Why are people afraid of dying and are you? Can you answer this question..?

i think its because they're afraid of whats after death. So many people are afraid of what they cant physically see, or what they know for a fact is there. they're afraid of the unknown.
im personally, not afraid of dying at all.

Are people with a faith more or less afraid of dying?

i think religious people could possibly be less afraid of dying, maybe coz to them there is the excitment and curiosity of an after life. i think people with no religion might be more afraid, coz they dont know what is after death for them. i dunno but im only generalising right now.. i mean, im agnostic, not religious, and im not afraid of dying at all.

another reason people might be afraid of dying, could be that theyre afraid to leave behind people they love. that would probably be the only reason i'd be a bit afraid, but it still wouldn't make me heaps scared.

I think, in most cases, "faith" = fear of dying.

people are afraid of dying for different reasons. but mostly because they dont want to lose everything they have here on earth. they dont want to lose loved ones and people they care about. it makes them sad that the universe might be a cold place, where you just die and fade into nothing. people dont like the idea of losing consciousness for eternity. the ego is at the center and root of the fear.


peace.

Material attachment?
I thought you weren't a Buddhist, Chi.

I would expect religious people be a lot more afraid of dying than agnostic or atheist people. I, as an atheist, can say that I have no fear whatsoever of dying.

I am an atheist and I am afraid of dying (the process of going from relatively to healthy to the instant prior to death) - but not of death itself.
To me there is the fear of pain associated with many methods of dying.

But I do not, at present, have a fear of death.

Why are people afraid of dying and are you? Can you answer this question..?

I think it's perfectly natural for people to be afraid of most any drastic changes in their lives. People are often afraid of moving from one locale to another. It's changes in their normal lives; fear of the unknown.

Am I afraid of dying? No, but then I'm an old, old fart, and have lived through a lot of changes. It gets easier over time and with experiences.

Baron Max

I'd say that because of religious teachings all about going to hell, living in a pergatory world, being tortured while there forever. Those types of teachings, if you don't go along with the religions, will put a scare in the youngsters anytime. If people were taught that dying is just a part of living, actually the price we all pay in order to be alive, there wouldn't be as much fear as there is.

What interests me is what the fuck are we supposed to be doing here while we are alive? Everyone has their own ideas but as yet there really isn't any one real meaning to life itself. Just think in just 50 years no one will ever remember who you were or what you did unless it was something really worthwhile or something really bad.

people are afraid of death (non-existence) because they are stupid. let me explain what i mean:

people are afraid of dying for different reasons. but mostly because they dont want to lose everything they have here on earth. they dont want to lose loved ones and people they care about. it makes them sad that the universe might be a cold place, where you just die and fade into nothing. people dont like the idea of losing consciousness for eternity.

if you lose everything you also lose the fear of losing everything, so what is there to fear? stupidity.

Being afraid of dying is just a consequence of not fully living while you could. Besides, our reptialian brain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilian_brain) is programmed to be afraid of death for basic survival of life; but humans can be over that if we want to, just by realizing the stupidity of the fear of death.

I am not afraid of dying in itself, but I am afraid of it being a painful process.
Also, dying and being dead are to different things.
Dying is the process that leads to death, in others words you're still alive. You are dead when the process is completed.
There is no reason to be afraid of being dead.

Why do you think religious people are afraid of dying when they believe there is something (god) looking over them and caring for them? When you know that something is there looking after you then why are you still afraid?

Is it because people are afraid of going to hell?

Why do you think religious people are afraid of dying when they believe there is something (god) looking over them and caring for them? When you know that something is there looking after you then why are you still afraid?

Is it because people are afraid of going to hell?

In the first place, i think people confuse being dead with the process of dying. Probably they are afraid of dying and not of being dead. Not wanting to die and being fearful of dying is only natural and STRONGLY selected upon by evolutionary mechanisms ;)

I don't think truly religious people can be afraid of being dead since they believe in an afterlife.
If religious people are afraid of 'being dead' (read: 'their afterlife') they are either sinful and fear hell or they have serious doubts about the existence of an afterlife (which makes them not truly religious) and are irrationally afraid of not being. These two reasons are the only ones I can come up with.

Im not afraid of death but rather the manner in which I die. Old age, in my sleep, cancer, I dont mind those. Gun to face, falling out of a plane, burning to death those I mind.

Im not afraid of death but rather the manner in which I die. Old age, in my sleep, cancer, I dont mind those. Gun to face, falling out of a plane, burning to death those I mind.

Yep
Although cancer is generally not exactly a nice way to die.

People are scared of all kinds of shit nowdays. Dying is just one of many.

Why are people afraid of dying and are you? Can you answer this question..?

i'm not affraid! why be affraid of somthing that is going to happen even if you want it or not? and why spend the years you have worrieing about death!

Why do you worry so much about flying, or even more dangerous activites Luci?

Yep
Although cancer is generally not exactly a nice way to die.


Yea but its slow and doesnt scare me, Im more afriad of dying in a violent manner than anything. But after your dead your dead so I dont think ill mind much :D

Yea but its slow and doesnt scare me, Im more afriad of dying in a violent manner than anything. But after your dead your dead so I dont think ill mind much :D

I'm not so much afraid of dying violently as dying a painful death. Not that I think about it on a daily basis lol

I afraid of not being allowed to live anymore.

Why do you think religious people are afraid of dying when they believe there is something (god) looking over them and caring for them? When you know that something is there looking after you then why are you still afraid?

Is it because people are afraid of going to hell?

I think, for the most part, it's because they don't beleieve as stronglt as they profess to believe and they have convinced themselves to "believe" directly because of this fear.

I afraid of not being allowed to live anymore.

brilliantly put

Only a ******* does not have concern of dying, i would even go so far as say fear.

What i cannot grasp is the shortness of life. Just whan you begin to understand things and can actually live a smooth, relaxing existance that is when you begin to have medical problems or their occurance\probability intensifies. Makes no sense to me.

Only a ******* does not have concern of dying, i would even go so far as say fear.
Then I'm a ******. :D
Why should I have a fear of dying?

Then I'm a ******. :D
Why should I have a fear of dying?

That is why i put the asterisks there:D

I think there is certainly fear involved in the prospect of no longer existing. Of course i believe there is more than what we see right before us, my own beliefs are simple but very specific.

I think there is certainly fear involved in the prospect of no longer existing.
No fear at all of that.

I fear death because it does not exist. Death results in reincarnation, so death = life. When we are born we start dying, when we die we start living.

Why do I fear life? Because fear is a part of life, I have no choice.

I afraid of not being allowed to live anymore.

Wouldn't it be great if you never existed, then you wouldn't have to be there and be afraid of things like that?

people are afraid of dying because they like being alive.

People that feel forced to die, are afraid of the thought. They don't want to die but are afraid of the thoughts of death.

Isn't it obvious why people are afraid of death? It's the one thing that you can never be sure of. Nobody knows anything about death(people believe they know, but no living person has experienced death to actually know), just that it's very common. I fear death, immensely. However, it's not something I usually spend time worrying about; time is precious. Also, I have no fears whatsoever of dieing, I know exactly how that works. Seriously, what's so bad about dieing? It seems like the most invigorating event you could ever experience...unless you die slow or in your sleep, which is pretty lame.

Im not afraid of death but rather the manner in which I die. Old age, in my sleep, cancer, I dont mind those. Gun to face, falling out of a plane, burning to death those I mind.

EXACTLY.......I am more worried about long prolonged agony....like
cancer, ( I witnessed my mom ) or some other awful disease.

I hope I go fast....

By the time I die, if my life hasn't meant anything, then my death damn well better or I am gonna be so pissed off at myself.

By the time I die, if my life hasn't meant anything, then my death damn well better or I am gonna be do pissed off at myself.

LOL

Why are people afraid of dying and are you? Can you answer this question..?

Probably due to; ultimate goal indicated for humans not achieved..salvation, nirvana, moksha, liberation etc. So one still remain bonded without achieving it.

i'm not affraid! why be affraid of somthing that is going to happen even if you want it or not? and why spend the years you have worrieing about death!

Most people cannot logically talk themselves out of certain feelings. This is, in fact a good thing. Emotions have a different role than logical thinking. If my girlfriend breaks up with me I can tell myself logical things like there being other women, she wouldn't want to leave me if it would work between us, etc. etc. But the human fact is there is a grieving process. I always found it strange that some people would put forward some syllogism to explain why they did not feel or no longer felt something human and natural, like all one has to do is map it out in a Boolean diagram and poof it's gone. I've since realized that 1) some of these people are not connected enough with their feelings to realize they are just talking about their thoughts and not their feelings 2) some people don't feel very much so they are mostly thoughts and can change these thoughts via deductive reasoning. It might be good for you to know that there are many people who this will not work on and who also have many strengths you do not have. And vice versa. Neither set of strenghts is better.

people are afraid of dying because they like being alive.

Here, here. It's sad how posturing about a lack of fear of death is presented as logical, brave, enlightened, cool, etc. when it really is none of these things.

Why do you worry so much about flying, or even more dangerous activites Luci?

because Nietzschefan death isnt avoidable when tis your time then its your time! if you do dangerous activites then that can cause death.
and anyway having thought about it, your quite right, i think people are affraid to live, some people like to worry about things and dieing is one of those things!

Because of what is after.

I am not afraid to die. Death is death, nothing more nothing less

Why are people afraid of dying and are you? Can you answer this question..?I think it is fear of the unknown, and the loss of everything you know about (the world, reality). Also it is the fear of going somewhere where you can't return.

Also, when we look at death from the outside, where people die and even those close to you, it seems smaller than when looking at death from your own view, that You are going to die - then it becomes gigantic (if you have good imagination), by all rights, it IS gigantic, I can't imagine a greater change of state other than being born.

I wish I could remember who said it, but it was a member here a while back - and I thought it was a brilliant observation. paraphrased...
"Show me a Christian who is not afraid of death, and I will believe he is a true believer."

People turn to religion, more often than not, because they are scared of death or the unknown.
These people, rather than finding true relief from this fear, find rhetoric that they repeat and repeat trying to convince themselves as much as they are trying to convince others.
I find this more in Christianity more than any other religion - I think based mainly on their message.
If you truly and honestly believe that the heavenly father has a perfect paradise awaiting you - one in which you have no pain, no fear, no strife, nothing but pure and simple happiness - then you would not fear death - you COULD not fear death.
If you claim to truly believe in the message of Christianity, and you still fear death, you are lying to yourself.
Religion, at that point, is nothing more than a placebo, and somewhere inside, you know this.
This, is why I believe that the loudest supporters of any religion are the ones with the most doubt.

Everyone has heard the expression, "There are no atheists in foxholes".
In times of great desperation, people will grasp at straws and hope (not believe, but HOPE) in anything that may get them through.
True believers who are afraid of death, do not truly believe the message, they are desperately hoping, because they are scared.

Most people cannot logically talk themselves out of certain feelings. This is, in fact a good thing. Emotions have a different role than logical thinking. If my girlfriend breaks up with me I can tell myself logical things like there being other women, she wouldn't want to leave me if it would work between us, etc. etc. But the human fact is there is a grieving process. I always found it strange that some people would put forward some syllogism to explain why they did not feel or no longer felt something human and natural, like all one has to do is map it out in a Boolean diagram and poof it's gone. I've since realized that 1) some of these people are not connected enough with their feelings to realize they are just talking about their thoughts and not their feelings 2) some people don't feel very much so they are mostly thoughts and can change these thoughts via deductive reasoning. It might be good for you to know that there are many people who this will not work on and who also have many strengths you do not have. And vice versa. Neither set of strenghts is better.

This, however, assumes that fear of death is a natural, human experience and somehow beneficial.
It is easy to take this position if YOU have a fear of death, because it qualifies your position.
From the perspective of someone who does not fear death, it sounds like YOU are the one justifying your emotions, not the other way around.

Here, here. It's sad how posturing about a lack of fear of death is presented as logical, brave, enlightened, cool, etc. when it really is none of these things.

So, because you fear death, that means anyone who claims to not fear death is "posturing"? :rolleyes:
Whatever makes you feel better about your own fears and insecurities.

Why are people afraid of dying and are you? Can you answer this question..?


I'm afraid of dying.

There was a time in my life I welcomed it, when my life meant nothing and was going nowhere. I didn't care if I lived or died.
Now my life has changed, things have gotten better and I like life and want to stick around as long as I can.
I think death is just another dimension, like walking thru a doorway to another place, and you can't go back. I don't want to die and leave my loved ones behind, although it will happen someday.
I'd like to live to be ole, and die quick and painless.

I think if left to the christians, I'll probly go to hell.

If left to god, I might make it to heaven.

I don't know if heaven or hell is real, something in me makes me believe in reincarnation.

Life is a journey, death a doorway along the way.

Why are people afraid of dying and are you? Can you answer this question..?

People are afraid of change.
And people tend to associate themselves with their body.
So when their body undergoes the ultimate change at death... That's what they are afraid of.
One way to overcome the fear of change of the body is to associate your self with something that does not undergo that change.

Why are people afraid of change? Because the change may affect themselves.
Everything that can affect you may be a concern.
And concern leads to worry.
Worry leads to fear.
Fear leads to stress.
Stress leads to wrongful thinking.
Wrongful thinking leads to wrongful action.
Wrongful action leads to bad consequences.
Bad consequences lead to changes.

I wish I could remember who said it, but it was a member here a while back - and I thought it was a brilliant observation. paraphrased...
"Show me a Christian who is not afraid of death, and I will believe he is a true believer."

People turn to religion, more often than not, because they are scared of death or the unknown.
These people, rather than finding true relief from this fear, find rhetoric that they repeat and repeat trying to convince themselves as much as they are trying to convince others.
I find this more in Christianity more than any other religion - I think based mainly on their message.
If you truly and honestly believe that the heavenly father has a perfect paradise awaiting you - one in which you have no pain, no fear, no strife, nothing but pure and simple happiness - then you would not fear death - you COULD not fear death.
If you claim to truly believe in the message of Christianity, and you still fear death, you are lying to yourself.
Religion, at that point, is nothing more than a placebo, and somewhere inside, you know this.
This, is why I believe that the loudest supporters of any religion are the ones with the most doubt.

Everyone has heard the expression, "There are no atheists in foxholes".
In times of great desperation, people will grasp at straws and hope (not believe, but HOPE) in anything that may get them through.
True believers who are afraid of death, do not truly believe the message, they are desperately hoping, because they are scared.



This, however, assumes that fear of death is a natural, human experience and somehow beneficial.
It is easy to take this position if YOU have a fear of death, because it qualifies your position.
From the perspective of someone who does not fear death, it sounds like YOU are the one justifying your emotions, not the other way around.Why do you think we are so different? I can tell you straight out that if we were in a fox-hole we would hope too, belief would not be such a great issue if only to give substance to our hope.

Belief is not based on fear of death, it is that kind of short-mindedness that gets on our nerves.