Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Carol Whitt on August 2, 2011 at 6:08pm

I freak out about this, too. I have a fear of death that for a while had me struggling with what I believed or didn't believe about religion.

 

I'm still afraid of dying, but I know for sure I'm an atheist. I just don't know what will happen when I die. But I'm for certain it won't be what the religious describe.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on August 2, 2011 at 6:34pm

When we die - poof, we're dead. What happens when your dog dies? What happens when a cricket dies? It is the same for us - we're simply an animal in the animal kingdom.

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Permalink Reply by Carol Whitt on August 2, 2011 at 6:42pm

Even with knowing all that, I still have an irrational fear of death. X_x

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Walski on August 2, 2011 at 8:32pm

Heres why i no longer have fear of death... maybe it will help..

 

There are basically two ways we go out of this world.

 

1. Instantly - In this case i wont have time to think about it so why fear something you cant or wont see coming. To live with a fear of whats around the corner would stop me from enjoying whats right here now.

 

2. Over time - in this case i will know my death is oncoming and have time to reflect and enjoy the richness of my existence and make peace with myself. Again nothing to fear here since i have time to accept it and depart life with a full heart.

 

No matter which happens to me fearing and living my life with that fear will do nothing but hamper the life that i am living now and detract from the reflection in the second case above. I refuse to rob myself of happiness today for fear of tomorrow. 

 

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Permalink Reply by Deme Mo on August 2, 2011 at 9:00pm

thank you Stephen! that was what i needed to hear!

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Permalink Reply by Carol Whitt on August 2, 2011 at 9:17pm

When put like that my fear becomes even more irrational. Thank you Stephen.

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Permalink Reply by Albert Bakker on August 3, 2011 at 1:10am

Maybe for you who struggle with the fear of a permanent end to your existence read this. The original is cached.

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Permalink Reply by Carol Whitt on August 3, 2011 at 1:22am

Thank you for sharing that, Albert. That was an insightful read.

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Permalink Reply by James on August 2, 2011 at 8:20pm

Death doesn't bother me because I realize just how special and unlikely life is. Nonexistence didn't bother me before I ever came to be, so why should it bother me at death? I will some day cease to be. Consciousness will be gone, senses gone, etc. The chemical and electric reactions in my body will eventually stop and I'll be a simple collection of biological matter. I simply feel that death is just that... the end of the road. No afterlife, and quite frankly that doesn't bother me.

 

Here's a video of Richard Dawkins that puts it quite eloquently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac33dOAgqus

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Permalink Reply by M.B. on August 2, 2011 at 11:01pm

My wish for 'after life' is this: Please cremate my body and send the ashes to space, so none of my remaining atoms have to deal with all these idiocy.

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Permalink Reply by Carol Whitt on August 3, 2011 at 1:12am

Since energy can't be created or destroyed, I want whatever energy I give out to go toward something constructive...

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Permalink Reply by Becca on August 2, 2011 at 11:26pm

To date I have been given no evidence that would lead me to believe anything other than death being the end of an individual person's existence.

I came across this quote the other day that I think applies to your question in a way:

"Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. Then the worms eat you. Be grateful it happens in that order." - David Gerrold -

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