Death,Why is it so Scary?

[Psalm23]

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

 

[Rival]

I'm not afraid of death. At the minute trying living is much scarier.

 

[Salty Booger]

I'm not afraid to sleep. Would that be a near-death experience?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

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

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.

 

[JustGeorge]

I'm not afraid to die, but I am afraid to leave my loved ones behind. This is both from fear of being separated from them, and worry for their care if I were to kick the bucket(two of my kids have special needs, and one is a toddler).

 

[epronovost]

Death is scary on several levels. First, since I live in a safe area of a first world country, I will most likely die at a old age of cancer or a variety of medical condition as my body organs start to function improperly. In other words, death will take its time and I will spend the last few years of my life, crippled and/or in pain, and my death will probably be long and rather agonising. That's enough to be scary on its own. A second level of scary is the prospect of oblivion which is so alien it can be distressing. A third scary prospect is thinking about what could be left behind like grieving family, a dependant who is now without support. A fourth one, though this one would only concern certain theists, is the idea of divine justice and wrath for "not making the cut".

 

[Twilight Hue]

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

I'm not afraid of dying, but I do understand the fear.

I think its a concern over what is going to happen next.

When you really think about it, the concern is for the next 'me' to worry about.

Besides, if your in the playground having fun, who wants to go back?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

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.

 

[Deeje]

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

It's funny, isn't it? The one thing that is most inevitable in life and its the one thing many people fear.
Actually fear of death is used as a coercion to make enemies or victims more compliant....and it works.

If its natural, why does it feel so wrong? I believe that what creates the fear is the unknown.....so many religious people have ideas implanted in their minds that scare the pants off them.....but the God of the Bible has no torture chamber. Why would he? He is a God of the living, so he has no need to persecute the dead.

In the Bible, death is merely a sleep (sometimes called "the long good night" in poetic circles.)

To my way of thinking it makes sense that God created man to go on living, and that death was not supposed to happen. It would feel normal if it was part of the natural scheme of things....but it still feels wrong even after all these thousands of years of enduring it. How many ways are there to die?

The Bible says that the first humans chose death when they chose to disobey a direct command of their Creator. They knew the penalty before they committed the crime, so there is no one to blame but us, because we follow in their footsteps, doing what we want instead of what God wants. There is no such place as "hell" so there is nothing to fear in death. It is no more scary than going to sleep.

I also believe that the time will come when all in their graves will be returned to life.....to enjoy the life that we missed out on....with lessons learned and precedents set for all time to come.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

I should be afraid of not producing good in life , more than I should be afraid of death

There are certain kinds of death I don't want.. I don't want to meet it in a state of terror

Best to meet it , once you know you did the best you could in this realm, whatever form that takes

 

[LightofTruth]

I'm reminded of Jesus. When the time had come for him to lay down his life he went off by himself to pray to his Father. And before he went, he told his disciples, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death." Then, as he prayed, he asked his Father if it be possible, "let this cup pass from me". It was not possible.
Luke adds that Jesus was in agony as he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.

Jesus had the promise of his Father that he would rise from the dead. But knowing that didn't seem to make it any easier.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Death is scary on several levels. First, since I live in a safe area of a first world country, I will most likely die at a old age of cancer or a variety of medical condition as my body organs start to function improperly. In other words, death will take its time and I will spend the last few years of my life, crippled and/or in pain, and my death will probably be long and rather agonising. That's enough to be scary on its own. A second level of scary is the prospect of oblivion which is so alien it can be distressing. A third scary prospect is thinking about what could be left behind like grieving family, a dependant who is now without support. A fourth one, though this one would only concern certain theists, is the idea of divine justice and wrath for "not making the cut".

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.

 

[YoursTrue]

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.

Actually 'we' were not dead before we were born. Death is something that happens to a person. Before a child is conceived, he is not 'there.'

 

[sun rise]

I don't fear death but rather am really enjoying living. So I'm far from ready to drop my physical body.

My father-in-law lived until his early 90's. His last words were "I'm ready now". Not that I'll have a choice, of course, but that's how I'd like to end my life.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

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

 

[YoursTrue]

I don't want to die. Am I afraid of death? I'm not hoping to die, let's put it that way. But as I get older, I'm more prepared. And, if I die, I hope I'll go out quickly, like a lightbulb turned off. Yet I, along with many others, have a firm hope that this life is not all there is. Thank God for that! As has been quoted above, Jesus did say that everlasting life is a definite possibility. (Revelation 21:1-5)

 

[ChristineM]

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.

 

[Mock Turtle]

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.

 

[Eddi]

Why is death so scary to many?

Because evolution favours the genes of those who seek to avoid death - for whatever reason

Are you afraid of dying?

I was in hospital in 2017 with pneumonia and the doctor said I could die

As I was lying on a bed in the hospital corridor I felt that I'd come face-to-face with death

"I'm not scared of you", I thought

And I wasn't, I was not at all scared

 

[SalixIncendium]

Why is death so scary to many?

Because people tend to be wary of the unknown.

Are you afraid of dying?

No.

Why or why not?

Because I've shed fear in general, as I no longer have a practical use for it.

That, and I have a pretty good idea of what will happen to me once my body and mind expire. And I am as much this body/mind complex as I am the mug of coffee sitting on my desk.