Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Aradia · 05-30-2003, 05:11 PM

I'd like to put out two questions for the people here:

1) Do you fear death?
2) If so, why?

I am *not* asking for hypotheses about why people as a whole fear death. Please start a new thread if that's what you want to talk about. Thanks.

beastmaster · 05-30-2003, 05:18 PM

Occasionally I fear death. We're programmed that way. Otherwise we'd do stupid reckless things.

Mainly, death depresses me rather than frightens me. I want to know what happens 300, 500, a thousand years from now. I'm pissed to think of all the music I'll never hear, or scientific breakthroughs I'll never get to learn.

The thought that everybody who has ever lived has died (or will die) somehow both comforts me and horrifies me at the same time.

SteveD · 05-30-2003, 05:43 PM

I wouldn't exactly call it fear. The thought just kind of makes me sad.

The main thing that bothers me is not the thought that I won't be able to experience new things but that I will no longer remember teh things I have experienced. Of course this could happen while I'm still living.(e.g. Alzheimers)

Steve

Tarnaak · 05-30-2003, 05:52 PM

I fear how I will die, but not the "what" of after death.

Demigawd · 05-30-2003, 06:13 PM

I agree with Tarnaak on fearing the "how" of my death, rather than my death itself. Having gone through spinal injuries and the extreme pain that comes with them, I don't really care to have a prolonged, painful spiral into death. Frankly, I'm hoping for dying in my bed asleep or while having sex seize-up-and-expire.

The oblivion that most assuredly comes with death is the most merciful "afterlife" I can think of. I consider the Christian/Islamic Heaven (eternal pleasure)/Hell (eternal pain) to be quite childish. The concept of reincarnation is depressing in its endless dance of consciousness.

Of course, existence rarely cares for human wishes, so death is probably nothing like anything we humans can conceive.

Dralan · 05-30-2003, 06:41 PM

What scares me is that I do not fear death at all. For some strange reason I get totally calm and composed when I think of my future death.

For me it is only a simple fact of life and no big deal at all..

Why don't i fear death..?? I really have no good answer to that question..

Viti · 05-30-2003, 06:41 PM

I don't fear being dead, I do fear the dying part which is often unpleasant or downright painful...I never really dwell on it though.

Jet Grind · 05-30-2003, 06:42 PM

All living organisms have an innate need to prolong their existence. Do I fear death? Hell yeah! I'm only 16, I don't want to die yet. I'm a naturalist who believes that conciousness is completely brain based, sort of like a machine. When you pull the plug on that machine...well, I'll leave it to your imagination.

I guess I do hope for an afterlife, but I don't have any real confidence in the idea. Basically, I hope I'm some how wrong.

05-30-2003, 06:55 PM

I don't fear death ... a few reasons why.

1. I believe in Afterlife - "Life isn't Eternal, and Death is not an End" - my motto.

2. No use of fearing for something which will come either way.

cpickett · 05-30-2003, 07:15 PM

I don't "fear" it, but I certainly don't want it to happen, I'm still young, and have much left to do. I also don't want to miss out on my great-great-grandchildren, or Transporters, actually traveling the universe, etc.

I'm going to live forever or die trying...

05-30-2003, 05:11 PM	#1
Aradia Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: US Posts: 390	Do you fear death? I'd like to put out two questions for the people here: 1) Do you fear death? 2) If so, why? I am not asking for hypotheses about why people as a whole fear death. Please start a new thread if that's what you want to talk about. Thanks.

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05-30-2003, 05:18 PM	#2
beastmaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Madrid / I am a: Lifelong atheist Posts: 885	Occasionally I fear death. We're programmed that way. Otherwise we'd do stupid reckless things. Mainly, death depresses me rather than frightens me. I want to know what happens 300, 500, a thousand years from now. I'm pissed to think of all the music I'll never hear, or scientific breakthroughs I'll never get to learn. The thought that everybody who has ever lived has died (or will die) somehow both comforts me and horrifies me at the same time.

05-30-2003, 05:43 PM	#3
SteveD Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: California Posts: 118	I wouldn't exactly call it fear. The thought just kind of makes me sad. The main thing that bothers me is not the thought that I won't be able to experience new things but that I will no longer remember teh things I have experienced. Of course this could happen while I'm still living.(e.g. Alzheimers) Steve

05-30-2003, 05:52 PM	#4
Tarnaak Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 106	I fear how I will die, but not the "what" of after death.

05-30-2003, 06:13 PM	#5
Demigawd Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: On a sailing ship to nowhere, leaving any place Posts: 2,254	I agree with Tarnaak on fearing the "how" of my death, rather than my death itself. Having gone through spinal injuries and the extreme pain that comes with them, I don't really care to have a prolonged, painful spiral into death. Frankly, I'm hoping for dying in my bed asleep or while having sex seize-up-and-expire. The oblivion that most assuredly comes with death is the most merciful "afterlife" I can think of. I consider the Christian/Islamic Heaven (eternal pleasure)/Hell (eternal pain) to be quite childish. The concept of reincarnation is depressing in its endless dance of consciousness. Of course, existence rarely cares for human wishes, so death is probably nothing like anything we humans can conceive.

05-30-2003, 06:41 PM	#6
Dralan New Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 2	What scares me is that I do not fear death at all. For some strange reason I get totally calm and composed when I think of my future death. For me it is only a simple fact of life and no big deal at all.. Why don't i fear death..?? I really have no good answer to that question..

05-30-2003, 06:41 PM	#7
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	I don't fear being dead, I do fear the dying part which is often unpleasant or downright painful...I never really dwell on it though.

05-30-2003, 06:42 PM	#8
Jet Grind Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Southern Maine, USA Posts: 220	All living organisms have an innate need to prolong their existence. Do I fear death? Hell yeah! I'm only 16, I don't want to die yet. I'm a naturalist who believes that conciousness is completely brain based, sort of like a machine. When you pull the plug on that machine...well, I'll leave it to your imagination. I guess I do hope for an afterlife, but I don't have any real confidence in the idea. Basically, I hope I'm some how wrong.

05-30-2003, 06:55 PM	#9
Seraphim Guest Posts: n/a	I don't fear death ... a few reasons why. 1. I believe in Afterlife - "Life isn't Eternal, and Death is not an End" - my motto. 2. No use of fearing for something which will come either way.

05-30-2003, 07:15 PM	#10
cpickett Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arcadia, IN, USA Posts: 308	I don't "fear" it, but I certainly don't want it to happen, I'm still young, and have much left to do. I also don't want to miss out on my great-great-grandchildren, or Transporters, actually traveling the universe, etc. I'm going to live forever or die trying...

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