Otherwise, why would anyone fear death? After watching United 93 & watching people cling to one another, fearful of dying, of what comes next (& I would be exactly the same way!) I wondered if we all just thought a state just like pre-life existed, nothing but darkness, would we be as fearful? Isn't it fear that a hell might in fact exist that scares people into fervent prayer & horrendous fear when certain death looms? Even if you are a christian, how do you know you did it all right, that your heart was totally pure & you will for sure go to heaven? If there was no religion, do you think people would have more of a peace with the whole idea of death?
2006-09-10 12:24:53 · 13 answers · asked by Weeber 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
The fear of death and mortality pre-dates the idea of hell. The current idea of hell was really laid out by Dante Alighieri in the Divine Comedy, as Dante described the journey through the levels of hell. Realize also that people existed long before Christianity, as did the fear of death.
Animals also fear death, and instinctually strive for their own survival. While the fear of hell is irrational and imaginative at best, it is not the only source for the fear of death.
You site pre-life existence as nothing but darkness, but realize that darkness still requires perception. Descartes is often mis-quoted as having stated "I think, therefore I am". His actual statement was slightly different, but the idea still implies. Because you are able to think, to perceive, to cogitate, you must then exist. However, without existence (i.e. death) you cannot perceive, you cannot think, you can not be.
It is more than people cannot fathom that they will cease to exist. All we know is existence, and we are not capable of experiencing any thought outside of that.
2006-09-10 12:36:40 · answer #1 · answered by gilly 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As some people stated before, one's afraid of losing something. That something may be family, friends, and lovers. The fear of losing someone or something important is very hard to overcome.
As for religious reasons, I am not the proper person to answer since I am an Atheist. However, even though religious people fear death, but their religion do bring them a little comfort to their fear before the end.
At the moments before death, flashback will overtake senses of a person. Once the person sees whatever he/she is losing delusively, then the feeling to hold on to the fading things would strengthen a person's mind. On the other hand, the person could become more focused and physically strong than ever once the fear pushed the person to the limit, and one can do incredible thing to survive.
However, the survival mentality don't really apply to destructions where people will feel hopeless, such as an plane crash, earthquake, nuclear bombs, and ... etc.
Therefore, fear remains as all hope fades.
2006-09-10 20:16:09 · answer #2 · answered by tienyutai 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question. Christians think they are going to heaven...doesn't matter what they have done on Earth, otherwise why waste the time, right?
Nonbelievers won't worry about it in the first place, so that shouldn't create any undue fear.
I think for me, I just want to enjoy my time here for as long as possible. Don't necessarily fear death, I just hope I can enjoy my life before passing away.
Hell is just a concept to scare the borderline people into religion, making the church a powerful entity over many masses of people.
2006-09-10 19:29:21 · answer #3 · answered by powhound 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you might be right that hell is one part. But they also fear death because they do not live as they mean to. They procrastinate, always wanting more time - more time to enjoy life as they did not do, more time to get it right and leave things as they meant to. As long as they have enough time, they waste it all. Isn't there any amount of time which is enough? If they knew how to live as they meant, they wouldn't fear hell either.
I don't think the real reason people fear death is that they will die, I think the real reason is that they can't decide how to live.
The problem with some religions is that they don't help people learn how.
2006-09-10 23:38:11 · answer #4 · answered by Sasha 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A quote from the Higher Learning soundtrack. The artist is Outkast. the title is "phobia"
"Many of us mistake phobia for true fear. Whereas fear is a gift from GOD to be used for self preservation. Phobias are objects strategically placed in society by opposers of posotive existance. By stereotyping, innuendo, false documentation, and glorification they will turn to a fierce wish to a permanant own. We can change this by changing the small truth within the lie. Death is a small price to pay for respect. Death is a small price to pay for respect. You know what it is. You know who it is. PEACE OUT!".
Then the song starts. Great song. Great movie.
EDIT: People do not fear death. They fear what they know not. The unknown. What is to become of them. They fear the notion of, "What if GOD does exist?". I myself fear waking up every morning having to deal with the same old crap over and over and over again till I die. But one morning I shall not wake to. I fear living more than dying. GOD is my friend and he waits just as much as I wait.
"And who could have ever imagined HE desired me just as much as I desired HIM"-Rumi
2006-09-10 20:03:27 · answer #5 · answered by Mitchell B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Fear of the unknown" and "Fear of going to hell" are foolish rationalizations.
The fear of death is an instinct. That is ALL.
2006-09-10 20:01:46 · answer #6 · answered by almintaka 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is the fear of the unknown, and the thought of not being here anymore with those we love.
2006-09-10 19:27:21 · answer #7 · answered by ladynamedjane 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is human nature to fear the unknown.
2006-09-10 19:30:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
its human nature to fear death, to fear what will miss with our friends and families. i dont think hell is a major issue at least for me beacuse i know if i ask god to forgive my sins i can go to heaven and be saved
2006-09-10 19:32:11 · answer #9 · answered by dawn 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's in our nature to fear the un known and death is the biggest unknown variable in our lives if you do not believe whole heartedly in Gods words and his promises
2006-09-10 19:27:10 · answer #10 · answered by william b 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋