Why are religious people afraid to die?

[Scuba Pete]

I don't fear death, but I don't relish kissing a Mack truck either!

Many Christians don't quite understand eternity. While it might be written on our hearts, we are surrounded by death and decay 24/7/365. It's hard to look past this apparent death to the future.

In reality, the life and death that are really important are spiritual in nature. Physical death means nothing if your soul lives eternally. Physical life means much the same if your soul has already died.

 

[Quiddity]

I don't fear death, but I don't relish kissing a Mack truck either!

I'm with you...:jam:

~Victor

 

[Nehustan]

I think when faced with death I'd be afraid, you'd have to be somehow unhuman not to be. For me it is this simple tho', would you rather live without a faith, or die with one. I think any believer faced with this dichotomy would have only one answer.

 

[Pah]

so, what, atheists aren't afraid of death or the idea of having a gun pulled on them?

oy vey

Aqualung encapsulated the question for me. I have no fear of the result of dying but I don't look forward (and wish otherwise) to a violent or painful death or the cessation of life. Death and dying are two separate issues for me. I have a journal entry that has more of my thoughts about this.

 

[KirbyFan101]

People are afraid of dying because everyone but the most brainwashed of religious folk have an element of doubt. The prospect of no longer existing is very intimidating, and deep down every logical person knows it is a possibility.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I am not afraid of death. I see no reason for it. Like some said, it is inevitable, so why not come to terms now?
I am comfortable enough with death to worship gods associated with death, such as Anubus, and even study Necromancy.

 

[greatcalgarian]

Every one is afraid to die, religious or non-religious. If you say you are not, you are just kidding yourself. This is the instinct that keep life propagating. With the fear to die, you will try to survive as long as possible. And what is the purpose of staying alive? To propagate your species according to the book "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Hawkins.

One of my uneasiness about dying myself is the feel of uncertainty of my love ones, what is going to happen to them when they need me to help them. Again this boils down to the drive to propagate your species or your gene.

 

[john63]

I am speaking here from the point of view of a man (myself) who has passed the midpoint of his lifetime. I'm 42 years old and to be totally honest, I will consider myself lucky to see another 25 years.

Fear of death is almost exclusive to young people who have not reached middle age yet. I speak from expereince. The older you get, the less you fear death. I have come to total acceptance that my life on this earth is way more than half over, and that's OK by me. It is not a good idea to spend time thinking about it.

I have seen people die quite a few times in my life. All of the deaths I witnessed were of elderly people, and all of them were at a stage where they had completely accepted it and were at total peace with it. As a matter of fact, when someone knows that they are taking their last breaths, they most generally show more concern for their loved ones than themselves.

I honestly do not fear death, and I hope you all don't waste precious time worrying about it either.

 

[YmirGF]

Fear of death is almost exclusive to young people who have not reached middle age yet. I speak from expereince. The older you get, the less you fear death.

I agree wholeheartedly. When one is afraid of their own mortality, it is not really possible for them to conceive what it is like to not be afraid. Plain and simple. Rose coloured glasses, comes to mind.

BTW: Nice post and welcome aboard.

*Winds up.... hucks a frubal at john63*

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Every one is afraid to die, religious or non-religious. If you say you are not, you are just kidding yourself.

I would say that people who commit suicide obviously aren't afraid of death, since they brought it on there selves. The one time I was actually going to go through with it, I felt a great sence of peace, and I was at ease. I was going to leave this world which cared nothing for me, and start a new life through reincarnation. As I reached for my athame, I discovered, it came up missing.

 

[michel]

Why are Religious people afraid to die ?........who said they were ?

 

[Faint]

No I am not. Though this incarnation will remain one of my personal favorites, I will do nothing to ward off "the end". Neither do I do anything (other than smoke LOL) to hasten that inevitability.

This is a contradiction, and not possible. So on one hand you "do nothing" to ward off death--does that mean you walk across busy streets, drive recklessly, drink bleach, go BASE jumping without a parachute, have unprotected sex with prostitutes, etc.?? On the other hand you do nothing to hasten the inevitable? Explain how this works.

You don't know for sure either, do you?

I know for sure that no one knows for sure, therefore I am sure those who think they know don't know very much at all.

 

[Popeyesays]

Death is harrowing thought. I am not much afraid of it for myself. If its the END, its the END, and I will know nothing of it. If, as I am convinced, it is not the end, then why should I fear it?
My scriptures say:
"31. O SON OF BEING!
Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds.
32. O SON OF THE SUPREME!
I have made death a messenger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?
33. O SON OF SPIRIT!
With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee: rejoice! To the court of holiness I summon thee; abide therein that thou mayest live in peace for evermore.
34. O SON OF SPIRIT!
The spirit of holiness beareth unto thee the joyful tidings of reunion; wherefore dost thou grieve? The spirit of power confirmeth thee in His cause; why dost thou veil thyself? The light of His countenance doth lead thee; how canst thou go astray?
35. O SON OF MAN!
Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us. Rejoice not save that thou art drawing near and returning unto Us."
(Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

Regards,
Scott

 

[BUDDY]

I am not afraid of death, and I don't really think that a lot of people are afraid of dying. I think it is the pain involved that scares most people. Personally, I am more afraid of living a useless life, than I am of death. Honestly.

 

[fromthe heart]

I'm not afraid to die, I'm just a little afraid of dying. Like, what does it feel like? What if I die in some horrific manner? That sort of thing. It's not like I obsess about it, though, so it's not that scary.

I think aqualung has a real good point here...but when you put your trust wholy in God to do what is best for you dying doesn't matter...if something horrible happens to you and you are to suffer to your death it may serve a purpose in itself for someone who is looking on and may be something God had in mind. I personally don't fear death OR dying...most of my elders in my family suffered with cancer slowly eating them away over periods of months before they die. I feel cancer is among one of the worst deaths...it is probably how I will die because it's in my genes. I don't look forward to it but I won't fear it either...whatever God hands me to deal with He also hands me the strength.

The only way a Christian would fear death is if they have some uncertianties in their life and they aren't all that sure of their salvation...but to give credance to those who are afraid sometimes it comes down to who will care for my children as I do...as well as many other factors of death situations. Fear doesn't always mean fear of death itself. I nearly died as a child several times;it wasn't my time though. We all have a time to die as there are seasons we go through in each year. It may not 'fit' into our plans but if it's our time I'd hope we have something to show for for our life.

 

[Faint]

I think when faced with death I'd be afraid, you'd have to be somehow unhuman not to be.

I agree. That's why I think the people who say they are not afraid either a) don't really grasp the concept of death, or b) don't really grasp the concept of death.

For me it is this simple tho', would you rather live without a faith, or die with one. I think any believer faced with this dichotomy would have only one answer.

I don't buy the "either you have a faith or you're in trouble when you die" idea, if that's what you're implying. Better to remain true to reason and take things a step at a time.

People are afraid of dying because everyone but the most brainwashed of religious folk have an element of doubt. The prospect of no longer existing is very intimidating, and deep down every logical person knows it is a possibility.

Excellent!:clap

Every one is afraid to die, religious or non-religious. If you say you are not, you are just kidding yourself. This is the instinct that keep life propagating. With the fear to die, you will try to survive as long as possible. And what is the purpose of staying alive? To propagate your species according to the book "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Hawkins.

One of my uneasiness about dying myself is the feel of uncertainty of my love ones, what is going to happen to them when they need me to help them. Again this boils down to the drive to propagate your species or your gene.

Precisely--fear of death is hardwired. It may not be a paralyzing fear (though sometimes it is in some people). The brave understand the fear in themself, but still confront it. If you had no fear of death, you wouldn't survive long on this planet.

Fear of death is almost exclusive to young people who have not reached middle age yet. I speak from expereince. The older you get, the less you fear death. I have come to total acceptance that my life on this earth is way more than half over, and that's OK by me. It is not a good idea to spend time thinking about it.

I don't think the fear is mutually exclusive to the young. In fact, old folks still try to ward off death with their medicare funded prescriptions, and bypass surgeries, and frequent trips to the doctor. Actually, I would say they are MORE afraid of death than the young who consider themselves immortal (if only for a limited time). I don't see many old people engaging in dangerous "extreme" sports, for instance.

 

[Radar]

whatever God hands me to deal with He also hands me the strength.

I nearly died as a child several times;it wasn't my time though. We all have a time to die as there are seasons we go through in each year. It may not 'fit' into our plans but if it's our time I'd hope we have something to show for for our life.

How is this possible? If you die because of cancer or being hit by a bus, how did god give you any streghth to deal with it? He didn't, you are dead. And are you saying that god knows when, where, and how everyone is going to die. So I guess so much for free will. So you have no chioce in the matter, all the decesions you make (or think you make) in your life time are already in place and we as people just go through the motions of manifest destiny and perdetermined routes? So how we live our life doesn't matter because we are only doing what we were programmed to do in the first place.

 

[greatcalgarian]

I would say that people who commit suicide obviously aren't afraid of death, since they brought it on there selves. The one time I was actually going to go through with it, I felt a great sence of peace, and I was at ease. I was going to leave this world which cared nothing for me, and start a new life through reincarnation. As I reached for my athame, I discovered, it came up missing.

People who committed suicide have a painful struggle as to find out whether it is more painful to continue living, or is it a better relief to die. I would say they are still afraid of death, but the pain of living made them commit to the action of taking their own life....

 

[SoyLeche]

I agree. That's why I think the people who say they are not afraid either a) don't really grasp the concept of death, or b) don't really grasp the concept of death.

Please enlighten us then. What is death all about?

 

[fromthe heart]

How is this possible? If you die because of cancer or being hit by a bus, how did god give you any streghth to deal with it? He didn't, you are dead. And are you saying that god knows when, where, and how everyone is going to die. So I guess so much for free will. So you have no chioce in the matter, all the decesions you make (or think you make) in your life time are already in place and we as people just go through the motions of manifest destiny and perdetermined routes? So how we live our life doesn't matter because we are only doing what we were programmed to do in the first place.

That's very simple...with cancer you have a need to feel some sort of relief from the pain cancer causes...if you are hit with a bus and killed it doesn't matter except for those who are left behind to deal with the suddeness of your passing...then God gives them inner peace knowing you are with your Lord and Saviour. You must understand even the hairs on your head are numbered...so why not the day you last take a breath on earth...the choice comes with incidence of suicide where you decide the time of your death...You ALWAYS have a chioce...you can do it for yourself or wait until the day you are supposed to die. I do think we have a predetermined route in life but we also have the will to alter that as we see fit when living out of God's will for us. I'm sorry you are so sarcastic about this part of life or how I see it which ever you see fit...I'm sure you have a reason for your remark so I accept that.