It's easy to say you don't fear death when you don't expect to die soon. Don't you think? The possible feeling of regret that can only be realized on a death bed. I find that thought to be a little unsettling.
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Death... What scares you about it?
- Thread starter XtheDeadPawn
- Start date
Actually, I think I fear all of that, but from the most relevant to the least relevant:
a) Fear of not accomplishing enough
b) Fear of not knowing (I'm an agnostic, so I cannot either deny or affirm the existence of an afterlife... I'm screwed)
c) Fear of making poor judgements... actually this one might not apply as I technically do not believe in any Maker.
I have another one: fear of not living true to myself (IOW, dying knowing I was a hypocrite or that I indulged too many expectations from people). Thankfully, I think I'm taking care of this now, so this might not be more a fear than it would be a reminder to myself.
That too. I do have a pretty dark side, and I have some evidence of it in my computer. But no one must know, I don't want anyone to ever know. If I have the chance while dying I might try to burn the computer or smash it into pieces, or bury it.
The problem in my case is that I rest too much in "life". But on the bright side, death might be the best rest ever...
I hope for the partial opposite. I don't really want to live after my 50s or 60s unless: I still have a very good health by then, I haven't been paralyzed or mingled by an accident, I really need to hang on for someone I care about, I still have things I want to do and haven't done yet.
I think I can do plenty in 20-30 years. Enough to feel accomplished. After that, I fear I will just be a drag to myself and to my loved ones.
I know a competent and successful M.D. who holds the opinion that the human heart is genetically preprogrammed for a certain individual number of beats. After that death ensues, if not earlier due to some other cause. In this light, fear seems to be a nonentity, and 'carpe diem' the best strategy.
The thing that scares me is how it can effect my family I leave behind. I just lost my Father without warning 4 months ago and I see what a huge blow it has been to our family.
I have tried to be prepared thru life insurance, savings etc just in case.
I have tried to be prepared thru life insurance, savings etc just in case.
slobake
resident ... something
When I was an atheist I took some comfort in this quote by Kurt Vonnegurt
"And I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look
around.
Lucky me, lucky mud"
Here is the link to the entire poem if you are interested:
Invalid Link Removed
I am pretty sure Vonnegurt is an atheist so I am not quite sure what to make of this poem. I guess that doesn't matter, I like the poem and that is enough.
"And I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look
around.
Lucky me, lucky mud"
Here is the link to the entire poem if you are interested:
Invalid Link Removed
I am pretty sure Vonnegurt is an atheist so I am not quite sure what to make of this poem. I guess that doesn't matter, I like the poem and that is enough.
I'm just afraid of leaving my wife and kids 3, 6 and 9. They are the only reasons that I choose to live.
In my opinion, you've illustrated the function of Consciousness of Death.
Lives are like giant sausages: When we're young the empty sausage skin stretches out in front of us over the horizon -- the end is out of sight.
The further along in your life, the more of the sausage you see. When you finally see it start tapering off in the distance you sit up in a cold sweat and go Holy crap!!
This is a good moment of dawning consciousness.
You say holy crap, cuz it occurs to you you've mostly filled the sausage behind full of crap.
All of a sudden it seems like a really good idea to try to fill the sausage ahead with something more holy -- or at least whole-y.
The fear of death is fear that the sausage we leave behind will be just a big dump.
The sooner we get to work filling it with more wholesome stuff, the better chance we have of a decent death.
Not afraid of death at all to be honest. My only issue is dealing with all the stuff that I'm going to miss once gone. But then again, you worry about that pre-death....who the hell knows what you're going to worry about, if anything at all, post-death..?
Death scares the hell out of me. No continue button to push. No starting over. We all get one chance, that's it. Perhaps the finality of life is why people tend to become more religious as they get old. All I want out of life is for my wife and daughter to have a happy life. If I have that feeling when I die, I will die a fulfilled, happy man. I try to live a compassionate life. I give money to the homeless, but not if they ask for it. I volunteer my time to The Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I try to treat others politely, with kindness and dignity. Life is too short to be full of angst and hate. Love your fellow man. For, we are all family in this house called Earth.
Unrepresented
Something Borderline Offensive
Munjibunga said:
I don't know if this literally counts as a headhunting opportunity, or if it falls more under devil's advocate.ShredderMaximus said:
LOL!!
2x here. I don't know about death, but I've gotten the hell/damnation/brimstone/eternal torture out of the way already with teh 1st marraige!
It's not being dead that concerns me, it's the dying part. When it's my time I want to just go, massive heart attack, mega-stroke, hit by lightning, doesn't matter as long as it's quick. Dying of MS or a lingering cancer or some other degenerative disease is what scares the carp out of me. The idea of being trapped in a failing body with a sharp mind is the stuff of nightmares for me. I'm also not too enthusiastic about losing my marbles either. I don't want someone to have to change my diapers or change my feeding tube, not know who my wife is, etc.
So death? No worries. Manner of dying? Yeah, I have some concerns.
I'm with you buddy. Most of my relatives (male) have died from a massive heart attack, etc. The bad part is now that we have Crestor, Diovan, etc. our life expectancy has gone up greatly and the bad ones can kick in.
I had an uncle (PHD chemistry) that wore down from 220 lbs (6'4")to 88 lbs. at his death from ALS. He did not want to die that way.
I'm not afraid of death. I just don't want my family to see me go through it.
P.S. Check your prostates guys. Early detection is the key!!!
Marial said:
My guidence consuler has ALS. This is pretty much what happens to you when you have it.
I met with him to do my schedule for next year. He seems to be doing all right but you can definately see the difference.
I think about the afterlife from time to time. It freaks me out, the idea of eternity and being in a state of x or y for the rest of time.
