I wonder what our expression would be if we found out our religions or so have you were totally false. I guess I understand as I can entertain the thought without people's belief in god but not what my values and practice-though, it doesn't hurt to be skeptical to get pass that cognitive dissonance-though may not be a fault in itself.

I guess it is the difference between having meaning to your existence or having none. I need meaning so I searched until I found something that made sense in the big scheme of things. The big picture was important because concentrating on a few pixels never tells the whole story. I wanted the whole story and I was not going to settle for anything less.

 

[Irate State]

I'm not looking forward to death, even if I don't know I'm dead. But...

Agreed, I'm not yearning for death either.

 

[Clara Tea]

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

It hurts. We've never done it before. Yet, some say that we were dead before we were born.

50 year olds look at the feeble, and say that they'd rather die than go on (crippled, blind, etc). But when they reach 60, they realize that life is still worth living even with some debilities.

As one ages still more, there is little to look forward to except long term care nursing ($25,000/month), often with nurses who don't clean poop and pee for 24 hours, don't respond to nurse call buttons. At that point, death is not such a disappointment, land it is the inevitable end.

Theists like to believe that they live on. Atheists don't believe in God, and have no reason to hedge their bets (in case there is a God). But, if someone guessed wrong, and picked the wrong jealous God, they don't have a prayer in heaven.

 

[Clara Tea]

I'll miss myself when I'm gone. The trick is to get others to miss me.

 

[YoursTrue]

Definitely scares me because well, what if this whole God talk is real?

OK, what do you mean by Godtalk? I know there are different religions with differing views about God, but the question remains: does God exist? The Bible says He does, I believe He does, but it took me time to understand this. You must reach out for this, you must pray, God will help you understand if you ask Him. Jesus spoke of one true God. There is only one true God, He definitely exists but you must reach out for Him so you can know Him.
Many believe that the wicked go to a burning hell where they will be tortured forever, but the Bible does not support this, and false interpretations have been put forth about what happens when we die.

 

[YoursTrue]

It hurts. We've never done it before. Yet, some say that we were dead before we were born.

50 year olds look at the feeble, and say that they'd rather die than go on (crippled, blind, etc). But when they reach 60, they realize that life is still worth living even with some debilities.

As one ages still more, there is little to look forward to except long term care nursing ($25,000/month), often with nurses who don't clean poop and pee for 24 hours, don't respond to nurse call buttons. At that point, death is not such a disappointment, land it is the inevitable end.

Theists like to believe that they live on. Atheists don't believe in God, and have no reason to hedge their bets (in case there is a God). But, if someone guessed wrong, and picked the wrong jealous God, they don't have a prayer in heaven.

Not necessarily. Because God promises a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous. Jesus foretold the end of this present worldwide system of things. (Matthew 24 & 25) The Bible also tells us that there are to be new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness is to be. Therefore we have a good future to look forward to.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I guess it is the difference between having meaning to your existence or having none. I need meaning so I searched until I found something that made sense in the big scheme of things. The big picture was important because concentrating on a few pixels never tells the whole story. I wanted the whole story and I was not going to settle for anything less.

It's good that everyone can find and live their own individual meanings in life. Spiritual fulfillment regardless the faith or spiritual path is a good asset to have.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Family left behind is one concern but people adapt.

However, I remain accountable to God for the life which He has entrusted me. I would love a “well done my son” from Him but I am acutely aware of my shortcomings and failures so I am of course apprehensive. Living in eternity knowing God was disappointed with me is the worst hell I can possibly imagine, while there would be no loftier heaven than winning His Good Pleasure. How do I think I’m fairing so far? Well, the fear is I haven’t done enough.

 

[Brickjectivity]

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

Its the things said in Ecclessiastes such as "Meaningless meaningless meaningless." I don't want my life to be meaningless. My heart is set on eternity, but I'm being taken away and will have no influence. I can't stand to think things will stay terrible. I hear about terrible things happening in this world. How much longer will it go on? That's why I don't want to die.

I was taught a few famous poems, one by Dylan Thomas: Do not go gentle into that good night. It talks about this and the reasons why people hate death. It isn't just the pain of death or the fear death. Its leaving everything the way it is.

Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas - Poems | poets.org

 

[Earthtank]

OK, what do you mean by Godtalk?

I simply meant Religion

I know there are different religions with differing views about God, but the question remains: does God exist?

Personally, I agree. Whether people wanna call him God or something, there's far toooooooooo much evidence for an existence of God/Higher power

You must reach out for this, you must pray, God will help you understand if you ask Him

Again, I agree with you but, to which "God"? I understand there's only 1 and all others are false but, personally, I am inclined to believe that Allah and Islam is the true God and religion. While you clearly don't and that's completely fine but, that's what scares me.