Is it true that, "Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die"?

Question

I've thought about this question, as have other Y/A users apparently, judging by others posting the same quote. I think the first part of the quote is correct (b/c frankly, who wants to go to hell except maybe Satan worshippers??). However, if people did wish to die, and I'm not talking about the terminal cancer patient, or religious person who thinks hell is here on Earth. I'm talking about the average Joe/Jane, going to work everyday, maybe has kids, pays taxes, etc... If they, being considered sane, but openly expressed a wished to die, would be called crazy or depressed, put in a padded cell, and/or be given medication? Even if they are none of these things?

Answer 1

you need a reason not to live to want to die.
I still have reasons to live - family, friends. The question is: If you were the only person left on Earth would you want to live?

Not everybody wants to go to heaven, alot of people feel that heaven is on earth. You have to find it. And it may simply be a way you feel at a specific time.

Answer 2

very interesting quote. However it is unfortunately not as deep as you think it is once you think about it.
i'll keep this short. First the quote is talking about TWO totally different "realms" (time periods, phases, etc.) the first is talking about the "life" (where you and I are) we are here living on earth and this is "life." The second part is talking about the "afterlife" what happens after we die, or after we are finished with this place (phase, period...).
ok, so think of it this way, you are walking in the woods and you get to a river you can either cross the river or you can walk around the river. The river is cold & dangerous so many people simply choose to go around it. Then you get to a fork in the road, you can either bear right, where you notice there are other people with food and light or bear left which is dark and lifeless.
SO, what i am trying to say is that you are talking about two totally different times and two totally different decisions someone must make. the choice between living and dying and the choice between going to heaven and going to hell. of course no one ("average person") wants to die similarly no one WANTS to go to hell. These are two totally different situations.

Answer 3

It's not untrue, but not all the way true. Our life right now is considered something temporary, on the much larger scale. However, this is all we really know. Sure, there are visions of heavens filled with every delight, but once you die there is no real way to compare that to being alive.

I think some people probably have a very bad life--filled with parents on drugs, or those who are abused at home. They probably wish that they could die, to go to heaven. Most of these people figure out though that if they try, anything is possible.

Everyone wants to go to heaven.. but most are scared that the other side won't be nearly as nice or as materialistic as it is now, on earth.

Answer 4

That saying was ancient when I first ran across it 50+ years ago (in a book that was written in the late 1800's ☺). But it's real meaning has nothing to do with heaven or death. It's just another way of saying thet people -want- all manner of things, but they usually never get them because they're unwilling to do the things it takes to attain (or achieve) them. If you set in front of the TV and watch basketball games all day long, it won't make you one bit better at shooting hoops. No matter how much you dream of being an NBA superstar, you won't get there because you don't want to go out and actually shoot a few hoops.

Doug

Answer 5

A sane person who wants to die figures the balance on this side is too negative to bear. Most of us feel that way at sometime, or other.
I got over it by learning to accept the universal flow of life and to see myself in it, either here, or not here. Life could be gone in an instant. None of us, in normal circumstances, knows when that comes, and most people are afraid of going to the wrong place. In my philosophy, you make choices in life and the strictness of cause and effect takes care of the rest.

Answer 6

Well, it's kind of like going to the dentist. We want perfect teeth, but we don't like getting injected, drilled, & yanked. It's uncomfortable but we're happy that we look better and feel better.

I mean, no one really wants to "die" because dying isn't actually a pleasing thing, however we understand that we have to do it in order to get to Heaven unless you're an atheist and then you will have a completely different perspective.

Answer 7

Anyone that tries to take their own life would be locked up. According to the law we cannot even in danger our self.
This day and age of ours there are more and more people that seem to want to put an end to their life. They simple do not want to exist any more in this world. If any of these people that try to kill them self and do not succeed in doing it then they would be in lock up for an evaluation and would remain there till they felt there was no more threat to their self destruction.
All believers in God want to go to heaven and would not kill them self because that would be everlasting death in hell. Hell is a much worse place then in this life so if they do succeed in killing them self then they would wish they were alive in this world because it is not as terrible as hell. Who really wants to die? Only those that are depressed or unhappy with their life. There would be no other reason for wanting it.

Answer 8

God put me on earth for a reason but my time here will be less than a fraction of my total over all being. When God wishes me home, I will go without opposition. I know the next life will be SO much better than this one so in a way I am looking forward to dying. It doesn't matter what I want... I'm supossed to live my time here for God.

Answer 9

every living creature inherently has the drive to continue living--of course there are cases in which humans, being as psychologically developed as they are, make the decision to try and cancel out this drive, however it can never be completely removed with any amount of resolve. and of course, the 'selfish' nature of any living thing (the drive to live in order to help ensure the survival of the species as a whole) causes it to want to be in the healthiest or most desirable situations possible. humans are more advanced, and thus have taken this instinct to a higher level--they come up with ideals that are not only optimal for survival but for personal pleasure and enjoyment as well. thus it is true, because it is the nature of all living things to want to survive and to do so as well as possible. humans are just advanced to the stage where they can actually think about these things and try to make decisions for themselves, however the natural instincts can never be totally ruled out.

Answer 10

The way I see it, the only way to get to heaven is to die. I certainly don't want to die tomorrow, but eventually I do. As far as I'm concerned, heaven is way better than earth, but I want to stick around for a while to see how life turns out.