Is life worth living if we're headed toward certain death?

Question

Seriously, people never stop and think about that. Never! If you try, people will police you into "getting on with it"...But is it worth it? Is there a point? Animals have an instinct to survive and reproduce, but they aren't aware of their pending death.
Humans are, so shouldn't we at least talk about it more and maybe make it a priority??

I'm not discussing the worthness of life if there is death at the end of it. I am raising the question : why doesn't everyone think and talk about it more. And why doesn't everyone ask the question : is it worth it? Instead of throwing the usual cheap argument that...It's worth it, death comes...but a life well lived is worth it bla bla bla...

Answer 1

It is more of a fear of the uncertainty that keeps people from talking about death. Sure people say that they believe in God and the bible, but faith based life is really no garentee. And if look deep enough into religion you realise that most of would not get into heaven to begin with, even if you believe Jesus died for your sins, do you think he wanted you to sin?

That is part of why religion exists, the false hope of a reward at the end is the only thing that keeps most of the planet from impaling themselves with sticks.

Answer 2

I agree with the guy who said Jesus is the key.

He conquered death, and so can we if we believe in Him.

I am a little confused by your question: Is it worth it? I guess I have thought about that at times too. Who hasn't? I agree that people need to talk about it, and elevate our condition above the animals. I just don't agree that we are heading towards certain death.
I think that's why we are here, on earth, in this life...to discover THAT. We are not heading towards certain death. Don't you feel a spark of the eternal in your soul? A spark of the creator? A sense of the divine?
I have often sensed this world as a battleground for our very souls.
The problem is, in the face of a perfect God, if there is such a thing, I can never be good enough. I feel the eternal, but I also feel the evil in me, the DEATH if I can use that word. It makes me despair and see the ugliness all around me, and then it does not become a priority to talk about life, but rather to grab what I can before I die.
Is it worth it? That depends on your view of the afterlife- that is why there is so much controversy, and why people don't talk about it, unless you want to open a can of worms and hear everybody's very personal beliefs (not opinions) on the subject.
In order to enjoy life, I believe it is necessary to know what happens after life. The world will try to sell you on its idea, but it will also try to deceive you away from the truth, but you probably already know that.

Answer 3

"Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

This is something I think about all the time. Not to the point of losing my will to live, but certainly remembering that the hand with which I'm typing will someday (sooner or later) be the hand of a corpse.

In the meantime, however, there are any number of great things to see on the journey. While we live, we are part of an interconnected web -- beauty, joy, love, spirituality -- these things really exist. The fact that (for example) an iridescent soap bubble only lingers for a few seconds does not make it any less beautiful. Things can be wonderful in their own time - long or short.

For me, it is these fleeting, yet meaningful, things that make life continually worth living. Why not enjoy what we see today? And shouldn't each of us can have loved ones with whom to share these fleeting moments?

When death finally comes, isn't it better to look back at a lifetime of beauty, of sharing, of service? Who wants your last thought to be a review of 75 years of unrelenting gloom and self-absorption? That would be truly depressing . . . . It would be like traveling from New York City to Seattle, and keeping your eyes shut the whole way, because you know Seattle is the final destination. The fact that we know the destination doesn't make the journey any less interesting. . . . If you keep your eyes shut the whole way, think how many sights you've missed along the way . . . .

Answer 4

People don't make it a priority because it happens, death is everywhere and it comes to everyone. If you know you're dying, you might as well do everything you've ever wanted, no matter how stupid or dangerous it is. Thats the point in life. Live it. Why live and do nothing but ask questions about the points of living longer and why, letting life pass you by? If people thought about death theyd be letting life pass them by, and no body wants that, even the ones survicing a living hell. theres people that can handle life to the extent of at least existing, hoping time will pass them by until their death and theres people who cant take it so they end it themselves. I dont go around thinking about death because its a waste to make it a priority knowing it will come eventually. None can stop that

Answer 5

Socrates believed that "the unexamined life was not worth living" - it was philosphy that prepared one for life and eventually death as well.

So to an extent, you are answering your own question. Yes, we should talk about it more and the prospect of an inevitable death and being keenly aware of this makes life a "project" - something to try to understand and make as meaningful as possible. A philosophical life is one route - faith in some religion you find meaningful another.

Answer 6

Death is just a small end to life that makes life important. To accept an unfortuante future is a waste of life. Everyone eventually dies, but your life shouldn't revolve around the end, you're just wasting your life then. Know that you're only here for an insignificant amount of time and make what you want of life. Talking about death can be interesting, but some people are to afraid of it.

Answer 7

Well, it's sort of like the weather: everyone talks about it, but nobody can do anything about it.
I have known some people who are "larger than life". Is it fair they should die? No, but they do.
Life IS worth living, even a short life. Just be sure you leave something behind to show you were here.

Answer 8

Our gratitude for being given life should be to live well... Look at the big picture............A sunset is glorious, a spring rain cleans the air and smells wonderful, the wind feels great against my face, the sun is warm, flowers are works of art, life is the focus. We all die, so what. To live that is the challenge. To find joy in the small things gives us hope...who ever promised it would be easy....that's why we experience happiness when it comes because we work so hard for it.... I hope you find the joy...you sound so sad....I know I sound like a Pollyanna but I appreciate life.

Answer 9

Not just the priority, but the very purpose of 'life' !
The elaborate preparations we make is proportional to the length and duration of the journey. So death ought to prepare us from day ONE.
In eastern countries, we have a whole system, a technique to teach us to prepare for it a great way.
Every day, we can experience death within us, the cells dying, replaced by new ones.
The live food we eat, like sprouts, die to 'merge' with our 'life'.
All these ought to add to our first hand experience, to prepare us thoroughly.
There are guided meditations, which create a possibility to have personal experience of 'out of body' awareness, which helps to prepare for death.
Death, the only certainty in our lives, ought to be a priority.
Best wishes.

Answer 10

We're all going to die -- that is a given. How and what you do up till that point is an option. Why not enjoy yourself? I agree the end result is the same, but does that justify moping up till the last minute? Why? Personal choice, though.

I'm not sure what you mean by make it a priority. Remind people they are going to die eventually? Would this make them better people or worse? I think most people are aware of their mortality. How often they think of it is probably a matter of their personality.