Religion and fear of death

[Ataraxia]

Okay my first thread! Well besides my intro!

One of the things I really like about Epicurean philosophy is freedom from fear of death via Epicurus's understanding of the nature of life and death.

It occurred to me that perhaps without afterlife concepts being introduced at a young age, fear of death wouldn't be introduced because there would be nothing good or bad associated with death.

Do you think this is accurate or do you disagree?

 

[psychoslice]

That is a great thought, fear of death is the ego's fear, we as humans are no different than any other animal, we live and we die, it really is that simple.

 

[Madhuri]

Okay my first thread! Well besides my intro!

One of the things I really like about Epicurean philosophy is freedom from fear of death via Epicurus's understanding of the nature of life and death.

It occurred to me that perhaps without afterlife concepts being introduced at a young age, fear of death wouldn't be introduced because there would be nothing good or bad associated with death.

Do you think this is accurate or do you disagree?

I haven't seen any evidence to suggest that being brought up without ideas of an afterlife would eliminate fear of death. And I'd think it more likely to be less afraid of death if you felt certain that your afterlife would be a good one.

I also think that we may provide our own sense of 'good and bad' on death.

I personally find the concept of Nothingness just as, if not more, terrifying than a negative afterlife. That's just me though.

 

[Thanda]

I haven't seen any evidence to suggest that being brought up without ideas of an afterlife would eliminate fear of death. And I'd think it more likely to be less afraid of death if you felt certain that your afterlife would be a good one.

I also think that we may provide our own sense of 'good and bad' on death.

I personally find the concept of Nothingness just as, if not more, terrifying than a negative afterlife. That's just me though.

Certainly. That is why every religion's foundation is a belief in the afterlife.

 

[FearGod]

Okay my first thread! Well besides my intro!

One of the things I really like about Epicurean philosophy is freedom from fear of death via Epicurus's understanding of the nature of life and death.

It occurred to me that perhaps without afterlife concepts being introduced at a young age, fear of death wouldn't be introduced because there would be nothing good or bad associated with death.

Do you think this is accurate or do you disagree?

Reality isn't as easy as the words.
Why we feel sad if someone we love pass away ?
Imagine you have a disease which is fatal and that you'll suffer for some years, will you put an end to your life and think about a suicide or giving yourself some hope.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

It occurred to me that perhaps without afterlife concepts being introduced at a young age, fear of death wouldn't be introduced because there would be nothing good or bad associated with death.
Do you think this is accurate or do you disagree?

I think that fear of death is a main driving force for religious belief. Most religions have some kind of afterlife or continuation which can be a comforting belief to have.

 

[FearGod]

I think that fear of death is a main driving force for religious belief. Most religions have some kind of afterlife or continuation which can be a comforting belief to have.

You mean fear of punishment and not fear of death as many religious people are suicide bombers.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

You mean fear of punishment and not fear of death as many religious people are suicide bombers.

The suicide bombers I've heard about are Islamic extremists, I gather they don't mind dying because they believe they are going to heaven? Do you think they'd do it if they knew for sure there was no afterlife?

 

[FearGod]

The suicide bombers I've heard about are Islamic extremists, I gather they don't mind dying because they believe they are going to heaven? Do you think they'd do it if they knew for sure there was no afterlife?

Regardless of what they think but they don't fear death.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Certainly. That is why every religion's foundation is a belief in the afterlife.

No. Buddhism does not have any. My 'Advaita' Hindu belief also does not have the concept of rebirth because I am born from the whole and return to the whole.

Madhuri, the thought is a bit disturbing initially, but one gets over it. It is our ego which stops us to accept the truth (But then, you belong to a different version of Hindu belief, with which I have no problem. You have your Gods to take care of you. )

 

[Aupmanyav]

Why we feel sad if someone we love pass away? Imagine you have a disease which is fatal and that you'll suffer for some years, will you put an end to your life and think about a suicide or giving yourself some hope.

Sad because the person is not with us. Perfectly human. But can it be helped by a false belief? It is our biology, we try to preserve ourselves; it is our attachment, which we want to last as long as possible. But every good thing comes to an end, just as every bad thing also does. Both are parts of life. Even when some people want to end their lives, it is to save themselves and people they love from loss and sorrow.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I gather they don't mind dying because they believe they are going to heaven?

And I gather that they are dousing their beards in after shave so that they smell good when they are with their houris in heaven.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Okay my first thread! Well besides my intro!

One of the things I really like about Epicurean philosophy is freedom from fear of death via Epicurus's understanding of the nature of life and death.

It occurred to me that perhaps without afterlife concepts being introduced at a young age, fear of death wouldn't be introduced because there would be nothing good or bad associated with death.

Do you think this is accurate or do you disagree?

Maybe you can psychologically prepare for death. Fundamentally though we are hardwired to fear and exercise self preservation.

I think we can "die well" by adjusting accordingly to fear of death, but would be hard pressed to see how fear could be absent completely due to our disposition as a species.

Even among my favorite animals, the Honey Badger, noted and admired for it's fearlessness will still try to dodge the bullet per say when it confronts danger.

 

[Windwalker]

It occurred to me that perhaps without afterlife concepts being introduced at a young age, fear of death wouldn't be introduced because there would be nothing good or bad associated with death.

Do you think this is accurate or do you disagree?

I don't agree. The fear of death is an existential issue, not the result of cultural programming. There are in fact two deaths that humans face. They face the death of their bodies, just as all life around them dies. But far more substantially they face the death of the "self", that "me" they self-identify with. "I" shall be no more. This is the existential dread, "I" shall die. All the rest the ensues in culture and religion are various modes of this death-avoidance, the death of the self. We create immortality projects to look to in order to see ourselves continuing beyond death, and thus avoiding that ultimate confrontation with our own mortality. We create monuments to ourselves, we pass on our legacy, and so on. "I shall continue!". Life after death stories in religion are simply an extension of that project. They do not create that dread. They are a product of avoiding one's ultimate confrontation with the Void.

 

[Madhuri]

No. Buddhism does not have any. My 'Advaita' Hindu belief also does not have the concept of rebirth because I am born from the whole and return to the whole.

Madhuri, the thought is a bit disturbing initially, but one gets over it. It is our ego which stops us to accept the truth (But then, you belong to a different version of Hindu belief, with which I have no problem. You have your Gods to take care of you. )

According to your beliefs, is there any continued existence of the self after the death of the physical body? Or is your consciousness completely snuffed out? Cause I would consider merging back into the Whole as a form of continues exists as opposed to Nothingness.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Okay my first thread! Well besides my intro!

One of the things I really like about Epicurean philosophy is freedom from fear of death via Epicurus's understanding of the nature of life and death.

It occurred to me that perhaps without afterlife concepts being introduced at a young age, fear of death wouldn't be introduced because there would be nothing good or bad associated with death.

Do you think this is accurate or do you disagree?

Actualy, yeah. Many ethnic religions (or folk) see death as a psrt of life so the fear isnt the unknown or afterlife but how one dies to get there.

 

[Marisa]

Here's an interesting documentary on the subject:

 

[Marisa]

I personally find the concept of Nothingness just as, if not more, terrifying than a negative afterlife. That's just me though.

That's a perspective I must admit I've never understood. Perhaps it's because both my parents were in the medical profession where death is just part of the job, perhaps it's having been raised without religion's influence on my formative years. At any rate, I'm with Twain on this one:
I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it. Mark Twain

 

[Marisa]

Reality isn't as easy as the words.
Why we feel sad if someone we love pass away ?
Imagine you have a disease which is fatal and that you'll suffer for some years, will you put an end to your life and think about a suicide or giving yourself some hope.

Knowing me, I'd likely go the suicide route, as much for me as for my loved ones. I don't want to suffer. Who does? I don't want my loved ones to suffer, either, and I know from personal experience that watching a loved one slowly die, often in pain, is not pleasant. It is my opinion that if I'm terminal, I'd like to leave while my family still has an image of a healthy me in mind, and not leave them with an image of me suffering, and allow them the opportunity to mourn my passing and get on with their lives. It will be the last gift I can give them

 

[Madhuri]

That's a perspective I must admit I've never understood. Perhaps it's because both my parents were in the medical profession where death is just part of the job, perhaps it's having been raised without religion's influence on my formative years. At any rate, I'm with Twain on this one:
I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it. Mark Twain

I think it comes from not being able to imagine non-existence. I don't see much sense in being afraid of it but I still find it very frightening.