Why are religious people afraid to die?

[Radar]

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.

No need to be sorry for anything and really I'm not being sarcastic or not meaning to be. Death is certain. I don't believe my days are numbered. I don't believe any one or any god knows when, where, and how I will die. I don't believe I or anyone else has a predetermined route with a certain number of days to complete that route. And just because you are hit by a bus does not mean you die right then and there. If you cannot deal with the injuries received from the bus or the cancer growing with in you, you die. You may come to terms with how you lived and find peace within but you didn't deal with anything you were dealt death and there is no dealing with death because death is final.

 

[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.

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.

I was implying that was I presented with the stark choice, having pursued all semantic and philsophical avenues to avoid death, recant your faith and live or die with your faith, my faith would win the day. Having had my life threatened on occasion, and having more near death experiences than I care to imagine, I would like to think (maybe I'm deceiving myself) that I would choose my God, and my faith over my life. I pray that I will grow old and see my grandchildren, then drift from this world as a result of old age. If however this is not my God's plan, I will not argue. I just pray I can maintain my faith, and if I die he can forgive me as I cry for time I could have spent watching my children and their children blossom. What kind of example would I show my children if I cowered from death. Having said that am I scared of death and pain???? Yes...I'm human.

 

[Faint]

Please enlighten us then. What is death all about?

A marketing campaign for Hot Topic.

Or, in short, the end of life and an uncertainty of what (if anything) comes next. To believe otherwise is unreasonable, as it is also unreasonable not to fear this event.

 

[michel]

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.

Thank you! I was beginning to worry that there was something wrong with me; everyone telling me I should be frightened -

if you say you are not frightened you're kidding yourself

- nonsense. Either way, I am looking forward to my death; it will be a great adventure, and a chance to be reunited with loved ones.........

 

[YmirGF]

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.

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.

Lets see here. I dont fear death, and yet I do nothing to hasten the inevitabilty....
That is a contradiction? In the sense, that every breath I take brings me closer to that point, I suppose what you are saying is a tiny bit valid. But it isnt the way I see it. An important difference.

Ummm. I use common sense in day to day life. Do I take risks. Sure. We all do. Do I take risks with my personal safety. No. NEVER. (I look both ways before crossing an EMPTY street.) I watch what I eat and I get excercise. Um, that would seem to be good common sense. Am I missing something? I allow myself any pleasure I wish IN moderation. Period (let you brain wander with that one if you like.)

I suppose what I am meaning Faint is that I live a pretty reasonable SAFE lifestyle. I am pretty boring, LOL. You make the mistaken claim that I do this unconsciously out of fear. Quite the contrary. I treat my body, the way I treat a pet. I give it the love and the nourishment it needs. I take for walks and dance myself into a sweaty frenzy. I LOVE being on this planet.

Faint, do me a small courtesey. You have not met someone like me before. Trust me. I do not follow any religion, period. My life is my religion if you must label it somehow. As my life is a testement to my beliefs. My beliefs work VERY well for me.

I do not envision my death to be anything like what you have EVER read. It is simply not possible that you could have read about what I perceive. Trust me, I have no use for my god to await my arrival like dad used to do when I got home late. (Same idea, interesting.) I have no interest in my vision of god even attending the festivities.

Faint I do not pretend to have THE ANSWER. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE. Capiche?
For me this will be an incredible creative excercise. I wont know for sure, until, I get there will I? Like, DUH. I am the anomoly. I am a player who is way outside the game.

Do not set me in the same corner as the "believers" of whatever stripe. I am not saying what they are saying. Get it?

It is because NO ONE knows, that allows me to dream my little dream. Since no one can say for sure, my view has as much possiblity of being correct as any one else.
Keep your fear if you want, I have no use for it.

 

[painted wolf]

I'm not afraid of per say... it is just a part of life.
However I'm certenly not going to do go out of my way to shorten my life. :biglaugh:
I like living, I like the experiences I get to have... watching a sunset for example.

wa:do

 

[SoyLeche]

A marketing campaign for Hot Topic.

Or, in short, the end of life and an uncertainty of what (if anything) comes next. To believe otherwise is unreasonable, as it is also unreasonable not to fear this event.

Why is it requisite to fear the unknown?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I am not afraid of the pain of death, or the fact it may be the end. I don't believe it will be the end, but if I am wrong, then, I guess all I can say is oh well, because I will no longer have any form of consiousness. I have also learned, even the sharpest of pains ease, and eventually end, if only for awhile. So even if I am to burned alive, it wont last long.

 

[mr.guy]

Why is it requisite to fear the unknown?

Good point. Plenty of people are pretty apethetic towards it.

 

[retrorich]

"I'm not afraid of dying. I just don't want to be there when it happens."

Woody Allen

:biglaugh: