The idea of death bothers me a lot... what do I do?

Question

Well I'm atheist right now, and the thought of ceasing to have self awareness just scares the heck out of me. I mean from what I believe in, after I die, I'm just going to be worm food eventually or be burnt to ashes! So then one day I decided to ask a couple of religious buddies of mine, and asked them about this whole afterlife stuff. Heaven, Hell, and the like. But looking at those religions, it seems there would be no way for me to buy my way into Heaven (or whatever it's called in other religions). So how do I get over the fact that one day, I'm going to be some dead bugger?

To Four More Beers:
That sucks. Big time.

To Sho-Nuff
Good point. I kinda feel bad for my breakfast now :p

Answer 1

You, like all of us, have an internal drive to survive. As humans, capable of abstract thought, we imagine surviving even death (oxymoron).
Your fears are natural.
Take comfort in the fact that everyone shares the fear of the unknown. You have this precious time now. Live it so that you have as few regrets as possible when your time comes.

Answer 2

You should stop looking at religion as a salve for the fact that you're gonna die. You can't buy your way into Heaven, and there's no way you can use religion as an investment in your future in this manner. If you converted to a religion for this reason, your conversion would be false, and you wouldn't reap benefits anyway. If you spend your life being afraid of death, it is like unto dying constantly; this is much worse than dying just once. My advice is to accept your mortality and do your best to understand your condition here on Earth and the condition of your sentient self. I think people forget whether or not there is anything else other than their current life in their body as it is very quickly. Accept that there might be some other state of being both before and after this life, and it will instill wonder, not fear. Certainly our bodies decay, and the worm never sleeps; does it automatically follow that we are tied to the body forever, and this consciousness we enjoy is only a collection of biological impulses? Those impulses cease upon death; perhaps they translate into another realm or physical state that we have not yet discovered....

Answer 3

Do you remember what it was like before your birth? It's going to be exactly like that after you die.

If you want to try to convince yourself that God is real to ease your fears about death, keep in mind that there are many different religions, and many different sects within each religion, all of which claim that they are the only way to get into Heaven. What happens if you become Catholic, and it turns out that Mormon is the only way? What if you become Muslim, and realize Judaism is the way? If you accept the existence of God, you need to accept the very great possibility that you're going to choose the wrong religion, because there's absolutely no way to determine the right one.

Answer 4

If it were just dieing, and and that was the end, then one would think big deal. But that is just the beginning. You can't buy your way into heaven. But Sho-Nuff said people aren't complaining. The Bible says otherwise. The rich man complained to Abraham. Hell is hot, and the worm never dies. But worse of all is eternal separation from God. After death we will all get new bodies. Just think your new body would have to withstand constant torment of fire and worms, but you would never "die", so this is eternal suffering. Accepting Jesus is the ticket to Heaven and its paradise.

Answer 5

Well... no matter what you believe happens when you die, it shouldn't effect you. All you can do is to live your life the way you think is best. Be true to yourself and your desires for your life (I don't mean the easy desires, but the things that you REALLY want out of life). If you do this, death will not be such a big deal. If you worry about life, death takes a back seat!

Answer 6

It appears to me that you need to begin studying to find out whether you are truly Atheist or not. I suggest that you NOT study with those "friends" but find someone else who you really do not know. Find an expert in their field near your home and studwith them Keep an open mind and ask every question in the BOOK! Make them work to convince you they are RiGhT. I suggest that you begin with a Non-denominational Church and allow them to study with you first. I am a Non-denominational Christian because I do not want man's creeds to influence GOD's Commands in any religious institution that I worship in. If you are still not convinced they are right after a time, find another religious leader in your community and study with them. You either need to change your belief or stay where you are. I hope that this makes some sense to you. Have a great week!
Eds

Answer 7

A wise man once said "I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun."

"Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed... then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "all is vanity!"

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."

The man's name was Solomon, who wrote the wisdom books of the Bible.. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. It may be interesting to those who are into astral projection or travel and OBE's to note the second quote.. our souls or what we identify as our self being connected by a cord to our physical body. There is also enough reports from near death experiences to conclude that there just may be an afterlife. Check out http://www.oberf.org/

One last quote; "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Answer 8

If you REALLY think it through an afterlife would be even worse - heaven would have to be boring and hell - well who deserves eternal suffering? Only my ex.

No, there's nothing wrong with just stopping. You are YOUR consciousness in YOUR body - when that body stops finishing you'll no longer be. No more worries, no more pain - its not that bad really. You won't regret anything thats for sure. Atheism isn't a 'belief' for the very reason that faith is not required, we accept whats likely to happen, not what we want to happen. All you can do is try your best to live with dignity and morality and make your life as precious as you can - because it will never come again.

Answer 9

Good try but you are not going to convince anyone that you are an atheist with that load of bull.

Pretending to be an atheist that thinks from a christian thought frame is a but much for anyone to accept.

Fear of death of the body is a religious phenomenon that is based on the idea that happiness is something that is in the future, something that may be lost.

True atheists do not believe this so they are not focused on the future, they are focused on making their life a happy place now.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 10

Look, you don't have to be religious to believe in God or an afterlife. But, you do have to be spiritual . . . and realize we ARE spirits, or energy if that makes you feel better. Energy can not die. Therefore you can never cease to exist. . . .
you need to read some books on different religions, spirituality, etc. You have to find your own truth and draw your own conclusions. No one religion holds the monopoly on truth.