Are you scared of death?

[ThinkForYourself]

People may not be scared of death as an abstract concept. But everyone is scared of all the concrete realities of dying.

No, I'm really not.

I'll cease to be. I honestly don't understand how I can be afraid of that.

 

[lesliedellow]

No, I'm really not.

I'll cease to be. I honestly don't understand how I can be afraid of that.

You are the only human being on the planet without an instinct for self preservation then. Would you be afraid if you saw a hungry lion heading in your direction?

 

[prov1810]

When I was a non-theist I assumed that this life is all there is, and all I would ever know. The pain of death is for the living, for those who mourn the loss of people they care about.

I had an asthma attack that would have killed me if the ambulance hadn't arrived in time. I was exhausted and ready to let go. It was completely peaceful and there was no fear.

When I came to Christianity I wasn't thinking about the afterlife. I was thinking about life, and I wanted meaning, and I found it in Jesus.

 

[PsychoSarah]

No, I'm really not.

I'll cease to be. I honestly don't understand how I can be afraid of that.

I don't understand how you aren't afraid of that. The idea of complete oblivion terrifies me.

 

[Eudaimonist]

The idea of complete oblivion terrifies me.

Can you explain why? What goes through your mind?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[BL2KTN]

I am as scared of non-existence in 2083 as I am of non-existence in 1883. I didn't exist last century and I'll be okay with not existing at some point in the future.

That said, I also believe that at some point in the future, technology will progress to a point that humans can warp space and time to resurrect all those who have died before. I believe that human ingenuity will ultimately defeat death in totality.

 

[lost999]

I don't understand how you aren't afraid of that. The idea of complete oblivion terrifies me.

Same here.

I will admit, I do go through difficult times, which makes the idea of death tolerable.

All in all, to know that you won't know you existed is a powerful thought.

 

[lost999]

I also believe that at some point in the future, technology will progress to a point that humans can warp space and time to resurrect all those who have died before. I believe that human ingenuity will ultimately defeat death in totality.

You think the earth could sustain that?

 

[PsychoSarah]

Can you explain why? What goes through your mind?


eudaimonia,

Mark

Why, the fact that my mind will cease to be. It isn't the same a sleeping, because that is temporary and not full nonexistence anyways. It isn't the same as not being born yet because there was no previous experience to have lost (unless you believe in reincarnation I suppose). You see, I have existed, I have formed memories, a personality, a history, and I continue to do so. Death, from my perspective, will erase all that I have and ever could have been.

Even worse, as a sentient being, I get to be painfully aware of my fragil, temporary existence, and watch those I care for one by one meet their absolute end until finally I join them in nonexistence. It is more depressing than the idea of being sent to hell, because then at least there would be something, even if it would suck to an incomprehensible extent. Even pain is at least still feeling, sorrow an experience.

 

[Freodin]

Why, the fact that my mind will cease to be. It isn't the same a sleeping, because that is temporary and not full nonexistence anyways. It isn't the same as not being born yet because there was no previous experience to have lost (unless you believe in reincarnation I suppose). You see, I have existed, I have formed memories, a personality, a history, and I continue to do so. Death, from my perspective, will erase all that I have and ever could have been.

Even worse, as a sentient being, I get to be painfully aware of my fragil, temporary existence, and watch those I care for one by one meet their absolute end until finally I join them in nonexistence. It is more depressing than the idea of being sent to hell, because then at least there would be something, even if it would suck to an incomprehensible extent. Even pain is at least still feeling, sorrow an experience.

I understand what you are saying, but I do not understand why that scares you so.

Loss is something inevitable. Loss is a necessary part of change, and without change, there is no life.

I am sure you are not scared of a lot of other losses. So what makes this one so special?

 

[Freodin]

You are the only human being on the planet without an instinct for self preservation then.

I think I said it before: to prefer life and to be scared of death are two different things.

Would you be afraid if you saw a hungry lion heading in your direction?

Afraid of pain. Afraid of dying. Yes.

But of death? No. Why?

 

[lesliedellow]

I think I said it before: to prefer life and to be scared of death are two different things.



Afraid of pain. Afraid of dying. Yes.

But of death? No. Why?

You would be scared witless, because evolution has programmed that into you, and you wouldn't be having a philosophical discussion with yourself, about whether it was death or dying you were scared of.

 

[PsychoSarah]

I understand what you are saying, but I do not understand why that scares you so.

Loss is something inevitable. Loss is a necessary part of change, and without change, there is no life.

I am sure you are not scared of a lot of other losses. So what makes this one so special?

I have an immense fear of failure and loss actually. Anxiety disorders suck. So you'd be wrong, I fear loss in general. To the extent that competitive activities can cause me to have panic attacks.

 

[Freodin]

I have an immense fear of failure and loss actually. Anxiety disorders suck. So you'd be wrong, I fear loss in general. To the extent that competitive activities can cause me to have panic attacks.

Hm... I cannot comment on any disorders or the results. And I really don't want to bother you... I know that disorders are not always compatible with rational thought.

So, please, don't take that too serious: are you afraid of eating?

 

[Freodin]

You would be scared witless, because evolution has programmed that into you, and you wouldn't be having a philosophical discussion with yourself, about whether it was death or dying you were scared of.

And you think this is relevant why?

Panic and fear are also two different things. Even panic and irrational fear are two different things.

I am going to die. This is inevitable and I recognized that at a very early age. At that time, it did "scare" me... the concept that I must face something so horrible that it would - will - kill me.

I don't care for death. I like living, and I prefer living over death... living is the thing that allows me to prefer something.

I also do not look forward at the possibility of having a painful death. I don't like pain... I even fear pain.


But death... no, I do not fear death. There is nothing to fear there.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Hm... I cannot comment on any disorders or the results. And I really don't want to bother you... I know that disorders are not always compatible with rational thought.

So, please, don't take that too serious: are you afraid of eating?

.I fear eating unfamiliar foods and certain sorts of foods in general thanks to sensory integration issues relating to autism. Spicy foods literally feel like someone is cutting my tongue repeatedly with dull razors. So that fear isn't really irrational. I also fear forgetting to eat because yeah, autistic people such as myself can forget to do stuff like that if we aren't careful and meticulous about planning our days. I live in a state of near constant angst

 

[Freodin]

.I fear eating unfamiliar foods and certain sorts of foods in general thanks to sensory integration issues relating to autism. Spicy foods literally feel like someone is cutting my tongue repeatedly with dull razors. So that fear isn't really irrational. I also fear forgetting to eat because yeah, autistic people such as myself can forget to do stuff like that if we aren't careful and meticulous about planning our days. I live in a state of near constant angst

I'm sorry to hear that.

But I mean eating in general.

Everytime you eat a meal, it is gone. You lost it... and you don't meditate on that loss, or fear the next meal. As long as you are alive, you cope with that loss. And carry on with your life.

So it is, at last for me, with the idea of death. I will loose things. I will loose everything. But not now, not here. Now and here I deal with the loss I suffer, not the loss I will suffer.

And when it happens... I will not care anymore.

So why should I fear?

 

[lesliedellow]

And you think this is relevant why?

The instinct for self preservation wouldn't work very well if it only made you scared of death under certain specialised circumstances, such as a predator heading in your direction. It makes you scared of death under each and every circumstance.

If people didn't fear death, there wouldn't be much point in capital punishment, would there?

 

[bhsmte]

It is relatively easy to be nonchalant about death, when you are not expecting its arrival any time soon. I suspect things might be different when you are only hours or days away from it.

Of course, the fun thing will be to wake up on the other side of it, and discover that you still exist.

I would imagine, that would be cool.

 

[PsychoSarah]

I'm sorry to hear that.

But I mean eating in general.

Everytime you eat a meal, it is gone. You lost it... and you don't meditate on that loss, or fear the next meal. As long as you are alive, you cope with that loss. And carry on with your life.

So it is, at last for me, with the idea of death. I will loose things. I will loose everything. But not now, not here. Now and here I deal with the loss I suffer, not the loss I will suffer.

And when it happens... I will not care anymore.

So why should I fear?

-_- you don't lose it, you use it. And food can be replaced, I can't in any direct or reliable sense replace lost years on my life.