The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsI wonder if people who don't believe in God are more likely to
be afraid of dying than people who do. Thoughts?
Irish_Dem
(47,028 posts)Compared to those in between.
Here is study from Oxford University, UK.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-03-24-study-who-least-afraid-death
liberal_mama
(1,495 posts)She thinks it's because they are worried about going to hell.
Omnipresent
(5,709 posts)But, what is a couple more years here. Eventually, they get to spend eternity in Hell!!
zuul
(14,624 posts)And they're the ones who wail the most when a loved one dies. I thought they would be happy that their friend/family member is "going to meet their king" yet they freak out much more than atheists.
Most of the atheists I know are not afraid of death.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,853 posts)She's absolutely the most afraid of death among all of my siblings and me. The rest of us are more accepting of the inevitable, and welcome it compared to a life of suffering.
Earth-shine
(4,003 posts)I have heard it said by the religious that "Doubt and uncertainty are part of having faith."
Mmmm.
Others say, "There are no atheists in foxholes."
I don't believe that statement has any absolute truth.
By that, I mean, perhaps the atheists got out?
a kennedy
(29,658 posts)I always think of the 10 commandments ..were those Gods rules?? If ther IS a hell I really do not want to go.
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Im not afraid some deity is sending me to hell.
I lead a life that doesnt need redemption.
I dont steal or hurt people or animals intentionally.
I pay my taxes, Im not a cheater, and
I dont hate.
The only part of dying that worries me is
how painful it might be and who will take care of my dog when Im gone.
I'm more afraid of my partner croaking before me. He has lovely saltwater tanks and always looks after the other fish, dog, and cat. He also tends the yard. I've tried to do these things, but my heart isn't into it. It'll be a zoo if he dies...
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Thats verrrry scary indeed.
samnsara
(17,622 posts)...i do envy believers as it may be easier for them to deal with the death of a loved one...
Haggard Celine
(16,844 posts)I'll be curious when I die. It will be Interesting to see what happens, if anything. It seems to me that death would only be scary if a person has done something really awful or has been a bad person. Of course, people like that probably don't feel any guilt about what they do, so they wouldn't be afraid.
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Piasladic
(1,160 posts)That any organic mess will realign? unlikely
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Luciferous
(6,079 posts)LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)🤷🏼♀️
Luciferous
(6,079 posts)MiHale
(9,722 posts)Ill fight to stay alive, of course, dying is natural, nothing is permanent. I guess living on the edge of death kinda toughens you. Actually my biggest fear about dying is this pandemic. Dont want to be all alone thatd bother my family to no end. Ive faced death a number of times, military and lately health.
Ive totally accepted my fate.
in my case. Probably because I don't believe in hell either...unless you want to count the hell we're living in now.
lanlady
(7,134 posts)I dont want to die, no one does, but in dying you make way for the young and the yet-to-be-born. Steve Jobs said shortly before he passed away that death is lifes way of renewing itself. Its hard to argue with that.
Im more afraid of being old and feeble and unable to take care of myself. Ive always been an independent type and the thought of dependency scares me a lot more than the thought of my future death.
Omnipresent
(5,709 posts)viva la
(3,291 posts)She does believe in God, but as an arbitary tyrant who must be obeyed and loved totally. She says she's 90% convinced she's going to hell.
Now this is someone who is a difficult person, but no big sinner. She doesn't do anything really wrong (complaining about my cooking when I brought her a casserole when she was sick is the worst of it).
But she's sure she doesn't love God enough to escape eternal damnatione.
She's Protestant, so "doing" isn't very important in her theology. All that really counts is how entirely you worship God. And in her mind, almost no one gives God the amount of worship he demands. MOST people are going to hell!
I told her that sounded like a counter-productive God, punishing the ones who love him most, but she just knew she was falling short.
That sort of person lives all the time in terror. But she's also scared to do anything (like vote against Trump) that she thinks God might interpret as being less faithful to him.
This is the sort of person who would get Covid and assume it was God's doing, and if he wanted her to die, well, that's all right with her. But...
most of these dead-enders go on and on about how "heaven has got another angel" and "God called him home." She would be more, "God wants me to be the torture target of demons. I guess i have to give into God's will."
Sibelius Fan
(24,396 posts)Croney
(4,659 posts)sinkingfeeling
(51,454 posts)No biggie.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)The brain is dead, so no consciousness. The same condition before I existed.
Now, how I'm going to die, that does bother me. There are very few good ways.
nancy1942
(635 posts)My personal experience with dying people tells me that the more religious a person is the more likely they are to fear death. I've always been puzzled by this apparent contradicition. I would think they would be really eager to go meet their maker....?
ret5hd
(20,491 posts)Im more of a Well, I wont hafta put up with yalls shit anymore! kinda guy.
Lunabell
(6,080 posts)There's no heaven or hell so why worry?
rownesheck
(2,343 posts)no. Not afraid to die. In fact, I'll welcome it. At least I won't have to work anymore! Hooray!
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)Why should I be afraid of my later nonexistence?
Response to alphafemale (Reply #22)
ExTex This message was self-deleted by its author.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)Who claim to be nobles or otherwise wealthy and important.
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Piasladic
(1,160 posts)I think I was a slave in Center X. We all had to wear robes and massage feet until we fell over from exhaustion.
I died, but in my dream I was told...
Since I was a good woman and I followed all the rules, I would be reborn - white and affluent
which is where I am now. Must be true.
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Maybe I didnt massage those feet so well.
Lady Freedom Returns
(14,120 posts)We humans, with all creatures, are not meant to go forever. Time takes a toll on us. I hate the thought of living an overextended life. The pain would have to be horrible.
Solly Mack
(90,764 posts)There's plenty of science out there explaining what happens to a dead body. Mystery solved.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)I would think less likely. I am absolutely not afraid of death. Dying, yes, but not death. That's just "the way it is".
Laffy Kat
(16,377 posts)The way I see it, it's simply like turning off a light. There is nothingness.
HAB911
(8,891 posts)there is much comfort in knowing the universe is NOT out to kill you, it just doesn't care
NNadir
(33,516 posts)I don't recall asking to be born, and no memory of being a zygote or a blastula or even a fetus. These decisions of state were made by other people.
I didn't fear being born. It just happened. Though I recall none of it, details were reported to me. I suppose being born is like being under anesthesia, since one recalls none of it.
I don't expect to recall dying.
I expect that dying is something like being a zygote without metabolism, or like being a rock. It's not likely to bother me any more than a rock seems bothered by being a rock.
It seems to me that the fun of dying is that you can't do it unless you've lived. I've lived, and while it all seems mysterious somehow, it is way beyond my ability to claim that I know all about why I lived. I suspect that "why" question is a stupid one anyway. It is enough to have done it.
a kennedy
(29,658 posts)malthaussen
(17,193 posts)It's more the reverse, in my experience.
-- Mal
we can do it
(12,184 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,284 posts)What's to fear?
Mosby
(16,306 posts)Piasladic
(1,160 posts)The Lounge, as I understand it, is for fun. I found this discussion really fun. I hope we have more.