Discussions
Do you fear death? Should people discuss death?
Posted by footiam • 11/01/07 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: death
Do you think death should be feared and talking about should be frowned? Some of my friends think that death is pessimistic and well, my idea could be found here steptpg.blogspot.com/2007/10/contemplating-death.html
User Comments
-
maybe a better question is 'do we fear life'
iove talking about death...very comfortable with it -
I don't think I fear death...it's going to happen. As far as talking about it, it does make some people uncomfortable but it's a fact of life. At some point (if given the chance), we will all have to talk about death and what we want for those we will leave behind. -
I don't fear death, I'm more afraid of losing others. -
We buried my Grandad yesterday and he lived life to the full, if he had a heart attack he would just say 'ive had one off them before its nothing new'
He was active up until his death, he beat 4 different types of cancer over the course of the last 2 years and died from a heart attack.
He never feared death, why should we-
I'm sorry to hear that crkian...he sounded like a brave and strong man...alot like my Grandad.
-
Hi Chris
It sounds like you're in the right headspace about your grandad.
Keep well, to you and yours.
Tony -
78 and lived everyday like he was 18, as mentioned yesterday he had 6 children , 14 grand children and 16 great grandchildren at last count, and if we could all could be like him as a father/mother we couldnt go far wrong.
-
sounds wonderful...could he still beat you at arm wretling at 73?
-
Not a bad thing but I respected him until his death and I wouldnt dare argue with him, he was a commanding man, even my kids listened to him
-
Condolences! -
Crkian, I'm sorry for your loss. Don't morn the loss though, celebrate his life instead.
-
-
Inspirational stuff Chris - thanks for sharing.
We are all one day closer to death or some would argue, one day closer to the beginning?
Us flowers, whatever you believe, try n make the most of each day while we still can. -
I guess I would fear the "how" I die, but not the afterlife. -
death fears me,
as well it should -
Sometimes, we think we do not fear death but then we are healthy and strong at the moment. Wait till it is at the doorstep!
-
No, I don't fear it at all,
aside from the physical bit
leading up to it, which might
include pain, etc. But the
actual departure from the
body I rather look forward
to. It can be a joyous
experience, a return to a
state that is far more
familiar to us than this
human experience. I also
studied on how to guide
others through the death
transition:
jayapurrs.blogspot.com/2007/09/death-dreamwalking.html
Plus, I've got my tombstone
all planned out as well:
jayapurrs.blogspot.com/2007/10/jayas-tombstone.html
And yes, I think it SHOULD
be talked about more than
it is. We, at least we here
in the United States, have
pushed death into a closet,
tried to keep it hidden
away as if it doesn't happen.
It used to be much more a
natural part of life... as
it should be.
Sorry to hear about your loss,
Chris, but it sounds like your
Grandad really LIVED while he
was here! Good for him, and
what a wonderful example for
his family to have had for so
long. -
As a Medium I believe most people fear not being remembered or not doing all the things they want too I know some people who have faced death with a deep knowing they had done what they needed too and were able to be a peace with passing .......its the living most people dont get right not the dying
guidetolifeblog.com-
How many hours does it take a person to actually DIE...? I mean, when does all mortal processes end? -
"It's the living most people dont get right not the dying." No truer words.
-
-
No, I do not fear death, but I do fear the way I may die. I do not want to die a horrible death at all.
But, yes, we should talk about death because we are pretty much dead the day we are born and death is apart of life.
We all go through cycles and death is apart of our living status.-
I tend to agree with you. Thanks for your views
-
-
-
That's nice!
-
-
I am not afraid to die... Like it has been mentioned before, the thought of losing my husband, children or any other family member in death makes my heart sick... BUT, it happens to all of us.. I can only hope to be the first one to go... so I would not have to experience the loss
-
experiencing loss is an essential part of our humanness in my opinion and the fact is that most everyone will at some time have the experience of losing someone close. but as horrible as grief is it is also rewarding in a way I can't really articulate. my partner of ten years died about two years ago and I speak from experience.
-
-
i always thought i didn't fear death... i found a body when I was very about 12 floating in the surf. I had nightnmares for a few years. Then for about 25 years I read books on the Spirit, all Religions and Philosophy..I was so clear...then my best friend died. Then I wssn't sure if i was scared of death or loss. Then my son died. I went out of my body for 8 hours and travelled with him through various states and phases beyond the known human environment. I was very shocked for about 3 days. but it made me momentarily more compassionate for everyone, and confident that something lives on. So i felt maybe I'm ok about it...then a few weeks ago I got caught in a rip in the surf...ohhhhrrr. it was a bit scary.
I think it's fear of the unknown and fear of loss of the familiar and loved ones. I like paul the apostles statement...I no longer live but everyday I die in Christ (there are various translations).
The Indian sage Nisagadatta Maharaj had a marvelous view on it...we go to what we believe (that's the edited cut down bulleted point version), not many people that know of him are aware that he said that because he was more Jnana and Advaita based.
But now I'm just working on my emotions...I got very angry this morning and 'i spat my dummy' twice with my kids...i even made an object airborne..so I'm off for acupunture.-
typo ...very young about 12
-
That is very cool. I believe you. Someone should tell our scientist that it is because we have a "spirit"
That is why people can see doctors operating on them while they are having the out of body experience. How else can anyone explain that? -
i don't think it matters what scientists think because all the science in the world won't make a difference when it's time to move on. However, science has many brilliant thinkers that are interested in Quantum Physics, there were books written sabout 20 years back called "The Tao of Physics" by Fritjof Capra thast drew parallels between physics and mysticism, there are a stack of books like that now. and no doubt the scientists have been playing with technology for a a long time, and also playing around with remote viewing, time travel and other interesting approaches to explore other realities. Limited thought is our enemy.
And as far as I can see, this doesn't conflict with traditional religion but in a way it confirms the possibility of there being miracles and wonders of saints, sages and other interesting beings.
I guess if the New York Times runs a front page article that says "Yes, it's confirmed, there IS life after death"...maybe then it might be believable. -
I loved Capra and other books like that. To me the very idea of death is insane. Looking at the quantum level, what could one possibly say about death, and further, about what one thinks he is. My ideas about myself are completely meaningless, as much as what you said about what the scientist thinks. Yet they sure shape my experience and daily life. That is why I need and want to take responsibility for my mind; to change my mind and leave this nuthouse forever. -
and what if you were creating the nuthouse yourself?
-
Exactly. That is the only possibility for leaving it. How could I awake from someone else's dream or invention?
-
and who is the dreamer
-
I point to my own nose, and ask for help. It's a course in miracles...
-
and if you had no nose?
-
You got my point. In fact, my nose is huge...
-
Tony, I am so sorry to hear that you lost your son.. how agonizing that must have been for you and your family... I am reminded of how important it is to let my loved ones know they are loved... Kat
-
-
I think fear of the unknown is natural. It applies to all things, death included. I think it's important to talk about it. It's such a natural part of life that it shouldn't be swept under the rug and ignored. I too think it's important to have proper state of mind when you die so you can "go to what we believe". It shouldn't be frowned upon at all.-
yes i agree on the state of mind..Alan Watts ...the wisdom of Insecurity, Way of Zen died in a room bouncing balloons around...he ws a former Anglican minister...had 7 wives throughout his life, they all came to his funeral...
-
It was also interesting the way Timothy Leary prepared for his death. I don't remember the details, but it was an "occasion" complete with proper music and ambience to his liking. I've had patients who were very spiritual, and with the help of their loved ones, prepared diligently for the transition from life to death. It's a very beautiful thing to observe.
-
evry moment is preparation for death
-
-
Talking about death is like trying to tune a bag pipe.
Never crosses my mind. And, I'm 81, and came out of retirement because I'm bored.-
People who are well and healthy do not think of death sometimes.
-
-
I'm not afraid of death, I'm afraid of HOW I'll die. I hope not too painfully or by murder. -
I fear ceasing to exist. -
You can't die. Just the body dies. We all have a spirit in us. That is why sometimes you may get a feeling like you are living "in a body" I got that feeling plenty of times in my life.
It is probably why people have those near-death experiences. The spirit probably gets fooled into thinking the body is dead. When it is not, it comes back in. Then the out of body experience ends. -
Why should I fear death. No one ever told me what death is. Is there death at all? Everyone says yes, but when I ask what it is, no one wants to tell.
-
I do not fear death, I welcome it. -
I must admit that I fear death. I have had several heart attacks and go to sleep wondering if I will wake up tomorrow. That actual death doesn't scare me (been there done that), it's the thought of being gone and not seeing my kids grow or the other things I treasure. -
I don't fear death. Not in the "traditional" sense. I hope it doesn't happen to me for many years still, but death is a part of who we are. I can only hope that it's not too painful;)
It is part of life. Period. Why fear it?-
A part of life? How can there be life, if there is death? The question is what is death. No one knows.
Dead silence.
There is no death, but innumerable death worshipers. -
There is the fear of the pain of death!
-
-
We are always worshiping things that are not there I suppose. Since no one knows about death, what do we really know, I wonder.
-
I believe our spirits are eternal and this belief is of great comfort to me when thinking of loved ones passed on. I don't fear death, though I do fear some means of dying
-
We are all afraid of pain, don't we"
-
actually I was thinking more of being stuck in a medical technology kind of limbo a la Terry Schiavo for a long, long time before being allowed to decently pass on. But yes, I suspect that most if not all of us fear pain.
-
my son doesn't...when he broke his hand the doc had to pull it back into place...the doctor thought my son was crazy because he didn't even whince...but yes..the rest of us feel it
-
-
There are two things certain in life, being born and dying. Dress it up any way you like, ask any question you like, but those two certainties are the only two which are immovable. Having achieved one, and been too close to the other for comfort (at the age of 32)... I can say, no I don't fear death and I feel that I've achieved all I wanted to. As someone else pointed out, more people have problems with the living thing than dying. Living we have control over, dying... um, pretty much if it's your turn to go, then away you go... nothing you can do about it.
-
there are handful of individuals that never died...we don't hear about it much, and no-one wants to believe it, it doesn't fit with peoples world view
-
-
I fear dying young, because there are many things I want to get the chance to do in life. -
Who I wonder never die?
-
The clinically insane.
How long do you think you could live for before the stresses of everyday life drove you nuts? I think our life spans are the length they are because our minds could not take it if we lived considerably longer. I think immortality would do my head in.
-
-
I don't fear death and actually that is what keeps me going, thinking that there is an end -
That's very optimistic. Some people can't go on if they think of death.
-
sounds like I'm the youngest member on-board! 23 and thinking of death seriously
How knows when death will befall on us, it could be in 23 or 32 or 82.... -
I do not fear death , nor feel uncomfortable talking about it.
What I fear the most , are the memories from a not so far , fortunately short, time period when I really wanted to die and considered death as the ultimate solution to my problems.
It is amazing how depression can transform a person normally having an positive and highly optimistic view on life to a total mess , especially while passing through that ordeal for the first time and (falsely) being sure that it won't pass away...
I can't believe now , how distorted and painful my thoughts/emotions where back then....
Life is beautiful and amazing , even during the worst of problems , we must keep on living enjoying it to the fullest possible extend...
And as for death sooner or later it will naturally occur - no one no matter how rich or powerful on this planet had managed to escape it! :-)
My best wishes to everyone!-
Agree with you, half of the people think death as the ultimate solution for problems. I remember a saying(came across it in a book) "One who is prepared to die is the one most prepared to live"
-
Glad to know that you get through a painful period but yes, death will not solve a problem. It starts a problem for the living.
-
-
actually I think it would be more accurate to say most of the time that it starts a Process for the living. Understanding that grief is a process is something you only learn from experience. imho
-
mmm... perhaps... afterall, we have seen how people die, but we haven't see what is there after.
-
-
It happens to all of us. -
Personally, I'm an atheist, so I don't have views on the afterlife, though I certainly respect those that do. Faith is a beautiful thing.
As far as fearing death, like others, I may fear the pain that possibly accompanies the experience, but not the eventuality of the experience itself.
And yes, I believe we should talk about anything and everything, death included. -
I don't fear it, but I ABHOR the thought of leaving this life of mine!
Isn't it strange how some words really look misspelled in caps? ABHOR/abhor. -
i believe the fear of death is very conditional - one would fear death if he were young and healthy, but one who has been battling terminal illness for several years would probably have accepted death. i must admit that as a young man, i find the idea of death very unfavorable, for I feel that there is so much more to the world I need to experience. great topic footiam! -
A few last lines of famous people before their death...
I know you have come to kill me. Shoot coward, you are only going to kill a man.
Facing his assassin, Mario Teran, a Bolivian soldier.
By - Ernesto "Che" Guevara, d. October 9, 1967
Et tu, Brute?
Assassinated.
By - Gaius Julius Caesar, Roman Emperor, d. 44 BC
Friends applaud, the comedy is finished.
By - Ludwig van Beethoven, composer, d. March 26, 1827
Now I shall go to sleep. Goodnight.
By - Lord George Byron, writer, d. 1824
That was a great game of golf, fellers.
By - Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby, singer / actor, d. October 14, 1977
I am not the least afraid to die.
By - Charles Darwin, d. April 19, 1882
My God. What's happened?
By - Diana (Spencer), Princess of Wales, d. August 31, 1997
To read the rest of it check here:
www.mylastlines.com/vault/index.php?topic=88.0
PS. You can also write, select a future date and lock your last lines here ..-
thanks for these great lines!
-
-
I absolutely LOVE the very first comment!!!-
You are a very smart girl, dpasquella and courageous too!
-
-
then how about life after death-
Confucius say, if you can't even handle your life on earth, why worry then about life hereafter?
If you live right, everything should be all right.
If you live right to have a good afterlife, then God bless you.
-
-
We all live out of constant fear - like acoustic said - in our lifetime we develop attachment and likeness and love for lot of things and then we start living in fear - fear of loss of our daily bread, fear of loss of our family, friends, our good health, our status everything and finally the fear of death.
And as such we always strive to remain at the constant level with all out attachments - friends, family, health, status etc.
The fear of death is overpowering as it means an end to all the constancy we enjoy. Its only through a high level of awareness which can help us realize and understand the illusion we live within where the mind builds a world around everyone. I will want to discuss this alongwith other subject with all of you here or at my blog.
Also the fear of death has an interesting contribution to all religions - many of which got strong foundations in this context - the religious institutions realized this fear long back and spread their net accordingly to catch and convert people by propounding baseless theories - be it resurrection or judgment or re-incarnation. But that is another subject
More on this subject at: www.writtenvoice.com/the-foundation-of-all-religions/ -
Because I finally realized that there is no "god" or "Jesus" and also no heaven or hell, I am no longer afraid of death. As writer Laurence Crews puts it: "When we die, we revert to the state we were in before we were born."
Before I shook off the bonds of religion, I lived in constant fear of death.
Kathryn-
so nicely said
-
You are marvellous, Kathryn!
-
I wouldn't trust my afterlife concepts at a guy named Laurence, it would make the passage thru the Tunnel of Light a great deal less memorable
Plus: there's absolutely no way to revert to the state of being before we are born. The past is past, the future unknown and Death is the only certainty.
Replus: if Death wasn't frightful, why do we always resent it? kicking and screaming against the tide, unable to accept it in others, less on ourselves. Human or animal, plant or microbes. What does it has to do with religion or it's absence?
Whatever we are and comes after has nothing to do with our philosophical stances or beliefs, either a cohesive mass of living or it's dispersed debris, we are no less than a flicker, a mote, a blip, a drop in the sea where the spirit wades in joyous innocense.
I fear Death every second, it makes the Living a more meaningful affair.
-
-
Again you can overcome that also - the fear of pain draws reference from our mind - just ignore it and take death as a doorway to something unknown and exciting...
-
there is a life after death. don't you think so?
-
I have no fear in death. From dust we were born and dust we shall return. I have yet to meet one who doesn't discuss death, a natural cycle of life. It happens all around us.
A more profound question is:
What do you think happens when we leave our mortal bodies?-
GlobalGirl, we must be like minded because that is what I wrote way up the thread chain..
-
I really wonder. Who can tell I wonder.
-
-
Why should we Fear Death...Maybe there is better life after death... -
there is no death.
there is a lost of biology.
nothing more.
our existence remains.
our accountability remains, too. -
I believe death is just another part of life. It happens, and you go on to the next thing.-
Interesting views on death. Perhaps we aren't afraid of death the next great adventure, but the transition to the other side?
-
Death - the great equalizer! lol
-
-
PARDON????-
ohhhh death not deaf. sorry.
-
-
Sometimes, we do think too much about death and forget to live!
-
Gotta Smell those flowers while we still can but assuming the premise of ' We are spiritual beings having a human existance' - NOT the other way around maybe its not to be feared....
(Bwwwaa aaa aaa- evil laugh)
Group hug, anyone? -
I have fear of things that can cause death (i.e., "being eaten alive", etc.), but I'm not scared of being dead. My religious beliefs actually give me reason to look forward to the after-life.
Besides, I have to give public speeches nearly every week in my job, and folks rank that as scarier than death in many polls. For the record, I'm not scared of that either.
Know what does scare me though? Giant spiders.-
Yah! I hate getting up in front of people.
I wonder if that's the reason for some of these heart attacks.
Hmmm...
-
-
I don't fear death, I've been there and back-
So people can return from death!
-
-
Thinking of death makes "present" more meaningful and my best comes out. -
I think it would be a good thing to be dead - It's the "dying" part that freaks me out.
-
To live is to die a slow death. -
Life's a bitch and then you die. Boohoo. -
The End - GAME OVER MAN!!!
-
I don't fear death itself, but what scares me is how and all the people I will have left behind.-
don't worry, they will die too.
-
I just hope there's a To Be Continued after the credits roll.
But really...how much better could the after life be? lol
No Dr. Pepper...no Pizza!
What a rip off! lol J/K
-
What do you mean? After your life, people can still enjoy Dr. Pepper and Pizza.
-
True Morgantj!
I hope so Phoenix!
It would suck if we just disappeared in to nothingness.
I like to subscribe to the idea that souls, much like energy, can not be created or destroyed...hence, the soul moves on from one existance to another. -
phoenix007, I definitely do believe that their won't be a "you" to experience that there is or isn't a "nothingness."
-
So, what do you believe happens?
-
The "you" ceases to be, and the makeup of your body is recycled back into nature. Some people simply say, "worm food."
-
-
No, I do not. It's going to happen anyway so why worry?
Talk about it..well you can but why bother. I myself like to talk about "living." I'll worry about kicking the bucket when that time comes.
Dora Renee' Wilkerson
bricoreandfamily.blogspot.com/-
Good idea!
-
-
It's best to talk about death, once someone has actually died. -
I don't fear death & have found that if you don't fear death, you needn't fear anything, really. It's very liberating.-
That's great news!
-
-
When I recall my bad deeds I fear death and when I am reminded of God's mercy and forgiveness I start waiting for death. I want to remain in betwen hope and fear.
When hope overcomes fear I am happy waiting for it.
I think we should discuss death for it is a reality that we can't escape, and when we think about death we also start thinking life and its purpose and also the life after death, Judgement day Paradise, Hell etc.-
is all fake... death is indeed a reality we can't escape, however, heaven and hell are no part of that reality.
-
-
Yea,I knew u were the one who bumped this thread. -
I still fear death,but I really can't talk about it because I'm trying to stay focused on my goals. I went through hell last week in nashville,and I'm just gonna have to figure that stuff out later on.
Remember I'm a MAMA on a MISSION!!!!!
2 B continued- -
I am afraid of dying because i would not be able to get hold of the next Celtic album releases.i know i would be turning in my grave if i learn that the latest Enya cd is out there and I haven't bought it. -
Silly,sillly silly boy
-
I have a horrible horrible fear of death. However, I think it should be talked about! Talking about DEATH helps people to discover how they should LIVE!
-
When we're thinking about death, it's not really death we're thinking about. It's our idea of death, what we imagine death to be. The fear comes from our thoughts, we're making ourselves afraid. So the way to overcome this fear is to realize that you yourself are creating it and that you have the power to continue or stop. -
Quite true, my fear is truly not of death. For when you die you can't be afraid or feel anything. Your dead. The fear for me rather than coming from death, comes from a lack of life. If that makes sense. While alive, it is quite rational to despair about the inevitability of your fate. Most people don't want the beauty of life to have to come to an end.
-
I have always had a fascination with death, I welcome it -
I Fear Death On Moments When Life Seems Beautiful! Suddenly Then, Breathing Is An Urgency! -
Why fear it...it's gonna happen!
No matter how many, sit ups you do or how much weight you lose or how many organic begetables you eat....
IT"S GONNA HAPPEN so forgetaboutit! -
Death is an awakening unto another consciousness, then so as we were born so do we die.-
That's so profound!
-
-
We dont talk about it here. But my hubby's grandmother had her funeral planned out for like 50 years. She died when she was 91 at the begining of the year. She had her songs and who she wanted to speak all of it planned out. -
I'm only 21 years old but have already had several brushes with death. I've been in a high-speed car accident (75 MPH near a cliff, saved pretty much by the will of God, a car too low to the ground to flip not only did but did so directly parallel to the roadway, 25 degrees form its original trajectory), an airplane during an unexpected tornado in an area that doesn't normally get them (ATL), a run-in with a black bear and probably other things I don't even remember any more. It makes you grow up. I'm at peace with it. -
people "fear" to talk about death cuz of the 'unknown' world associated with it.
some say its awakening.some says its gateway to heaven or hell
.....
I think the feeling of being in a near death situation makes us introspect and retrospect about life. Ya know what ..it makes us more compassionate towards life. ( A bus accident changed mine)
It makes us kinda strong in our belief and outlook on life and yeah we pity those who fight over religion and other shits. cuz. that kinda look so immature.
__
November is when I lost one of my best buddies and I wrote a letter to my now dead friend and its on my blog.
:'(
*sob *sob
Add Your Comment
Login to leave a message.
