How much does fear of death influence people to look for religion?

Question

Sounds like a loaded question, but it is not...

Answer 1

99%

Answer 2

Unfortunately I am "afraid" that "fear" plays an overwhelming role in a persons' quest for religion. Most are horrified at the thought of being alone, even for short periods of time, while they are alive. I can only assume,and have witnessed, that most people are afraid of being alone in death. Loneliness can be a daunting concept to overcome. Being alone is quite different than loneliness; if at peace with ones' self it can be a place of tremendous pleasure and serenity..... Now for the "loaded part of the question"....The majority of religions use that innate fear of death as a point of leverage to lure the terrified masses. "Come! Believe as we do and do what is told, live your life as we see it and in death you will not be alone. Ironic that almost all religions speak of an afterlife so much better than this one in which we currently live. So then why should one be afraid? I believe it all boils down to a natural human desire to "belong". Unfortunately there are many out there who prey on that desire and fear and exploit those in search of security from a "solitary world". So in a word the answer is "YES"... Just a thought...Peace to all........

Answer 3

I believe that that is a major reason why people feel the need for religion- they want to create some kind of safety net, just in case their life spirals out of control. They just want to have something solid that they can believe in blindly, not having to acknowledge the possibility that one lifetime could be all that we have to live, and that, afterwards, it's just over.

But, there are probably quite a few other reasons people rely on religion. I think a major one is probably the need to explain that that cannot be explained, such as life and the universe. People don't like fear in general, so they just create myths and religion to cover up the gaps. People fear what cannot be explained, so they just patch together something that CAN explain it, and call it done. However, that proves to be an awkward thing to explain when a scientific solution DOES come along, such as the issue of intelligent design versus evolution.

So, yes, the fear of death causes people to clutch a religion like it's a lifeline, but I think that it can be said that fear in general is what first caused religion to be created.

Answer 4

I wouldn't say it's just the fear of death alone that influences people to look for religion, it might just be the desire to have hope in something greater than them, or to be assured that there is a meaning in everything. Many people feel that religion and spirituality is the only thing that gives their lives meaning and purpose.

But fear of death does play a part. Most want to believe that their existence doesn't end, or that the struggles of life amount to something.

Answer 5

Self-preservation is normal among animals, however, fear of death implies an animal's ability to perceive and anticipate future events. That is one of the many things that sets us apart. Religion plays a big part in that. Man has instincts like the animals, but he can also think rationally about things that have not yet happened, and religion helps him to do that in some ways. Fear of death is one of the most driving forces behind religion, because it attempts to help man cope with the fact that he has already perceived that he will die.

Answer 6

fear of death, fear of being alone, fear of facing things alone... a blind hope that people choose to give faith to as its an intangible that cannot be a disproven resource. Religion is a crutch for people in hard times, a library of morals and ethics that have been misconstrued and misinterpruted over time as it has been passed down from generation to generation. Heaven is a comforting fairytale for anyone who needs such incentive to live a certain way. I think fear of judgement after death is what has many people looking toward religion if we were to include death an influence.

I do believe in god despite

-srg

Answer 7

I think when you are faced with death, it hits you that eventually we all must die and you are no exception. Of course you now wonder if you are wrong in not believing in God, in an afterlife, in more....and you wonder where your soul will go to knowing you lived your life in a manner which would have displeased God, if you believed in Him in the first place but even if you don't think that, you surely will think is this it? This is all there is?

I think you need to search out what you want to believe LONG before you are old and ready to leave this world. Life can end at any time. There are no guarantees for anyone. When you think of life in this way, you evaluate what really matters and think about just where you want to focus your energies and where you do not.

I think when you realize you are about to exit this world the same way you came in--alone--it's very frightening, but if you have faith and believe in God, there won't be any fear, because you know you will transcend into his Kingdom where there is only love and peace.

Answer 8

It's the main motivation for going to church and seeking "spirituality." The local Epicopal church here has become a private club of superstitious old women who are afraid to die.

The only other significant influence for people to look for religion is to hope it will help their kids to turn out all right, which is about as effective as putting a filthy band-aid on an infected stab wound.

Answer 9

Maybe some. I think most people would have to consider thier creator and their purpose in life when considering death. But I think its more to do with finding their true beliefs and sharing with others than anything else. Most people could tell you that its not the religion that brings you peace through fear, but God himself.

Answer 10

I would have to say 99%. Death is the ultimate unkown. Fear of the unkown breeds a mind looking for direction and guidance through uncharted territory. Religion seems to provide the answers they are looking for or want to hear.....

Answer 11

I do not fear death. I am comforted by it. I believe that upon our death our questions are answered, our eyes opened to the truth, and our souls freed of pain. It's a time to rejoice. I used to fear death and desire eternal living. But not anymore. There is nothing more beautiful than knowing that upon our death, we will lie in God' hands. That is beauty of death.