Atheists/Agnostics: Do you fear death?

Question

I suspect fear of death as a finality is dispositional. I've posted before, and I'm puzzled that some non-theists fear death while others do not in the least. I suspect the fear of death as a human inevitability depends on the person. Why do you think some non-theists fear death while others do not? Why do some irreligious people die peacefully, almost smugly, while others struggle with it in a state of utter terror? My suspicion is that it depends on the sensitivity of the limbic system, which increases ones sensitivity to a particular reality.

I'm asking if you think a fear of death is dispositional, not specifically whether you fear death (though I would be interested in knowing that too)

As for the prebirth nothingness comparison to the after death nothingness: there was no me to worry about the end of my consciousness. But if your point is that death returns us to nothingness, and nothingness wasn't an experience of something bad, we should not fear the nothingness in the future. But I think what is essential to understanding a fear of death is the idea that the world I have now (which didn't exist before birth) will end. I had nothing to lose before birth because I didn't exist. That's not the case now. This is why this atheist mantra doesn't really understand what death-fear is. And as I said before, it's most likely a visceral fear that varies by the individual.

Answer 1

You know what it says on the atheists tombstone?


All dressed up and no place to go. A funny sad huh. Mmm

Answer 2

My compliment on your question, it is stated extremely well. Due to my advanced years this is a question I've contemplated many times. The following is the best answer I've found. I quote: How do we know there is an afterlife? According to Buddhism, although the nature of cause and effect may be different, they must have the same essential properties, they must have a definite connection. For instance, the human body can be perceived, it has form and color; and therefore its cause must also have qualities. But the mind is formless, and hence its immediate source or cause must also be formless. Both mind and body begin in life as soon as conception occurs. Since physical matter cannot produce the mind, or the mind matter. The immediate source of the mind must therefore be a mind the existed before conception took place; the mind must have a continuity from a previous mind. This we hold to prove the existence of a previous life." In conclusion, I choose not to place label on myself, and would never wish to lable another human. The above is presented only for your infomation. Tks again for your question. To fear death is to waste one's life.

Answer 3

In reality no one should fear death because we are energy entities ,as you know energy can not be created or destroyed. In the DNA of all species however is the survival gene which is what creates the fear of death. This gene is needed in order to perpetuate said species. People who have a real fear of death to the point of intense terror are mentally tapped into this. People who do not fear death mentally override this whether they are religious or not. Whether someone dies peacefully or in utter terror is basically what their state of mind is when they know the end is upon them.

Answer 4

i don't concern death, there is little benefit in doing so, for it somewhat is inevitable. Why not concern some palatable like being shot, the soreness the obtainable disfigurement, the passable lengthy-term incapacity. it somewhat is a waste of time to concern death for we can not substitute the time or the way that we will die. to assert God will look after it somewhat is not any diverse than asserting supermen will come from the sky to save us as quickly as we are confronted with evil. the two are a fictional theory interior the way we see them, the two can do large good, and the two are able to mass destruction. we can not rule our lives have been concern from now on than we can effect those around us with hate

Answer 5

I'm agnostic, but still open to other religious beliefs, and yes I do not fear death..Death is the the end of our mortal life. Cause thats what we are is mortal, we do die. That's fact. If you believe in something, well then go for it. What ever makes you comfortable, in that difficult time.

Answer 6

I'm an atheist and I don't fear death in itself, since obviously I believe when a person is dead, they're dead, so it's not like I have to worry about any afterlife.
What I do fear though is dying too young or before I have time to accomplish everything I want to since I know this is it.

Answer 7

I don't think it's a religious thing, I think it would be more in the vein of missing out on whatever is going on in your life...or regret for missed opportunities.

I for one do not fear death nearly as much as I do the thought of growing old, and still having so many items on my "wish I would have done that" list...I think that is the real tragedy in growing old, and eventually dying.

Answer 8

I'm Agnostic and no I do not fear death. I don't see the point...it's something that's inevitable. I don't intentionally do things that can be harmful and lead to me to die "faster", but I do not fear death at all.

Answer 9

This gets asked about every other day, and the answer is still no. Death is part of the cycle of life. Next time your sitting in a room full of people, look around you. There isn't one of them thats going to live, not one! They will all die, its part of life.

Answer 10

I don't fear death but I can see how the concept of an end to one's existence can be terrifying.... where your identity just ends.

But, we didn't exist before we were born/conceived either, so for me the idea of returning to nonexistence isn't frightening.