[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Death (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 3/18/2013 2:02:12 AM EDT
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You're gonna get you some. So is everybody else you know. Our bodies are temporary as is this earth, and even the universe apparently. The only thing you can be absolutely certain of is that your existence will end. Yet there is not a single event that human beings are more scared of, upon which we focus our efforts more intensely to avoid. Why is it that our species will tolerate the worst conditions imaginable just to prolong the realization of this inevitability? What is the reason? I myself don't have any kind of death wish, but I realize that I'm a temporary entity. That accepted, I cannot understand the logic in fearing death or the idea that it is the worst case scenario. That to me is the most illogical and silly idea a man could embrace. What's the big deal? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Have kids? No. Those little things change your world view. I have family for which I care a great deal, and would regret it if I wasn't here for them to depend on. That's not really what I'm talking about though. The preoccupation with death seems to be wholly selfish, IME. It's right there from those whose kids are grown and gone, they don't even want to think about it.
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We fear the unknown. This isn't unknown though, it's assured. while it is assured we will die your theory of our bodies being temporary is the real argument, when we die is that it? or does our soul travel on? i am not an atheist btw Religion is another way for people to cope with that fact that all good things come to an end. They believe in "eternal life" after death. Or being reborn after death. When the fact of the matter is, its done and over when we die. There is no special gates. There isn't another life. You got this one. Better live it to the fullest. |
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Quoted: How old are you Op? I never thought about it much when i was a younger lad. I'm 35. As far back as I can remember it's never bothered me much. Had some close calls too. In those times I do remember having a strong objection to expiration. More because I was pissed than scared.
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We fear the unknown. This isn't unknown though, it's assured. What comes after is unknown. I am a firm believer in Christianity. The key word is believer. We have no tangible evidence that there is an after life. That is where faith comes in. Whether you worship a Diety or subscribe to atheism, there is no way to be sure. There are only 2 possibilties, complete and utter death or an after life. If its complete and utter death, I want as much time as posssible before annihilation. If there is an after life, Heaven will be there when I get there. Either way, I'm going out, kicking, biting, punching, shooting, stabbing, spitting, and clawing. |
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Quoted: Religion is another way for people to cope with that fact that all good things come to an end. They believe in "eternal life" after death. Or being reborn after death. When the fact of the matter is, its done and over when we die. There is no special gates. There isn't another life. You got this one. Better live it to the fullest. I already died once. Pretty sure you get a couple.
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You reach an age when you realize you are closer to death than when you were younger. You realize your mortality. I don't fear death, but the process of whether it will be quick or prolonged. And where I will be when it happens. Life is fleeting. None of us know when or how it will end. I guess that is the biggest fear. I guess we want to be in control of that part of our lives but we aren't 
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: We fear the unknown. This isn't unknown though, it's assured. while it is assured we will die your theory of our bodies being temporary is the real argument, when we die is that it? or does our soul travel on? i am not an atheist btw Religion is another way for people to cope with that fact that all good things come to an end. They believe in "eternal life" after death. Or being reborn after death. When the fact of the matter is, its done and over when we die. There is no special gates. There isn't another life. You got this one. Better live it to the fullest. I'd rather this didn't turn into a religious discussion. Neither side can predict with any certainty the aftermath. This is primarily focused on the event itself.
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Have kids? No. Those little things change your world view. I have family for which I care a great deal, and would regret it if I wasn't here for them to depend on. That's not really what I'm talking about though. The preoccupation with death seems to be wholly selfish, IME. It's right there from those whose kids are grown and gone, they don't even want to think about it. If you had a child, you would want to REALLY live for them, and their needs. Looking into your little ones eyes, they need you, and you need to be there for them until they are launched. My mom, not so much. |
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I'm hoping for one of those 75 year oldish car accidents or dying in my sleep. That would kick ass.
Slow death? ewww. I figure with my lifestyle so far I'm a good candidate for a heart attack at that time (or cancer which would be a bad thing) It's going to happen anyway. As long as it's not like others I've known, slow dying of alzheimers parkinsons and cancer in a "care facility" I'll be pretty happy about it all things considered. |
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We fear the unknown. This isn't unknown though, it's assured. while it is assured we will die your theory of our bodies being temporary is the real argument, when we die is that it? or does our soul travel on? i am not an atheist btw Religion is another way for people to cope with that fact that all good things come to an end. They believe in "eternal life" after death. Or being reborn after death. When the fact of the matter is, its done and over when we die. There is no special gates. There isn't another life. You got this one. Better live it to the fullest. I'd rather this didn't turn into a religious discussion. Neither side can predict with any certainty the aftermath. This is primarily focused on the event itself. agreed, wasn't trying to derail your thread just thought it was worth mentioning, there are times when I have sat and thought about it and it gives me chills, and makes me wonder if I deleted my browsing history the night before 
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Those little things change your world view. I have family for which I care a great deal, and would regret it if I wasn't here for them to depend on. That's not really what I'm talking about though. The preoccupation with death seems to be wholly selfish, IME. It's right there from those whose kids are grown and gone, they don't even want to think about it. If you had a child, you would want to REALLY live for them, and their needs. Looking into your little ones eyes, they need you, and you need to be there for them until they are launched. My mom, not so much. I get that, but like I said the fear of death does not solely preoccupy those with children in the developing stages. |
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Those little things change your world view. I have family for which I care a great deal, and would regret it if I wasn't here for them to depend on. That's not really what I'm talking about though. The preoccupation with death seems to be wholly selfish, IME. It's right there from those whose kids are grown and gone, they don't even want to think about it. If you had a child, you would want to REALLY live for them, and their needs. Looking into your little ones eyes, they need you, and you need to be there for them until they are launched. My mom, not so much. I get that, but like I said the fear of death does not solely preoccupy those with children in the developing stages. Yeah, it kind of does. |
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You're gonna get you some. So is everybody else you know. Our bodies are temporary as is this earth, and even the universe apparently. The only thing you can be absolutely certain of is that your existence will end. Yet there is not a single event that human beings are more scared of, upon which we focus our efforts more intensely to avoid. Why is it that our species will tolerate the worst conditions imaginable just to prolong the realization of this inevitability? What is the reason? I myself don't have any kind of death wish, but I realize that I'm a temporary entity. That accepted, I cannot understand the logic in fearing death or the idea that it is the worst case scenario. That to me is the most illogical and silly idea a man could embrace. What's the big deal? I lived most of my adult life kissing my wife goodbye when I went to work, fully expecting I might not come home that day. I lived like that for 16 years, and I was ok with it. I just accepted it. That all changed when I had a child. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Religion is another way for people to cope with that fact that all good things come to an end. They believe in "eternal life" after death. Or being reborn after death. When the fact of the matter is, its done and over when we die. There is no special gates. There isn't another life. You got this one. Better live it to the fullest. I'd rather this didn't turn into a religious discussion. Neither side can predict with any certainty the aftermath. This is primarily focused on the event itself. agreed, wasn't trying to derail your thread just thought it was worth mentioning, there are times when I have sat and thought about it and it gives me chills, and makes me wonder if I deleted my browsing history the night before No worries, actually I was directing that to the guy who stated the "fact of the matter" when it comes to post-death, not you.  |
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Quoted: Quoted: I get that, but like I said the fear of death does not solely preoccupy those with children in the developing stages. Yeah, it kind of does. Speaking from my own experience, there are plenty of people whose children are grown and secure in their lives that fear their own deaths. The idea that the fear is exclusive to those raising children is not entirely accurate.
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Religion is another way for people to cope with that fact that all good things come to an end. They believe in "eternal life" after death. Or being reborn after death. When the fact of the matter is, its done and over when we die. There is no special gates. There isn't another life. You got this one. Better live it to the fullest. I already died once. Pretty sure you get a couple. Some do, some don't. While I have not been clinically dead or on my death bed ( knock on wood), I have been milli-seconds away from being a mist of red so many times I lost count. I am pretty sure I have used up most of my nine lives. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Religion is another way for people to cope with that fact that all good things come to an end. They believe in "eternal life" after death. Or being reborn after death. When the fact of the matter is, its done and over when we die. There is no special gates. There isn't another life. You got this one. Better live it to the fullest. I already died once. Pretty sure you get a couple. Some do, some don't. While I have not been clinically dead or on my death bed ( knock on wood), I have been milli-seconds away from being a mist of red so many times I lost count. I am pretty sure I have used up most of my nine lives. I've beat the odds twice, and they were slim odds. Glad I didn't go that young.
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I know you don't want to make this a religious thread, but religious belief is an important factor in the "fear of death" (or lack thereof) that you ask about in your OP. It's a factor that can't be dismissed in explaining many people's attitudes toward death. And it can go both ways. I'm religious, and there are times when I fear judgement MORE than just being allowed to decompose in the ground.
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You're gonna get you some. So is everybody else you know. Our bodies are temporary as is this earth, and even the universe apparently. The only thing you can be absolutely certain of is that your existence will end. Yet there is not a single event that human beings are more scared of, upon which we focus our efforts more intensely to avoid. Why is it that our species will tolerate the worst conditions imaginable just to prolong the realization of this inevitability? What is the reason? I myself don't have any kind of death wish, but I realize that I'm a temporary entity. That accepted, I cannot understand the logic in fearing death or the idea that it is the worst case scenario. That to me is the most illogical and silly idea a man could embrace. What's the big deal? One is prepared mentally to live when young. While living, there is no thought given to the eventuality of death until you're at it's doorstep. Those of us that realize we are but a grain of sand on the beach and the wave is coming do not fear it.
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Quoted: I know you don't want to make this a religious thread, but religious belief is an important factor in the "fear of death" (or lack thereof) that you ask about in your OP. It's a factor that can't be dismissed in explaining many people's attitudes toward death. And it can go both ways. I'm religious, and there are times when I fear judgement MORE than just being allowed to decompose in the ground. I don't discourage opinions on the subject from those that are religious, in fact I welcome them, I just don't want this to morph into a theist/athiest thread. If it does, the subject will disappear into oblivion.
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Feom an evolutionary point of view, how well would a species prosper if the had no fear of death? Bow long would a dinosaur said, "Oh look there's a T-Rex, let's go say hi." Every animal is supplied with a survival instinct, even insects struggle and fight when faced with death. Even domesticated animals will get panic stricken when faced with danger. Its hard wired to make sure the species as a whole lives long enough to perpetuate itself.
As intelligent beings we can overcome most things that are hard wired. Most people don't put the effort into it. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I know you don't want to make this a religious thread, but religious belief is an important factor in the "fear of death" (or lack thereof) that you ask about in your OP. It's a factor that can't be dismissed in explaining many people's attitudes toward death. And it can go both ways. I'm religious, and there are times when I fear judgement MORE than just being allowed to decompose in the ground. I don't discourage opinions on the subject from those that are religious, in fact I welcome them, I just don't want this to morph into a theist/athiest thread. If it does, the subject will disappear into oblivion. |
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Have kids? No. Those little things change your world view. I have family for which I care a great deal, and would regret it if I wasn't here for them to depend on. That's not really what I'm talking about though. The preoccupation with death seems to be wholly selfish, IME. It's right there from those whose kids are grown and gone, they don't even want to think about it. If you had a child, you would want to REALLY live for them, and their needs. Looking into your little ones eyes, they need you, and you need to be there for them until they are launched. My mom, not so much. I REALLY want to live for myself and my needs. ...and I do. There's "living" and then there's merely "existing." Choose wisely, you only got one shot. Kids or not. |
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Quoted: Feom an evolutionary point of view, how well would a species prosper if the had no fear of death? Bow long would a dinosaur said, "Oh look there's a T-Rex, let's go say hi." Every animal is supplied with a survival instinct, even insects struggle and fight when faced with death. Even domesticated animals will get panic stricken when faced with danger. Its hard wired to make sure the species as a whole lives long enough to perpetuate itself. As intelligent beings we can overcome most things that are hard wired. Most people don't put the effort into it. Couple things.. the survival instinct is absolutely crucial and to deem it optional to the host is foolhardy. It's hard wired into every species. There are few species that are self aware and none to the extent that humans are. We are actually aware of our own eventuality. Why we are so terrified of this is a classic paradox. And I agree that we can overcome most things that are hard wired, but in most cases survival instinct is not one of them. Maybe that's the reason, maybe it's purely biological.
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I don't fear death(that is the topic, correct?)
What I fear is a pointless death. If I must die, and I know I must, then let it have some value. I have zero interest in fighting for a few extra days of life in some agonizing, awful experience. I hope to die in a way that will be worthy of the resurrection I believe I have been promised. I love the confidence Job has in his resurrection: For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Faith in resurrection may be just a fantasy on my part, but takes away all my fear of death. I believe I still have work to do in this life, |
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Feom an evolutionary point of view, how well would a species prosper if the had no fear of death? Bow long would a dinosaur said, "Oh look there's a T-Rex, let's go say hi." Every animal is supplied with a survival instinct, even insects struggle and fight when faced with death. Even domesticated animals will get panic stricken when faced with danger. Its hard wired to make sure the species as a whole lives long enough to perpetuate itself. As intelligent beings we can overcome most things that are hard wired. Most people don't put the effort into it. Couple things.. the survival instinct is absolutely crucial and to deem it optional to the host is foolhardy. It's hard wired into every species. There are few species that are self aware and none to the extent that humans are. We are actually aware of our own eventuality. Why we are so terrified of this is a classic paradox. And I agree that we can overcome most things that are hard wired, but in most cases survival instinct is not one of them. Maybe that's the reason, maybe it's purely biological. Pretty much what I was trying say. But take a person who is eaten up with cancer and in tremondous pain. Death comes as a release. Most come to acceptance and fear the pain worse than death. Deeply depressed people seek suicide as a release sometimes. Which argues that the wiring is fouled up. But essentially, we're on the same page with the hard wiring idea. |
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Have kids? No. Those little things change your world view. I have family for which I care a great deal, and would regret it if I wasn't here for them to depend on. That's not really what I'm talking about though. The preoccupation with death seems to be wholly selfish, IME. It's right there from those whose kids are grown and gone, they don't even want to think about it. If you had a child, you would want to REALLY live for them, and their needs. Looking into your little ones eyes, they need you, and you need to be there for them until they are launched. My mom, not so much. I REALLY want to live for myself and my needs. ...and I do. There's "living" and then there's merely "existing." Choose wisely, you only got one shot. Kids or not. When you have your first child in your arms, get back to me on this. 
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I have been with some older relatives on thier deathbed. They seemed at peace, tired, ready to go. I hope I can die well.
I don't want to go yet. I like my life, and enjoy my family. I would hate to no longer be a part of it. I tremble a bit and truly fear the thought of my wife passing before me. I don't want to experience that. |
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Quoted: I have been with some older relatives on thier deathbed. They seemed at peace, tired, ready to go. I hope I can die well. I don't want to go yet. I like my life, and enjoy my family. I would hate to no longer be a part of it. I tremble a bit and truly fear the thought of my wife passing before me. I don't want to experience that. I would be a mess without my SO. |
35, when you get closer to 60 you think about it a bit more, i don't panic over it, but i do ponder it more. Quoted:
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How old are you Op? I never thought about it much when i was a younger lad. I'm 35. As far back as I can remember it's never bothered me much. Had some close calls too. In those times I do remember having a strong objection to expiration. More because I was pissed than scared. |
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We fear the unknown. This isn't unknown though, it's assured. while it is assured we will die your theory of our bodies being temporary is the real argument, when we die is that it? or does our soul travel on? i am not an atheist btw Religion is another way for people to cope with that fact that all good things come to an end. They believe in "eternal life" after death. Or being reborn after death. When the fact of the matter is, its done and over when we die. There is no special gates. There isn't another life. You got this one. Better live it to the fullest. ...and you know this how? |
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I do my best to put my faith in God and his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus promised that no one comes to the Father except through the Son. I know he died for me, I know he performed all those miracles, witnessed by thousands. He is true and keeps his word. I put my faith in the fact that God loves me as a son and will take care of me. I know when I die I will be standing before him. I don't know whether I will weep or be in awe. |