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The thread about religion and death leads me to ask the title questions. I’m genuinely curious to hear your answers, particularly in light of the fact that for most of us, it’ll be far less physically painful. Sooooo...why? Fear of eternal damnation? Life’s too precious? Less afraid of death than of decrepitude?
I’m not afraid at all. I can’t be sad about my body gradually breaking down and life leaving it because that’s the way of all things. I hope not to die in some excruciating manner but the chances are much smaller than they used to be. I can’t be sad about never seeing loved ones again because I don’t expect it.
But enough about what I think. I suspect that many of you, regardless of belief, are similarly not (much) afraid, but like death, I’m willing to admit the possibility that I’m wrong.
I'm agnostic and not afraid of death but I hope to live for another 50+ years.
I think it comes down to fear, control and ego. Religion is often driven by fear and afterlife which I think is unfortunate. Control comes down to wanting to control the future and one's own destiny. Ego comes down to desiring to have had more of an impact in the world and have lived a different/greater life.
I think it takes a deep dive into ones greatest fears and what causes them but once you can get at the root and not live in fear, it's a freeing and powerful thing.
No, since a near-drowning as a child, I'm not concerned. But like most sensible people, I'd prefer it be peaceful, painless, and a fair bit further down the road.
Not looking forward to it but not afraid of it either. I am more afraid of having an old age where I have more limited mobility and as such am taking measures to combat that or at least postpone that.
Do very religious people look forward to death so that they can be with Jesus? My job list is too long so I must live for a long time yet. ☺
The thread about religion and death leads me to ask the title questions. I’m genuinely curious to hear your answers, particularly in light of the fact that for most of us, it’ll be far less physically painful. Sooooo...why? Fear of eternal damnation? Life’s too precious? Less afraid of death than of decrepitude?
I’m not afraid at all. I can’t be sad about my body gradually breaking down and life leaving it because that’s the way of all things. I hope not to die in some excruciating manner but the chances are much smaller than they used to be. I can’t be sad about never seeing loved ones again because I don’t expect it.
But enough about what I think. I suspect that many of you, regardless of belief, are similarly not (much) afraid, but like death, I’m willing to admit the possibility that I’m wrong.
I am not afraid of death, I have always longed for death and I welcome it, it is the process of dying that scares me, but I am not afraid of dying, and I do believe in an afterlife.
The instinct is there. I'll leap out of the way of a passing car, or run from someone using a gun. Or feel fear when the house starts falling in or then 'plane I'm in starts to fall out of the sky.
Nobody wants to die, and nor do I. But I know I'll doe some day, and while I'm putting the bastard off as long as I can "You'll have to come and knock me on the head!" And i hate the idea of dying in pain or a drooling old imbecile..or a worse one, at least.. The idea of not living forever is Not terribly attractive to me. In fact the idea of going to sleep and never having to woken up by some religious bod hanging on the doorbell is a bit of a relief.
The instinct is there. I'll leap out of the way of a passing car, or run from someone using a gun. Or feel fear when the house starts falling in or then 'plane I'm in starts to fall out of the sky.
Nobody wants to die, and nor do I. But I know I'll doe some day, and while I'm putting the bastard off as long as I can "You'll have to come and knock me on the head!" And i hate the idea of dying in pain or a drooling old imbecile..or a worse one, at least.. The idea of not living forever is Not terribly attractive to me. In fact the idea of going to sleep and never having to woken up by some religious bod hanging on the doorbell is a bit of a relief.
Some people do want to die, one of my greatest regrets is that I ruined somebody's car and they didn't know me or deserve what I did to them, and dear Lord I feel so guilty. I ran out in the middle of interstate 45 one night in front of a car doing about 80 and they slammed on their breaks and must have ruined every tire going into a spin trying to miss me and I am trying to get hit. I am not suicidal anymore, but I tried to commit suicide at 5 or 6 when my mother noticed I had taken a whole bottle of pills and she took me to get my stomach pumped. My mother took out a life insurance policy on me and nobody else in the family because nobody expected me to get to ten years old lol.
Irrational thinking. Guilt solves nothing. If I may say so, Forgive yourself as you forgive others ain't a bad rule. The only real Guilt is from failing to learn from your mistakes and the only real Sin is not striving to do better from what you have learned. Continuing to keep making the same errors and refusing to listen, learn and change is what makes hell for yourself and everyone else, and right here - you don't need to wait for a judgment.
Last edited by TRANSPONDER; 11-04-2017 at 11:16 AM..
I'm not afraid of death, i.e. physical death. All beings die. It's part of nature and existence. I believe there's a chance of a future, completely spiritual life. If it's real and happens, great, I'll be prepared for it. If it's not there, no problem.
Irrational thinking. Guilt solves nothing. If I may say so, Forgive yourself as you forgive others ain't a bad rule. The only real Guilt is from failing to learn from your mistakes and the only real Sin is not striving to do better from what you have learned. Continuing to keep making the same errors and refusing to listen, learn and change is what makes hell for yourself and everyone else, and right here - you don't need to wait for a judgment.
My problem was a mixture of things, bad things in my childhood, but the worst mixture of God with that is what did me in. When I was able to read, I believed what I read at a very early age. I believed I knew everything coming to me and it was all hell fire and torture and brim stone because I believed every word, and I still do, but now I have a different view. Kids should not be raised obsessed with the bible, and I guess I always was, always will be.
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The only real Guilt is from failing to learn from your mistakes and the only real Sin is not striving to do better from what you have learned. Continuing to keep making the same errors and refusing to listen, learn and change is what makes hell for yourself and everyone else, and right here - you don't need to wait for a judgment.
