How do people deal with their inevitable death?

DampCat · 21 Aug 2011 at 10:41

Eh. I've seen enough death in my immediate family that I'm not scared of it at all. I only hope when it happens, it happens fast, and not a slow decay over time as an old man in a home or hospital.

I don't believe in the afterlife, but I wish i did. Then I could be with those i've loved and lost once more.

Castiel · 21 Aug 2011 at 12:22

PermaBanned said:
Name one.

Name one what?

GreatAuk · 21 Aug 2011 at 12:36

Mason- said:
It all boils down to, what's the point of doing anything. And all it leads to is depressing thoughts.

E.g. what's the point of working hard? So you can live longer and earn lots of money.

When you die you can't take your money with you.

But it gets passed on to relatives

And so on and so on,

Until the sun explodes, the human race dies and no one remembers you.

See how it gets depressing...

That's exactly the kind of stuff that runs through my mind when I start to think about these things, and then suddenly nothing seems justified or sensible and the whole society we have and life in general seems pointless and inexplicable. I then usually go and watch some rubbish on TV to take my mind off it.

Rainmaker · 21 Aug 2011 at 13:46

Unfortunately my internet's still down and I'm posting this via my phone. I can't really keep up with a thread like this atm.

I will add in my tuppence, however, because this topic interests me immensely. I just wish I could hang around and discuss it all properly! Hopefully on Monday when my internets get fixed this will still be going.

Personally I have no fear of death. I'm apprehensive of how I might die but not for the fact that I will die. I have a solid belief in an afterlife (which is very different to the Abrahamic religions' viewpoint), and don't think it's about trying to convince/delude oneself that everything's OK at all.

Think about it. Atheists can eat, 'procreate' and sleep and not worry about anything. Those who believe in an afterlife 'know' physical death isn't the end and have an eternity to worry about and prepare for. While I'm not saying they see it as a bad thing, I am pointing out that belief in an afterlife isn't the cop-out some militant atheistic types seem to think it is.

I recall a quote from a book I read recently which said that 'Religion is for those who are scared of going to hell. Spiritualism is for those who have already been dragged through it'.

Human experience is unique, challenging, often painful and terrifying, and laced with sweet sorrow. It also provides immense potential for personal growth, enjoyment and love. Enjoy it for what it is in the best way you can, and the rest will slot into place regardless imho.

I have to sign off now, but will try to get back in later for a proper chat.

Pate · 21 Aug 2011 at 14:55

Rainmaker said:
Unfortunately my internet's still down and I'm posting this via my phone. I can't really keep up with a thread like this atm. I will add in my tuppence, however, because this topic interests me immensely. I just wish I could hang around and discuss it all properly! Hopefully on Monday when my internets get fixed this will still be going.

Personally I have no fear of death. I'm apprehensive of how I might die but not for the fact that I will die. I have a solid belief in an afterlife (which is very different to the Abrahamic religions' viewpoint), and don't think it's about trying to convince/delude oneself that everything's OK at all.

Think about it. Atheists can eat, 'procreate' and sleep and not worry about anything. Those who believe in an afterlife 'know' physical death isn't the end and have an eternity to worry about and prepare for. While I'm not saying they see it as a bad thing, I am pointing out that belief in an afterlife isn't the cop-out some militant atheistic types seem to think it is.

I recall a quote from a book I read recently which said that 'Religion is for those who are scared of going to hell. Spiritualism is for those who have already been dragged through it'. Human experience is unique, challenging, often painful and terrifying, and laced with sweet sorrow. It also provides immense potential for personal growth, enjoyment and love. Enjoy it for what it is in the best way you can, and the rest will slot into place regardless imho.

I have to sign off now, but will try to get back in later for a proper chat.

Interesting viewpoint, though I'd disagree about the hell thing for religious people. Surely it's the opposite?

GravyMonster · 21 Aug 2011 at 15:40

As people have said, above death is an inevitability and as such I don't fear it. I'd prefer a painless way out though, obviously.

Also, major coincidence that Spotify started playing this as I clicked on this thread...

MeEsH BaKkA · 21 Aug 2011 at 16:05

I have no fear of dying, I have a fear of being old and incapable of looking after my self/losing mental ability. I just hope that like most of the older people in my family I have a fairly healthy old age with no dementia etc...

Whats the point of worrying about somthing that could happen to you at any time? Get on with life whilst you can and do stuff even of you regret it after.

PermaBanned · 21 Aug 2011 at 17:25

Castiel said:
Name one what?

Person that's forgotten that Science is not about blind acceptance. Excluding, of course, random religious people who just generally don't have a clue what they're on about

Castiel · 21 Aug 2011 at 17:26

PermaBanned said:
Person that's forgotten that Science is not about blind acceptance. Excluding, of course, random religious people who just generally don't have a clue what they're on about

There are a whole bunch involved in Climate Science to begin with.

PermaBanned · 21 Aug 2011 at 18:09

Castiel said:
There are a whole bunch involved in Climate Science to begin with.

There's a massive difference between "blind acceptance" and "beyond reasonable doubt".

Castiel · 21 Aug 2011 at 18:26

PermaBanned said:
There's a massive difference between "blind acceptance" and "beyond reasonable doubt".

No-one is disputing that, however you only have to go into the Climategate thread to see blatant examples of blind acceptance of science without qualification or justification.

Look up Eugenie Scott and what she has to say on the essence of Science, this has a bearing on how some people both scientists and non-scientists blindly accept what science tells them is fact, even though it has been shown over and again that scientific facts are only as good as the next fact that disputes it.

Anyway this is getting off the topic of How do people deal with their mortality, so start a thread if you wish to discuss it further.

Philtor · 21 Aug 2011 at 19:35

PermaBanned said:
Excluding, of course, random religious people who just generally don't have a clue what they're on about

I hope this is not a snide remark aimed at me? You have refused to accept my point of view in this thread and I don't appreciate your arrogance either. Perhaps it's you that doesn't have a clue?? Did that cross your mind?

Moothead2 · 21 Aug 2011 at 19:50

philtorrens said:
It's called faith

Faith is belief without evidence.

Gackt · 21 Aug 2011 at 19:57

It's the end of this journey, and the beginning of another.

It is not the destination that's important, it's the journey and the experience along the way. That's all.

Pate · 21 Aug 2011 at 20:06

One of my favourite songs as well.

Castiel · 21 Aug 2011 at 21:13

Moothead2 said:
Faith is belief without evidence.

That is blind faith. Faith requires evidence, it is just that some people are under the misconception that scientific evidence is the only kind.

steve-h · 21 Aug 2011 at 22:13

I'm not that bothered about dying really.

Lightnix · 21 Aug 2011 at 22:15

Castiel said:
People have 'faith' in all those things. Faith isn't a red herring, it is a state of mind.

I think we may be talking about two different concepts of 'faith'. Given the context of the conversation (which made numerous references to God, souls, the afterlife, etc.) that had taken place, I thought it was clear that I (and the person I was responding to) was referring to the specific concept of religious faith.

My distinction is primarily based on the difference between a faith with reasonable expectations (e.g. I have faith that my mother isn't going to kick me out of the house tomorrow because of the dynamics of the relationship between myself and her which I believe to have observed) and a faith with unreasonable expectations (e.g. supernatural, blind faith, without any form of observable evidence, etc.). You might say that the faith we put into things that we expect is important, and I suppose it is. In that same respect, I understand that many religious people do expect there to be an afterlife and for their religious text to be correct. Clearly in that case religious faith is important to religious people.

I do however think that if one's religious (or otherwise with 'unreasonable' expectations) faith is to them 'all we have' then it is in fact acting as a red herring, as it is clearly taking focus away from things which, to me, seem more important.

Castiel · 21 Aug 2011 at 22:46

Lightnix said:
I think we may be talking about two different concepts of 'faith'. Given the context of the conversation (which made numerous references to God, souls, the afterlife, etc.) that had taken place, I thought it was clear that I (and the person I was responding to) was referring to the specific concept of religious faith.

My distinction is primarily based on the difference between a faith with reasonable expectations (e.g. I have faith that my mother isn't going to kick me out of the house tomorrow because of the dynamics of the relationship between myself and her which I believe to have observed) and a faith with unreasonable expectations (e.g. supernatural, blind faith, without any form of observable evidence, etc.). You might say that the faith we put into things that we expect is important, and I suppose it is. In that same respect, I understand that many religious people do expect there to be an afterlife and for their religious text to be correct. Clearly in that case religious faith is important to religious people.

I don't disagree with you in principle. I might question what an individual may perceive as 'unreasonable' but that is another subject entirely.

Lightnix said:
I do however think that if one's religious (or otherwise with 'unreasonable' expectations) faith is to them 'all we have' then it is in fact acting as a red herring, as it is clearly taking focus away from things which, to me, seem more important.

I don't think that philtorrens was referring only to religious faith which is why I questioned Faith being a red herring, I am not convinced that religious faith is a red herring to those who believe either,

However, I will concede that with respect of religious faith being all we have then that is clearly ignoring the myriad of other reasons and philosophies that give meaning to peoples lives, whether spiritual or temporal.

Spook187 · 22 Aug 2011 at 04:31

Rainmaker said:
Unfortunately my internet's still down and I'm posting this via my phone. I can't really keep up with a thread like this atm. I will add in my tuppence, however, because this topic interests me immensely. I just wish I could hang around and discuss it all properly! Hopefully on Monday when my internets get fixed this will still be going.

Personally I have no fear of death. I'm apprehensive of how I might die but not for the fact that I will die. I have a solid belief in an afterlife (which is very different to the Abrahamic religions' viewpoint), and don't think it's about trying to convince/delude oneself that everything's OK at all.

Think about it. Atheists can eat, 'procreate' and sleep and not worry about anything. Those who believe in an afterlife 'know' physical death isn't the end and have an eternity to worry about and prepare for. While I'm not saying they see it as a bad thing, I am pointing out that belief in an afterlife isn't the cop-out some militant atheistic types seem to think it is.

I recall a quote from a book I read recently which said that 'Religion is for those who are scared of going to hell. Spiritualism is for those who have already been dragged through it'. Human experience is unique, challenging, often painful and terrifying, and laced with sweet sorrow. It also provides immense potential for personal growth, enjoyment and love. Enjoy it for what it is in the best way you can, and the rest will slot into place regardless imho.

I have to sign off now, but will try to get back in later for a proper chat.

Hmmmm belief in an afterlife.sorry but your dead end of,enjoy your life if you can while your alive, so the afterlife there would trillions and trillions of dead people,but the argument will carry on as both sides have no evidence to back up their beliefs.