Why are the religious so afraid of death?

[naomi24]

Without the concept that by worshiping an invisible man in the sky, people can somehow avoid the inevitable, religion would be surplus to requirements.

We're all going to die eventually, we won't know anything about it, so what's the problem?

[Elderman]

Yes,to choose the right religion intelligently will require some personal study on your part. God has provided his Word, the Bible, which outlines right religion. Study the Bible. Learn its principles. Prove what is false and reject it. Prove what is true and hold it fast. “Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is right.” Christians have but “one faith.” Through a diligent study and application of the Bible, you will find that one.(1 Thess. 5:21)

[bondgirl007]

god hasnt provided nothing in the bible, as know one actually can prove who wrote it

[naomi24]

Elderman // Study the Bible. Learn its principles. Prove what is false and reject it. Prove what is true and hold it fast.//

Much of the bible can be proven false and nothing it contains authenticates religious belief. That said, if doubt is cast upon the veracity of any part of any book, as it certainly is in the case of the bible (and incidentally, the koran too), then without positive evidence to the contrary, the whole must be considered unsound. By picking and choosing, the only one you're fooling is yourself.

//to choose the right religion intelligently will require some personal study on your part//

I've studied the books and having found nothing convincing in them, it seems to me that your advice to 'choose the right religion intelligently' is something of an oxymoron.

[joko]

it seems its often more about the death of loved ones rather than their own death...

the thought of a beloved rotting in the ground and thats that... if they die they wont even know about it...

[bondgirl007]

agreed joko

[Ankou]

true joko. i have been known to tell me kiddywinks that lola has gone to hamster heaven. and they wonder why hamster heaven would be a hole beside the shed, but thats just how it is.

[Elderman]

Yes ,the Bible say “Let them be. Blind guides is what they are.” discussion with such hostile antagonists was pointless, of benefit to no one, and would lead only to a fruitless argument. (Matthew 7:6)

[jomifl]

'to choose the right religion intelligently' has anyone spotted the error?

[naomi24]

Jom // 'to choose the right religion intelligently' has anyone spotted the error? //

//it seems to me that your advice to 'choose the right religion intelligently' is something of an oxymoron. //

Sure have.

[Nadis]

Perhaps the religious are more afraid of being just like everyone else when death stares them in the face, no heirs or graces, no fluffy white clouds to float away on, no big bloke in the sky to welcome them.

[keyplus90]

No problem there as far as I can think of. Beliving in death is hereafter is part of my faith. We believe that death is not the end but the beginning so why be afraid.

[RATTER15]

Keyplus, well at least you aren't going to be disappointed.

[tonywiltshire]

Naomi, You say, “attempting to avoid death is the whole basis of religion”.
This is not true I believe there is a God and I know I am going to die.
Even if we are wrong and here is no God what harm have we done?

[ludwig]

Can we agree on what 'death' means? To most of us it means the end of life - oblivion.

It doesn't mean a transition phase after which you carry on in another form somewhere else, freed from the shackles of your mortal body.

It's the first one that religion is all about avoiding. That's why they redefine it to have the second meaning.

[Ankou]

technically, death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. to me that means that all life force has gone - some argue that a part of us lives on (in spirit) or whatever, but i don't share that belief.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, that's the whole point. You're not afraid because you believe what your religion tells you - that you're not really going to die. Without that, you might think differently because you'd have to accept that you were probably facing oblivion.

Tony, of course you know your body is going to die, but if you believe in a God then I suspect you're hoping for an afterlife. No?

As for what harm does faith do, where do you want me to start?

[Ankou]

well you could start with tony, whats he done ?

[sandyRoe]

It's not the being dead that's frightening, as I know a place in Heaven awaits me. It's the transition that I don't find very appealing.

[Ankou]

that split second before the bus hits sandy ?

[sandyRoe]

When my past life flashes in front of my eyes. I'll feel I still haven't done all that I should have.