Fear Of Death

**becomingagodo** · 12-29-2006 08:27 PM

I was just reading a topic about neurous ills: cause and cure by boris sidis. A really strange thing happen when i was reading it i kept on getting the impression that he was describing me. This haunted me intill i had the thought what scares me then death death scares me.
Now this is for the people who dont believe in afterlife. Does death scare you? it really strange i wouldnt want to live forever and yet death scares the hell out of me. I remeber a good german film playing on sky movies cinema and they had a neurotic man that was really smart but he never went out he just read books. He was interesting because he believed the best thing in life is not to be born i myself wish i wasnt born it would have solved all my problem also note this is the main reason i might not have children because i cant face putting them with the burden of death. Oh yeah in the movie he ends up hanging himself by jumping out a window.
So this is more of a philosophy question for people who dont believe in a afterlife our you scared of death? is the best thing not to be born at all? would you like to know when you going to die? would you like to live forever? would you want to die consciously or unconscious i.e. know your dying or die in your sleep?
I cant think of anymore questions.
This remind me of the main reason i know alot about physics and mathematics because if i knew the theory of everything then maybe death itself would not be so scary. It did not work.

**M-Cat** · 12-29-2006 11:42 PM

How could you experience life without being born?
Life is the most amazing thing in the universe and you should be grateful you have it. The very fact that you will die motivates you to live better.

Here's something you should be familiar with (judging from your Nietzsche avatar and the fact that you posted in a Nietzsche thread): have you ever read his book, Thus Spake Zarathustra, where he describes eternal recurrence?

He basically says that time is infinite: it will keep going forever, and has been going forever. That means that, if it is indeed infinite, everything must already have happened, and will happen again an infinite amount of times. That means that every moment you live you will relive again... and you will never "die". I personally agree... maybe in this universe time is finite, but I believe there ARE infintie universes.

I also am fascinated by the Greeks... reading the Odyssey and the Iliad, which most people probably have, you can get a sense that they valued glory over life. They preferred to die gloriously, in battle, than to live as a chicken. And it makes sense... if you do something incredible, recounted thousands of times in stories, then you never really can die, can you? The goal of every man should be to find a way to be remembered by.

I've been thinking the same questions as you lately, and those are just some little answers I came up with. These are my ideas, which you can share or reject as you like.

**ExoByte** · 12-30-2006 01:45 AM

Heh, Death. I hold no fear of death. To me, death is just another phase of life. To me, Death is the ultimate knowledge. What do the dead know? They know the answer to if there is a God. They know the answer to if there is a life beyond death. When we die, we learn the answer to the most asked question.

If there is an afterlife, and there is a God, then when I die I'll get to live in peace and happiness for eternity. I'll get to continue living the life I love so much with no pain, no suffering, no drama, no hate. I'll get to live in wonder.

If there is no afterlife, and there is no God, then when I die, I'll cease to exist. And with that, my emotions, my feelings, my cares will cease to exist. I want to live to see the human race advance, I want to live to see the end of the world, I want to live to enjoy life and be with the ones I love, but if there is no afterlife, then all these wants, needs, ideas, cares, feelings and emotions dissapear with my consciousness. I won't suffer, I wont feel pain or sadness, I wont be mad. I wont exist, and with not existing and with no consciousness, anything that happens doesnt effect me.

Either way, Death is a win-win situation, and Im by nature a curious person, so I wish to know what happens when we die. So I hold no fear of death. For all I know, It just means dreaming in silence. A dream that lasts for eternity. Death, is nothing to be afraid of.

**Howie** · 12-30-2006 01:53 AM

The Bible says, "The dead know nothing."

Anyway> I have faced death in several of my dreams. My mind at that point thought it was real. They were very humbling experiences.

I think it is hard for any of us to say until we stare death in the face. The many variables in which it may come is something to consider also.

I have had more than my share of close friends and relatives die.
I wish they would tell me something.

**ExoByte** · 12-30-2006 02:03 AM

The Bible says, "The dead know nothing."[/b]

The Bible says a lot of things.

I have a lot of thoughts on death... really too much for me to go into in the thread. Its more of a convorsation thing really. Funny, I was just talking about Death with my friends the other day. I'll try to write up all my thoughts.

**Koji** · 12-30-2006 05:01 PM

Perhaps at a time death scared me. Now, it does not impose fear on me anymore. If I stare it right in the face, I am sure I will be afraid. In a single passing moment though, I am not. Science tells us that it ends there, that there is no afterlife. One would think I would fear such an end, but I am a religious man too, so I suppose I find comfort believing there is something else.

In a philosophical stand point, for those that do not believe in a higher entity, no matter what it might be, it is rather pointless to resist. Many people find hope in religion. Why do they bother though? Death is actually one of the reasons. People fear death, so instead of facing an end to their existence, they believe it perpetuates in some other way. Like I said, it is rather pointless to resist a religious outlook because you either pass on or end. I would rather have hoped that I pass on to another life in some fashion.

I have a different problem though. I fear the afterlife. I am a Christian and from the way people deem heaven, it does not sound wonderful to me. I think the place itself is magnificent sounding, but what about that which I become? I can no longer hate or dislike people, at least from what I can tell. I can no longer sin, or make mistakes as it may be a bad example under God’s dominion. To me, this sounds like I become nothing but a drone in order to expand benevolence in his land. Do not get me wrong, I would rather this than hell or nothing at all. I still wonder though, will I lose who I am, and will that be the same as not existing at all?

**Keeper** · 12-30-2006 08:42 PM

Death is when you cease to be entirly. No more worries, and no fears, and no more thoughts that hound me day and night

I am not afraid of death (I am actually exited by the prospect) but I do not think I will enjoy the means by wich it finds me

When I die, I am going ot look forward to a good, peacful sleep before my reserection.

"To the great mind, Death is but the next great journey"
-Dumbledor (or words to that effect)

**M.D** · 01-01-2007 10:38 AM

Not to say anyone in this thread is that, but there a lot of people who believe they don't fear death because when they think about it they're able to conclude that it's useless (as is any emotion, of course, except to fill in for intelligence as a basis for action), but to truly know that you don't fear death, you have to "realize" it. You have to vividly anticipate death and allow your mind to fully realize all the consequences of what it means to die. The idea of death has become so stylized, so dressed up and removed from the true implications of death, that to decide you're not afraid can't be equated with an actual lack of fear.

When I truly contemplate death, I'm afraid. And when I feel that fear, I experience just how much the world has me. I can say, my life never had any meaning in the first place, and think that I can be comforted. But then I realize, how can I be comforted if I don't exist? When I'm alive I can be satisfied with my death, but to die means I will no longer be able to enjoy all the things I love about the world, or even to think and be aware of my own mind which I've lived with all my life. Obviously the state of death is, directly, inconceivable, since you can't truly know how it will feel to be unable to experience. That's why they say fear of death is fear of the unknown. But more prominently, since all that you've ever done has been ultimately "selfish", that is, not ever selfless but rather motivated by some desire to decide that which satisfies some aspect of your consciousness (those who introspect very accurately should be able to verify should), if you truly "realize" the implications of not existing, then you can't justify your own death after you die because your basis for justification is nonexistent.

However, if you truly believe in the afterlife, this doesn't apply to you. What we should truly appreciate about the fear of death is the fear of death as the fear of nonexistence.

(Note: I quote "realize" to connote the internalization of a belief that also affects and transforms any other pre-existing beliefs by its nature. In other words, in such a "realization", everything you know is transformed to consider the implication of that belief.)

**Dice** · 01-01-2007 11:49 AM

I've always been scared of the idea of ceasing to exist. Many people say death is like before being born. However, the thing is... if you didn't exist before a certain spot in time, it wouldn't really matter. The time between an endless amount and the day you have been born is ~0. It feels as if that time never has existed. However, when you cease to exist, it's totally different, or at least, it seems. I can't imagine dying, because I'm not able to comprehend such a thing.

**Bonsay** · 01-01-2007 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dice

I've always been scared of the idea of ceasing to exist. Many people say death is like before being born. However, the thing is... if you didn't exist before a certain spot in time, it wouldn't really matter. The time between an endless amount and the day you have been born is ~0. It feels as if that time never has existed. However, when you cease to exist, it's totally different, or at least, it seems. I can't imagine dying, because I'm not able to comprehend such a thing.
[/b]

But it is (probably) exactly like before you were born. There is no diference, life is just a small pause between the endless nonexistance. Dying is just falling asleep without waking up, we could almost say that we die every night, but that could be wrong. I really don't know how much "awareness" a human has while sleeping.

**QwinsepiaSquared** · 01-01-2007 08:18 PM

I'm not scared of death either, like Keeper, I'm quite excited to meet my Maker. I find the possibility of becoming a "ghost" one day quite amusing.

**DeadDollKitty** · 01-01-2007 09:40 PM

I don't fear death either, though I don't really want to die right now. When it comes, I believe I will be ready, and go with my head held high!

~R~

**Sarabande** · 01-01-2007 11:20 PM

Walt says it better than I;
"The smallest sprout shows there is really no death,
And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the end to arrest it,
And ceas'd the moment life appear'd.
All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses,
And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier."

**philosphiser** · 01-02-2007 05:39 AM

Why many people fear death is they fear the unknown. befor humans were intelligent all life was is to fear the end.I dont fear death because if there is an afterlife than i will be living on sorta and if you just cease to exsist it wont matter i wont feel anything.

**blade5x** · 01-03-2007 07:36 AM

I fear it... sort of.

I mean, there's so many options of what might happen after death, and I don't find any of them bad really..

1 - concious afterlife
2 - unconcious afterlife (dream state)
3 - nothing
4 - we wake up, and this was all a dream

It's the transition I fear mainly. I mean, once you hit the "all gets very calm and you feel very good" state in the closing moments, it's all good. It's just all that comes before that. And if there really is something next, I also fear that a little because it part of the unknown, no matter how much believe something, it is still in the unknown. It's really those closing moments before the calm state, I really hope I have something on my mind, like "I love you, and I'll miss you, have a good time without me, it's my time and I know it, and I feel it", instead of "oh my God.. I'm about to cease existing!!!"

And even if there is nothing, non-existance... you are at complete peace. And an enternity will go by. The moment you are "gone", so is everyone else you knew. An enternity... something has to give to eventually. I don't believe in the concept of forever. After an infinte amount of time, whatever caused us to exist in the first place (if not God) is bound to repeat again. This is really the only option I see if there is no afterlife.

**Conforming Non-Conformist** · 01-03-2007 07:28 PM

I would definately like to be aware of dying.
Hopefully it would not be in a state of great pain or turmoil, but if the direction of my life leads me to want to experience all i can while i am here on this planet and time, then i think that the pièce de résistance would be death. This is the one thing that only the very ignorant and uneducated would believe that they know for sure, the one thing that no-one can truly know in absolute terms. We as humans use science, technology, and religion to better understand the world around us and we really Know very little. The aspect of death being soo unknown and "unanswerable" scares many who devote themselves to obtaining as much truth in this life as possible.
I wonder though, how many atheists convert to what seems like "the truth" on their death beds? That last moment of weakness for one who did not fully devote themselves to greater understanding of themselves and their world? God always seems to be present at Hallmark times in most peoples lives here in North America...Birth, Marriage, and Death. The concept of god is the one thread that seems to grip common society and hold tight, always giving a contra to any individual belief. This also brings "sanity" in a way. If each person on earth had their own opinion of what awaits them after they die (positive or negative) there would be a lot less structure and control while we are here being governed by the powers that be. Perhaps one persons take on life may be that killing all who do not believe what they believe re:death and afterlife, would ensure them a spot in those heavenly clouds, etc.
For me, life is continous and always changing. Life and nature do not exist to stay in a stagnant position while everything else moves around them. Change is always constant and (i'm assuming) we all have a lot of change we can and will experience as each breath goes by and another beat of the heart propels us onwards.

**ShYne123** · 01-14-2007 06:39 AM

Dose anyone fear....hell?
Eternal Suffering?
Eternal..

**Keeper** · 01-14-2007 08:15 AM

deffine hell

**Neruo** · 01-14-2007 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by ShYne123

Dose anyone fear....hell?
Eternal Suffering?
Eternal..
[/b]

No, because I don't believe in one.

Really it are the Christians that should feel bad out the BILLIONS of people that will suffer eternal torment. But I don't, because if there was a god, it extremely unlikely would the Christian one.

**Ne-yo** · 01-14-2007 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by ShYne123

Dose anyone fear....hell?
Eternal Suffering?
Eternal..[/b]

No and I don't believe in a Hell.

**ShYne123** · 01-14-2007 03:56 PM

Are you guys serious, you dont beliv ein hell LOL? After all this bible stuff you know, it specificily says in the bible there is a hell. ITS the whole reason god came down from heaven to save us from HELL, it says itself that jesus went to hell for 3 days. You preach all this stuff in forums, but only belive whats comfortible for you.

Hell is a place designed for the devil and his fallen angles of eternal suffering and pain, when humans sined they are damned to hell becuase you cant enter into heaven unless you are "perfect" thats why you need to ask for gods forgivness after sinning. and bla bla bla.

**Keeper** · 01-14-2007 03:58 PM

tell you what: you post all the versus that say that, and I will post a link I found

deal?

**Ne-yo** · 01-14-2007 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by ShYne123

Are you guys serious, you dont beliv ein hell LOL? After all this bible stuff you know, it specificily says in the bible there is a hell. ITS the whole reason god came down from heaven to save us from HELL, it says itself that jesus went to hell for 3 days. You preach all this stuff in forums, but only belive whats comfortible for you.

Hell is a place designed for the devil and his fallen angles of eternal suffering and pain, when humans sined they are damned to hell becuase you cant enter into heaven unless you are "perfect" thats why you need to ask for gods forgivness after sinning. and bla bla bla.
[/b]

You're wrong and you are the reason why a lot of people think that Christianity is a contridiction to the scriptures. Stop preaching something you don't know enough about. This Hell you're mentioning doesn't exist and it's not in the Bible. No one is damn to a fiery place where they torment you until time indefinte. Get some help in understanding the good book before you start making senseless assumptions about certain scriptures.