Why do people fear death?

I think it's different for everyone.  I believe it is a transition to the spiritual world.  I guess my main worry is for my loved ones, young daughter.  Of course they will all be fine.

People fear death if they have been taught to fear death and they believe those teachings.

As for me, death itself does not trouble me, I am looking forward to it. I've had a marvelous life and have experienced everything I could hope to, including being loved and giving love in return.  I do not believe that death is a punishment at all, merely a happy skip and jump through another doorway and an opportunity to move forward.

Honestly, sometimes I wish I had a fast moving cancer, and not this damn RCC that could drag out for years and years.

I do fear a long and languishing illusion of illness that robs a person of vitality and keeps them in a never ending state of coughing, bleeding, pain, fatigue and fuzzy thinking.    More than that I fear what a long term illness could do to my daughters, my caregivers - and I would prefer to free them from it. 

I think our western society tends to brush it under the rug and yet birth and death are defined from our outset. We tend not to dwell on death yet it creeps nearer with every second of a ticking clock.

I did fear death ( and am not comfortable with it even now ) but i have great belief in God and that life is eternal. We just dont know how we will continue.

Everyone dies, sooner or later reagrdless of upbringing or diet, etc. IN the west the life expectancy is up to 80 years plus. IN parts of Africa, people are lucky to average 50. Age and life are very subjective, there is no guarantee for anyone, and yes it seems unfair. If you have lived 30, 40 or 50 full years in this World, surely thats better than 80 less full years ( and there are many people like that ).

I do have regrets but I cannt turn the clock back but ihave lived life in the fast lane ( perhaps a regret ) and i may get a few more rounds yet. People fear death in there 80's yet they must know that there time is running low and yet i knew a young man who died in his 20's and had no fear, almost as if he had lived life before.

tony

On Jun 06, 2011 1:05 AM tabekat wrote:

People fear death if they have been taught to fear death and they believe those teachings.

As for me, death itself does not trouble me, I am looking forward to it. I've had a marvelous life and have experienced everything I could hope to, including being loved and giving love in return.  I do not believe that death is a punishment at all, merely a happy skip and jump through another doorway and an opportunity to move forward.

Honestly, sometimes I wish I had a fast moving cancer, and not this damn RCC that could drag out for years and years.

I do fear a long and languishing illusion of illness that robs a person of vitality and keeps them in a never ending state of coughing, bleeding, pain, fatigue and fuzzy thinking.    More than that I fear what a long term illness could do to my daughters, my caregivers - and I would prefer to free them from it. 

Dear Tabekat,

How do you look forwad to death ?, is it a belief system or faith or your condition that makes you feel this way. My Mother is a cancer survivor, she got the all clear last year at age 87. My father died at 84 from dementia brought about ny ECT. Im 50 and facing colon cancer. I have lived alot in the fast lane, perhaps my youth has cought up with me at last. I would be interested to hear your thoughts

God bless

tony

I think the biggest thing is leaving loved ones and not being able to witness the precious moments we anticipate being there for...marriage, birth of grandchildren. I don't think it's fearing death, but it's WISHING to be present. We all die and it is the circle of life. I am very fortunate that I have a loving family where we don't want to be anywhere else but PRESENT and living life. 

Yes, we all die and many have gone before us. We did did not fear being born, at least i cannot recall

tony

Just my own point of view. I do not fear what happens after we die. I believe in GOD and an afterlife.  It's the "going" part that I fear.  I work in a hospital and have worked in a nursing home and have seen way too much suffering. In this day and age I don't feel that anyone should suffer through anything.  To die in our sleep is probably everyones wish and would be ideal. When my time comes my prayer is to  go to sleep and "wake up dead" in a place without pain and suffering. Only peace and love.  Now that to me is Heaven.

Thank you - such an interesting question.  I do not fear death at all.  I know there is life after this, I have seen it.  Here's what I do fear.  Being left behind without the love of my life.  So do I live in fear that cancer will take my husband away from me?  Yes - but not because I don't absolutely know that he would be in a beautiful place and I would see him again.  Because I am afraid of the excruciating emotional pain of being here in this life without him. 

He doesn't fear death either, but he is filled with fear of leaving me and our children behind, lonely and lost without him.  So for us - it's not death we fear.  It's the pain felt by those left behind. 

Much love ~ GDW

I debated for several days about responding to this discussion before I decided "oh what the heck..."

I don't fear death.  

I am a happy atheist (I live by a strong personal moral ethical code) and while I think it would be nice to come back in another form, I think that when we die we die.  I don't believe we go anywhere or become something else.  I think dying will be like losing conscious - things just fade to black.

I think many people fear the unknown which is what death represents for many.  I think some fear leaving others behind - who wants to leave loved ones?  Some worry that they have not finished what they should finish.  Some fear the pain/suffering.  I think (personal opinion) that religion has frightened people by the concept of heaven/hell and being judged.  

My only concern about dying is knowing that my kids will probably give away 90% of my belongings to Goodwill or sell them without a 2nd thought about their importance to me.  I know that this may sound silly (I will be dead after all) but I want what meant something to me to mean something to them as well.  Not realistic to be sure but I think that discarding my belongings will be a form of discarding me.  Does that make sense to anyone else?

But fear death...no...I don't fear death.  

I have a little sign by my desk  "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand - chocolate covered strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WoooHoooo - what a ride!"