Why are people afraid of dying?

[lucifers angel]

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!

 

[Norsefire]

Because of what is after.

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

 

[Cyperium]

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.

 

[one_raven]

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.

 

[one_raven]

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"?
Whatever makes you feel better about your own fears and insecurities.

 

[tormented]

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.

 

[Avatar]

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.

 

[Cyperium]

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.

 

[ilumination]

why are people afraid of dying

it's called conditioning- we are not born to fear but are taught to do so.
when it comes to the fear of dying, people in religious circles are more, (and most likely in silence) afraid of death. reason is that we are taught that only if u do good all ur life u have a chance to go to heaven- but (and in realety most likely,cause we r called humans for a reason) we dont, we most likely go to hell and burn, suffer ect......!
it is neccesary for leaders in any form to keep us in fear of one thing or another to control us, so we do not think 4 ourselfs, but do nicely as we r told. thank goodness that more and more people come to their sences and do start thinking, and if u pay attention u see that the more we think for ourselfs, the less we r afraid, including death.

 

[cosmictraveler]

Dying is easy, its the living that's a bitch!

 

[Arch_Rival]

Fear of dying is an evolutionary effect. An organism afraid of dying will take steps to prevent that, hence surviving and reproducing.

 

[-ND-]

Because in the end, you always think about the beginning. When it is your end, everything should be ok, in a way that you wanted it to be. If it is not ok, then it is not the end.

 

[jmpet]

I found out I had cancer last week. I am 39 and mostly pissed- for having cancer at 39 and not 80. I am not afraid of dying and I have not become any more religious from this news. I go to surgery in two weeks. Either I will wake up from it, or I will not. And if I do, either I will still have cancer or it will be gone. I mostly feel bad for people around me when they find out more than actually worrying about it myself.

 

[-ND-]

If you believe in God/Heaven after death, why would someone be afraid to go to heaven? This person has beliefs and feels a connection with God, why would that person be scared? A person that does not believe in God, is a person with no belief. No belief means doubt. Doubt means questioning; How will I die? When Will I die? What will happen when I die? See the difference.

This comment was specific towards the people that said, people who believe in God are more afraid to die than those who do not believe in God.

Happy?

 

[justwonderingjoe]

I found out I had cancer last week. I am 39 and mostly pissed- for having cancer at 39 and not 80. I am not afraid of dying and I have not become any more religious from this news. I go to surgery in two weeks. Either I will wake up from it, or I will not. And if I do, either I will still have cancer or it will be gone. I mostly feel bad for people around me when they find out more than actually worrying about it myself.

Dear jmpet, you are most brave and caring to think of the feelings of those around you at this difficult time. I hope EVERYTHING turns out perfect for you. I don't know you, you don't know me, but I will be thinking of you, desiring that everyone involved in your treatment and recovery will be skillful, knowledgeable and caring. I hope you can keep the Sci community posted on your recovery. I will be looking for updates! I am sorry you are going through this. Peace and Strength!

 

[lightgigantic]

In short, we experience misery when something we value is lost or disappears.
And we experience fear at the prospect of something with value disappearing.

To say that there are no pending emotional issues for one's imminent disappearance tends to indicate a contingency plan or a sense of value that is practically nil.

 

[lightgigantic]

BTW here's a hint what you can expect

(kind of like "value analysis" I guess )

 

[pandorica]

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.

Why is it that many of you are pushing perfection on christian? You act as though christains are an entirely different species? When in fact they are no different than you. They to are human and like all human they make mistakes. Fear does wander in the minds of all human. Its only natural to wonder what comes after death and with wonder comes fear of the unknown. So why do you say that they are lying to themselfs? you can believe and fear, in fact your suppose to fear god in that same way (fear the lord, its in the bible). A healthy wonder of him, and whats to be. They know that they fear, they know that they judge, AND they know that they're not perfect but sinful. btw they are desperately hoping, because they are scared AND thats called faith.

 

[drumbeat]

Why are people afraid of dying?

Could be any of the following:

Fear of not completing what they wanted to do.
They want a purpose for their existence.
Don't like the idea of not existing.

 

[glaucon]

...
btw they are desperately hoping, because they are scared AND thats called faith.

Hope and faith are antithetical to reason.
That is what was being explained, and not some sort of attempt to 'push for perfection'.

BTW, in future, do try to refrain from more thread necromancy.
Thanks.