The Problem of Death

[ReapReason]

One day, you are going to die.

How do you honestly feel about Death?

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?

Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?

Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

 

[RedDuke50]

It would depend on what state I am in when I die. If I have just recieved my Last Rites then I would be quite happy to die for I would know I would go to Heaven. If I were going to die quickly, then I would only be afraid if I had commited a mortal sin (then I would be quite terrified). I think that it is unreasonable to be afraid of death if you know you’re going to Heaven or Purgatory but it would be reasonable if you think you are going to cease to exist or going to Hell.

We can’t stop death through science since we will all die someday. Believing in an after life doesn’t remove the inevitablity of death. It gives it a new meaning. is very reasonable due to the fact that it has been told by God to us that there is an after life.

 

[fred_conty]

One day, you are going to die.

How do you honestly feel about Death?

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?

Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?

Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

There are all sorts of ideas about what happens at death depending on one’s philosophical or religious beliefs.

The atheist, death is the end.
For some, death is the unknown.
For some it might be coming back as a butterfly or cochroach.
For others, various types of heaven, or hell.

For a Catholic, a judgement at death. If they are in the state of grace, face to face vision with God, which embraces them totally in estatic joy. For this state of grace was given to them while on earth by baptism, and made them a son/daughter of God, sharing right on earth in God’s life. And death means a fullness of being a child of God with God’s life in his soul.
So it is a child going to his Father’s house in the fullness of divine love forever.

On the other hand, if they are not in the state of grace, they lost their birthright as a
child of God, and are rejected as unfit.

This judgement at death happens for every human being. Only God can read the heart.

Noone will cease to exist for God does not error in creating. God does not do things for nothing. Suicide in the afterlife is impossible since the soul of the human is spirit, and a spirit is a complete stranger to bullet holes.

Just a few thoughts.

 

[DeepBlueSea]

One day, you are going to die.

How do you honestly feel about Death?

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?

Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?

Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

It’s not really an immediate threat to me, so thinking about it or feeling about it is not really my priority.

But I don’t feel like living forever. It is diminishing rate of satisfaction.

 

[JRKH]

One day, you are going to die.

Yup…

How do you honestly feel about Death?

My feelings are of no import. It is ordained that my corporeal body cease to function…

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?

Not sure what you mean by “degraded” but I don’t think it unreasonable to “fear death”…
Of course there are many sorts of fear…For instance one of the proverbs says…“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom”.

Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?

Neither science or religion will remove the “inevitability of (bodily) death” regardless of ones belief in an afterlife.

Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

I see no reason to accept this. In fact I think it rather foolish to “simply accept” this idea…

Peace
James

 

[meltzerboy]

One day, you are going to die.

How do you honestly feel about Death?

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?

Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?

Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

I think any of the approaches toward death that you mention is reasonable and dependent largely on one’s philosophical, spiritual, and moral convictions.

The Jewish perspective is to live each moment of life to the fullest, which means according to G-d’s Will for the constructive repair and improvement of oneself and others. By means of living this way, one shows love for G-d and His creation as well as profound appreciation for G-d’s gift of life.

 

[Trishie]

Death isn’t a problem but a fact.
Sure, we’re going to die.
Why is it degrading?

My Dad died two years ago today.
His memory is inspiring to all my siblings.
There was nothing degrading about the wonderful spirit of peace and kindness he showed right up until he lost consciousness.
My eldest brother said: “He showed us how to live. Now he is showing us how to die.” Not degrading, but a triumph of the human spirit despite pain and imminent death.

Um…I don’t see how we can remove the inevitably of death. Science is limited, and perhaps can prolong life for a long period, but not endlessly; and believing in God doesn’t remove physical death!

And if God exists, if there is an afterlife, believing there is not, or even believing, doesn’t change facts. After death you may have to face that “If God is, then God is” whether you believed or not.

From the unbeliever’s viewpoint, what difference does it make if in fact God and afterlife do not exist, and if the unbeliever is correct, what difference will it make to the believer.

If I do good, it’s not because I’m hanging out for an eternal reward, it’s because to do what is good and kind is what I choose to live. I do believe, but either way, am not scared of death. My only anxiety would be that my sons love me dearly and will be distressed when their dear Mum dies.

Your comments don’t shake me at all, nor, I would imagine, they would trouble many others who happen to believe in God and afterlife.

 

[GratefulFred]

One day, you are going to die.

How do you honestly feel about Death?

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?
Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?
Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

IF one does NOT believe in God; does not believe one has an immortal soul; if one does not believe that Jesus Christ is indeed the Living Son of God and therefore rejects Christ’s teachings, THEN the questions above could make sense.

For me, a Catholic, I believe that Death is the separation of the soul from the body. The soul lives on while, for a period of time, the body is dead. At some point the soul and body will be joined again never more to die. At that point, body and soul will either be in Heaven or Hell.

Do I feel degraded by the idea of Death? No. Not at all. Death happens to everyone. I am not LESS human because I know I will die.

Am I afraid of the idea of Death? Yes and no. I love my wife and family and I do not look forward to death before I feel I have completed my vow to love them all the days of my life. BUT, at the same time, it is God’s choice as to when my life will end. I do have a duty to do the best I can to delay that day, but God is in charge.

It is not reasonable to expect that we can remove the inevitability of death. It is not reasonable to think that at some point we will simply cease to exist. Christ taught us much better than that.

 

[po18guy]

How do you honestly feel about Death?

Facing it twice has reduced its frightfulness to inconsequential. Death is natural and, even better, is the door to God. For that reason, it should be embraced - but not one moment sooner than natural.

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?

Yes, if we fail to look beyond this life. In this supposed age of enlightenment, why is death such a fearful thing? 2,000 years ago, a teaching arose that forever changed mankind’s view of death. Death was factually defeated. Only if we ignore that teaching do we fear or degrade ourselves.

Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?

To submit to God’s revelation is our intended end. To attempt the impossible and conceited extension of a deteriorating life strikes me as simply foolish.

Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

As your body ages, why does your spirit feel no older? There is a clue there.

 

[jeannetherese]

My biggest concern about death revolves around those I will leave behind- I so want to help them.
Like Po18guy, I’ve already faced the likelihood of going home to God. When he calls me, I’m ready (but that doesn’t mean I’m sitting by the phone.) For now, I know that I’m here for a reason and I want to live that out as best I can.
His will be done.

 

[Poseidon]

Death is simply a fact of life. We just have to be happy with what we’ve got - a finite amount of time, and once we get over the fact that we’re not going to last forever we can then get on with our lives. That’s my view anyway!

 

[po18guy]

My biggest concern about death revolves around those I will leave behind- I so want to help them.
Like Po18guy, I’ve already faced the likelihood of going home to God. When he calls me, I’m ready (but that doesn’t mean I’m sitting by the phone.) For now, I know that I’m here for a reason and I want to live that out as best I can.
His will be done.

Life is a gift, and we treasure it and live it as fully as we can for as long as we are intended to. Yet, when death arrives, we are called to embrace that, as well. If we fear death, we also must fear life, for life is the only thing which permits death.

 

[Sair]

Death is simply a fact of life. We just have to be happy with what we’ve got - a finite amount of time, and once we get over the fact that we’re not going to last forever we can then get on with our lives. That’s my view anyway!

 

[Sair]

Death isn’t a problem but a fact.
Sure, we’re going to die.
Why is it degrading?

My Dad died two years ago today.
His memory is inspiring to all my siblings.
There was nothing degrading about the wonderful spirit of peace and kindness he showed right up until he lost consciousness.
My eldest brother said: “He showed us how to live. Now he is showing us how to die.” Not degrading, but a triumph of the human spirit despite pain and imminent death.

Um…I don’t see how we can remove the inevitably of death. Science is limited, and perhaps can prolong life for a long period, but not endlessly; and believing in God doesn’t remove physical death!

And if God exists, if there is an afterlife, believing there is not, or even believing, doesn’t change facts. After death you may have to face that “If God is, then God is” whether you believed or not.

From the unbeliever’s viewpoint, what difference does it make if in fact God and afterlife do not exist, and if the unbeliever is correct, what difference will it make to the believer.

If I do good, it’s not because I’m hanging out for an eternal reward, it’s because to do what is good and kind is what I choose to live. I do believe, but either way, am not scared of death. My only anxiety would be that my sons love me dearly and will be distressed when their dear Mum dies.

Your comments don’t shake me at all, nor, I would imagine, they would trouble many others who happen to believe in God and afterlife.

A beautifully balanced view, in my opinion. Death simply is, and perhaps the best we can hope for in this regard is to die peacefully.

I recall my Nan (my Mum’s mother) dying from cancer when I was 11. Mum was at her bedside when she died, and Mum came away from that experience declaring that she no longer feared death - because in her hour of death, my Nan seemed utterly peaceful, and ready to go.

The moment I made my peace with death was - perhaps ironically, as far as many on this forum are concerned - at a time when my Catholic faith had dwindled to almost nonexistence. Now that it is completely nonexistent, I still maintain the view that if there is any such being as a benevolent and all-knowing god, such a being will know and understand my motivations and will take into account the fact that I have endeavoured to lead a life devoted to “the good”, as far as I understand this concept. If there is no god and no afterlife - as I now suppose - then death is nothing more terrifying than the cessation of consciousness. As Mark Twain is supposed to have remarked (at least in words to this effect), nonexistence was of no concern to me before I was born; why should it be a matter of concern after I am dead? And if anything, the inevitability of death makes this life seem all the more significant, as the only chance we have to make anything of ourselves, to make an impact on the world - even if that is simply imparting a measure of wisdom, comfort and/or happiness to the people with whom we interact.

 

[Alberti_Devoveo]

One day, you are going to die.

True, despite all the medical advances we have had in the last 5,000+ years.

How do you honestly feel about Death?

I would rather not die before my children have children, but I am rather indifferent about it. I know I will die. I know I will be judged. I am doing all that I can to prevent going to Hell, but it is not for me to decide where I end up.

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?

Afraid? Yes. Degraded? No, why would anyone be degraded by the idea of death?

Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?

Death is a permanent feature of life, it is not possible to remove the inevitability. Even if we could map our brainwaves onto a computer, it does not mean that we will not die. Even Heaven and Hell do not remove death.

Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

I believe that it is less reasonable to accept cessation of existence. The fact that we are rational beings shows that we are more than just animals or robots, which would be the case were we to cease existing upon death.

 

[TimothyH]

One day, you are going to die.

How do you honestly feel about Death?

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?

Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?

Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

Christians do not believe that they will cease to exist, but that the nature of their existence changes at death.

-Tim-

 

[Robert_Sock]

*The Golden Key to Heaven
by Saint Anthony Mary Claret

The death of the just: Death will reach everyone, the good and the bad; but the destiny of each one is quite different. The just man sees himself in this valley of tears as a prisoner, serving a very hard term. He considers himself a slave in this world, suffering an extremely distressing servitude. He regards himself a sailor caught in a horrible storm. And as death means an end of his confinement, an end of his slavery, and is the port of his salvation, he ceases not to cry with David, “Woe is me that my sojourning is prolonged!. . .” (Ps. 119:5). He ceases not to ask with the Apostle, “. . . Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:24)*

 

[Andre1000]

Dead is fun, if you are in the state of grace.
So for me it is fun.

 

[exnihilo]

One day, you are going to die.

I believe so. I’d point out we know this from inductive reasoning.

How do you honestly feel about Death?

Death does not trouble me but I am trouble by the thought of ceasing to exist. What I mean is when I think about the possibility of not existing I am terrified. I believe in God and the immortality of the soul. But like any unpleasant thoughts when I think about the concept of ceasing to exist I’m greatly troubled.

I should add as a child I was equally bothered by immortality. I remember thinking about ‘world without end’ as a boy and being terrified. I thought I’d be horribly bored living forever. It is interesting the difference time makes.

Is it reasonable for us to be afraid or degraded by the idea of Death?

It is reasonable for us to fear pain, to fear ceasing to exist or to fear existing eternally in a state of pain. If death is the gateway to everlasting bliss then there is no reason to fear it. However given our state in the created world doubts about this are only natural and therefore it is reasonable to fear death.

Is it reasonable for us to attempt to remove the inevitability of Death from our lives (via science or religious belief in the after life)?

If it is inevitable we are not removing we are just postponing. If there is a soul then it may be immortal. If there is not a soul then immortality is impossible based on the belief that the Universe came into being and thus can cease to be.

Or is it more reasonable to simply accept the idea that we are going to cease to exist?

The most reasonable thing to do is try to figure out reality and whether we have a soul or not and whether there is a God or not.

 

[Qoeleth]

I suggest you read the first book of Cicero’s Tusculan Disputations, which deals comprehensively with this question.

Either with death, all sensation stops, and then it is of no concern (or, in fact, a good thing, since it removes pain)

OR, the soul lives on. Now, the state in which the soul lives on without the body must be better than the curent state.

Whether one is atomist, Stoic, Platonist, sceptic or Epicurean, death can only be viewed as a good or indifferent thing.