People often contend that when pushed to the limit, people will get desperate, and suddenly turn to god in desperation, that the sudden and present danger will give them faith they previously lacked.
I doubt this is true in the first place, but that is not the point of the question.
Have you ever noticed how both the religious and non-religious, with a few exceptions, seem to cling so desperately to life?
Even the religious usually panic when it comes down to the line, in spite of their promises of eternal life in heaven.
It seems to me that shellshock can make a person lose their faith more easily than it can make them find it.
your thoughts?
2006-11-07 12:06:18 · 9 answers · asked by kitty is ANGRY!™ 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Very insightful. A shell shock or travesty can effect people both ways. Example: Someone is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Some people turn to God, family, and friends for support to the very end. Others get angry at God for "allowing this to happen to them" and stay angry throughout. Still others go through the "grief" cycle and go through all those emotions. We all will have our own unique way of handling these situations when they occur.
2006-11-07 12:16:15 · answer #1 · answered by Greenwood 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not necessarily. The faithful can also face their immanent demise with cool calmness, knowing that they will go to God's grace (think the Jewish holocaust victims, or Jewish and Christian Roman victims).
On the other hand, from a evolutionary point of view, the instinct for survival is THE most powerful instinct we have - all of us, not just religious vs non-religious. So "losing faith" (or "gaining faith") does not really apply to survival situations. Clinging to life is in our genes, just like every living thing clings to life.
Being scared at the moment of your death does not mean you turn to God simply by invoking his name, in the same way the simple act of fear does not mean you've lost faith. They are independent.
2006-11-07 12:15:27 · answer #2 · answered by ZenPenguin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on how you view your day-to-day existence.
Coming to grips with ones own mortality is what makes life an absurb reality.
Fortunately for myself, and any other existentialists out there, mortality is another facet of life that one cannot comprehend until that final moment of clarity when it is upon you.
If you are interested in the final thoughts of someone facing an impending demise, I would certainly recommend reading Sartre's short story entitled The Wall. You will love it. It examines both Xtian and Existential thought processes just before death.
2006-11-07 12:14:48 · answer #3 · answered by Random 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A foxhole can merely propose a complicated venture, no longer unavoidably a corner to conceal in. As for being petrified of dying - even Jesus grew to become into afraid and wept previously His crucifixion. Christians are people, and extremely few people, in the event that they are truthful with themselves, might pass charging in the direction of dying if that they had yet another decision. there's a great huge difference between being petrified of dying and being petrified of dying. i'm no longer petrified of what's going to take place once I die, yet i'm petrified of the form and venture that should encompass my dying.
2016-12-28 15:38:54 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guess it depends on the person. Of the people I know who have passed away, all of them seemed, not eager to die, but more peaceful in knowing God would be waiting to welcome them.
I have no personal expierence with anyone who had no faith facing death and changing their minds. But Ive heard it to happen, while others remain faithless and still die happy.
I think it is not something to generalize, but rather something each person, in his own heart and mind, will face at one point or another. Lumping it all into a category, leaves out the human factor.
2006-11-07 12:10:48 · answer #5 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 20 17 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."[a].
For the Kindong is for the son of God you lost men.
2006-11-07 12:20:01 · answer #6 · answered by The GOD Vision 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Definitely not true.Sure,it's human nature to be afraid,and some people are just more naturally afraid than others.But there have been countless people who have died for their faith who didn't cling desperately to life.If you are talking about people who are in massive accidents and fight to stay alive..that's not being afraid of death,that's just being strong.
2006-11-07 12:11:44 · answer #7 · answered by Serena 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because nobody wants to die, the bible says its better to be alive no matter how great/horrible life may be than to be in the grave and 'know nothing'. & my faith in God is actually strengthened in bad times
2006-11-07 12:12:04 · answer #8 · answered by Nikki 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good examination...
I hope you have calculated the cost of both viewpoints.
-LIVE4TRUTH. LIFE IS ETERNAL.
2006-11-07 12:09:27 · answer #9 · answered by LIVE4TRUTH 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋