Atheist how are you all so brave?

Question

If I thought death was the end I'd be terrified.

I truly admire your bravery.

How can I learn to stop fearing death?

I am a coward I fear death. :(

Answer 1

I'm not going to say that I have no fear whatsoever of death. It's perfectly natural to fear death. It's instinctive. I *am* more afraid of HOW I'm going to die than I'm afraid of what it's going to be like after I'm dead. I don't think it will be like anything. It's not like I'm going to be AWARE that I'm dead. There's no awareness at all. No pleasure, no pain, *nothing*. Remember what it was like before you were born? Don't forget, you didn't exist for zillions of years back through infinity BEFORE you were born, and it wasn't unpleasant. It's like that.

Answer 2

You are terrified of death anyway. Admit it.

Since death is the end - it makes every day of your life that much more important. This is all you get - make the most of it. If I am wrong, and there is an afterlife - then it will be a bonus. If I get sent to hell because I didn't get 'saved' then I wouldn't want anything to do with that 'god' anyway.

I'm too busy living my life to be afraid - better than living in fear of the wrath of some fictional 'all-powerful' being who gets jealous if we don't worship him.

Answer 3

i'm not brave. death is a scary concept. we all fear it. however, i also accept it.

death is a natural part of life. we come into this world, we do our piece, and then we pass on. that's how it works. instead of worrying about what happens after the end, i focus on what happens before the end. i focus on what i can do now to make my life meaningful. my death is inconsequential when taken in the grand scheme of things, when i look at all the things i've done with my life so far and all the things i will do. when i look at my husband and i can say or do something to make him smile. it's the little things that make the now worth it and make the end not worth worrying about.

Answer 4

Thanks, I guess. To me, its not about being brave - heck, Im certain when Im dying, Ill be lying there a blubbering fool... But, the idea that this is it, this is our only chance - leads me to behave a certain way towards others. Thats what is important to me. Once Im dead, I wont have that opportunity, will I? Besides, I failed to exist for the last 4.5 billion years - so failing to exist after Im dead shouldnt be much worse than before I was born...

Fearing death is healthy - its a survival instinct. It protects you from doing stupid things...so, its okay to fear death. Just dont concentrate on it so much. Everyone dies - it is inevitable. INstead of concentrating on it, concentrate on LIVING your life!

Answer 5

It's just reality.

We all die, that's the end for all of us. There's not much point in sitting around worrying about it - unless, of course, you want to control others by playing on their fears and making up rules that will get them to imagine they won't die.

If you jump out of a window ten stories up, you'll fall, no matter what you believe. Ditto for death.

We appreciate life all the more because we know it's the only chance we get.

Answer 6

Bravery has nothing to do with it. I just follow the evidence ( or lack of it ). Being non-existent didn't bother me before I am born. It isn't death that frightens me, it is nursing homes.

Answer 7

Acceptance of your own mortality isn't brave, it's just the mature thing to do. If you can't accept your own inevitable death, then you are in denial. Stop being selfish and immature and deal with reality in a healthy way.

Answer 8

To stop fearing death go study Bushido.

Answer 9

Whether you fear death or not, it's going to happen. That's how I deal with it. And fantasy-wish fulfillment only wastes precious time.

Answer 10

Why fear that which is inevitable? I'm going to die. So what?

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Being afraid of something doesn't make you a coward.

Refusing to admit your fear of something makes you a coward.

To quote from Eragon, "Without Fear, there can be no Courage."