Death

[War Bringer]

I have seen alot of conversations about various things involving death (capital punishment, war etc etc). And it made me think, and I want to ask an honest question, to get peoples honest opinions.

What is death, and why is it so bad?

[Richard the Lionheart]

Moved to Ethos

[Zhuge_Liang]

Death isn't bad, not bad at all. Get over it

[Tecumseh]

I have seen alot of conversations about various things involving death (capital punishment, war etc etc). And it made me think, and I want to ask an honest question, to get peoples honest opinions.

What is death, and why is it so bad?

Because there are alot of people who don't believe in an afterlife I suppose.

[Publius]

Most people I know do not fear death as much as pain. I know I personally do not so much fear death, merely the pain which I perceive to accompany it. Although I suppose death in and of itself is something frightening for its uncertainty (as to what follows), the only thing I would fear about death is if that were the end. If complete and utter oblivion immediately followed death. I dont really think that though - Im not all that religious but I do believe in something afterwards. As such, I guess you could say I am not afraid of death

[LegionnaireX]

It is the idea of the unknown which has frightened humanity for so long. If they idea of losing consciousness, thought and feeling of self for all eternity isn't scary, I don't know what is.

I think the only cure for fear of death is strong faith in God. Even then everybody approaches death with a feeling of uncertainty. People who don't have an inkling of fear when it comes to death are either sick or brainwashed.

[Zhuge_Liang]

Most people I know do not fear death as much as pain. I know I personally do not so much fear death, merely the pain which I perceive to accompany it. Although I suppose death in and of itself is something frightening for its uncertainty (as to what follows), the only thing I would fear about death is if that were the end. If complete and utter oblivion immediately followed death. I dont really think that though - Im not all that religious but I do believe in something afterwards. As such, I guess you could say I am not afraid of death

But if complete nothingness was the case then you wouldn't have the ability to worry about, so relax.

[Zhuge_Liang]

Without death then life would be infinite, in essence the same as nothing. The only thing that gives life its value is the fact that it is indeed finite.

[Publius]

But if complete nothingness was the case then you wouldn't have the ability to worry about, so relax.

A good point, but I can still worry now. In the Britain of yore, convicted murderers would by law be given to medical students for dissection after they were executed. This so repulsed the majority of them, that they often as not did not plead for their lives, but rather for the preservation of their corpse which they felt vital to any hope of an afterlife. I suppose it is much the same for me right now. I may not be able to feel it then, but that does not mean I would like to accept the fact that once I am dead, there will be nothing afterwards, no possibility of renewed life.

[Zhuge_Liang]

A good point, but I can still worry now. In the Britain of yore, convicted murderers would by law be given to medical students for dissection. This so repulsed the majority of them, that they often as not did not plead for their lives, but rather for the preservation of their corpse which they felt vital to any hope of an afterlife. I suppose it is much the same for me right now. I may not be able to feel it then, but that does not mean I would like to accept the fact that once I am dead, there will be nothing afterwards, no possibility of renewed life.

Hopefully though the evident futility of it will cause the worry to subside eventually.

[Publius]

Hopefully though the evident futility of it will cause the worry to subside eventually.

One can hope and as before Im personally not worried about it - I dont put stock in that idea. However the human mind is a very complex, and often erratic thing. I have carried some fears with me since my early childhood, and will probably carry some of these same fears when I die.

[Katrina]

There are two main reasons I beleive that give people reason to fear death. First of all, there is the idea of pain involved in causing their death. This point, is obvious, because pain is the utmost uncomfort for a human. Secondly, death could be defined as bad by humans, because as humans, we strive for the best in life, we search for complete serenity in life, and we live, for life. If we live for life, then why would we want to end life?

[MaximiIian]

There are two main reasons I beleive that give people reason to fear death. First of all, there is the idea of pain involved in causing their death. This point, is obvious, because pain is the utmost uncomfort for a human. Secondly, death could be defined as bad by humans, because as humans, we strive for the best in life, we search for complete serenity in life, and we live, for life. If we live for life, then why would we want to end life?

Holy crap. For once, I agree with the theist.

'Tis a sign of the apocalypse.

[Confederate Soldier]

What is death, and why is it so bad?

The abstance of life, well I guess its bad depending on what you think will happen when you die. To some you will go to Heaven were you are happy 24/7. Others believe they will go to Hell were you will be in pain for 24/7. Some reincarnation, and yet others that nothing once so ever will happen to them. So I guess it all depends on what you believe will happen upon your death. Personally this is why I wish that Valhalla existed. Now that would be an dream come true.

[Mathias]

I dont believe in an afterlife and I dont fear death. All things must come to an end, including ourselfs, why is this so hard to accept?

[LegionnaireX]

I dont believe in an afterlife and I dont fear death. All things must come to an end, including ourselfs, why is this so hard to accept?

Your thoughts may be a bit different when someone points a gun at your head.

[Shadow_Imperator]

I don't see it so cut and dry as Mathias... That is because I'm a Christian, and a rather staunch one at that, but I do accept the fact that, as the Hospitaller said in KoH "All death is certain", having come close to loosing my own life, I now know how to really live life itself, you realise what is and isn't important. With that, I am also aware of what death can take away from us, but in the end, it is unavoidable, and it is best taken in good grace, but if it can be fought (ie: Cancer, illness, premature death), then I believe that a person should, if they choose to, fight valiantly to live, but if the writing is on the wall, it is painful to be scared and fear the inevitable...

That in my own mind, is the best way to approach it...

[Mathias]

I don't see it so cut and dry as Mathias... That is because I'm a Christian, and a rather staunch one at that, but I do accept the fact that, as the Hospitaller said in KoH "All death is certain", having come close to loosing my own life, I now know how to really live life itself, you realise what is and isn't important. With that, I am also aware of what death can take away from us, but in the end, it is unavoidable, and it is best taken in good grace, but if it can be fought (ie: Cancer, illness, premature death), then I believe that a person should, if they choose to, fight valiantly to live, but if the writing is on the wall, it is painful to be scared and fear the inevitable...

That in my own mind, is the best way to approach it...

My question was pointed at the people who said that many fear death because they dont believe in an afterlife, because Im wondering that is a reson to fear it. I understand that people dont want to die, I myself dont want to die, but there is a difference between not wanting and fearing.

[Zhuge_Liang]

In general people who don't want to die fear either the process of dying or death itself. Not wanting to die and fearing the process or the result go hand in hand.

To be honest i think it is the people who think there is an afterlife who don't want to die the most. They fear judgement.

People who believe there is nothing would mostly want to value the life they know for certain they can enjoy while they are still alive. Like i said earlier the ability to fear or dislike nothingness is impossible if you enter that state.

Of course then there are people who just don't think about it because they see no need to as they have been promised from infancy that they will go to heaven because their 'mummy' told them so.

Instinctively everybody fears pain and therefore the process of dying - in a similar way we fear social humiliation and certain animals etc. It is a survival mechanism.

[Shadow_Imperator]

My question was pointed at the people who said that many fear death because they dont believe in an afterlife, because Im wondering that is a reson to fear it. I understand that people dont want to die, I myself dont want to die, but there is a difference between not wanting and fearing.

Yeah I get you mate. I just try my best face it grimly and without heart pounding resentment, contemp and foutright fear. For goodness sakes, it is unavoidable, we cannot change that, it is certain and it will come no matter, for all of us, it is an ultimate fate we all share, be us Christian, Muslim, Agnostic, Jew or Gentile... I try not the show fear for things I cannot change, I myself, when in one of my philosophical moods, came up with this quote:

"We cannot choose our births, and few of us will choose our deaths. However, as creatures of freewill, we are gifted, priverlaged, and so very fortunate, that we may choose the manner, in which we live".

That there alone has given me alot of strength in spirit, and has carried me through difficult times... Death is something few of us will dictate, but it will come to us all, however, since we are intelligent creatures, human beings I may say, then we should choose to live well, because we can..