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?

[naomi24]

DT, it's there - it's Jomifl's question - fourth one down. I don't understand what you mean about your real name.

[tonywiltshire]

I really am harmless and C of E, I think you can be both.

[Ankou]

tony, have you ever squished any poor defenceless harmless creatures ?

and was it for religious reasons ?

[jomifl]

Naomi..I think DT was apologising for giving you 2 eyes.

[DTCwordfan]

people spelling my real name wrong....

My view to the thread here is that many religious people have an issue in managing change and find it hard to rationalise upheavals in their life, needing the stability of their religion to comfort them, an adult blankie in many ways.

Death represents such upheaval and change for them.......and they are scared witless about what it means as to their perceived afterlife or that they are just reduced to Carbon, Phosphorous, H2O, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Calcium and a few other elements.

[Ankou]

dt, of the er ...... 3 religious people on this thread, none of them have said that have they ?

[tonywiltshire]

Ankou, probably but there would not have been a religious reason that I was aware of.

[jomifl]

DT, I think they are usually oxidised rather than reduced, but that is just me trying to be precise in order to avoid further confusing already confused.

[DTCwordfan]

Not that I have seen in the posts, ankou, put in the words I used. Within the CoE and RC, I think that the Church has huge issues handling change and always has through history, after their philosophy "matured" - death is one more unexplainable which they get tweaked about at a Church level and as individuals as it represents the biggest "change" they can undergo along with conception.....

[DTCwordfan]

lol, jomifil, oxidised, corroded, deteriorated, rotted - whatever goes on six feet under, one ends up as worm food.

[Ankou]

but if death and an afterlife, sitting on the clouds with angels playing harps with god doing some happy clappy sing-song, is the underpin of their belief system, why should they change ?

the generalisation that people fear death applies to humans across the globe generally. even, and i'll say this one more time before i blow my whistle, even if they do (or don't) think some beardy bloke is going to give em a great big sky hug.

[DTCwordfan]

I think that is true, ankou, fear of the unknown and I also put it to fear of change too. I think we are "violently" agreeing on this, perhaps it is definition.....

[naomi24]

Tony, I'm sorry I didn't see your posts. Ah, CofE. So I presume you do believe in an afterlife.

Right, onwards. With all due respect, Tony, I understand what you're saying completely, but if you look at it rationally it's difficult to concede that you're harmless when you defend a doctrine that isn't. No, religion didn't start the last two world wars, but it's fundamentally responsible for the troubles in the middle east which in recent years have affected much of the rest of the world; it must bear some considerable responsibility for the spread of Aids in Africa, for prejudice against gays, and for continuing poverty in other countries; in many instances it is directly responsible for the subjugation of women, and in all instances it is responsible for the indoctrination of children, often to the detriment of their education, and their mental well-being. Religion has a lot to answer for.

Craft, actually, that amazes me too. Seriously. :o)

Jom, thanks, I hadn't noticed.

[Ankou]

violently ? don't you take that tone with me!

i was merely making a passing reference to a scene from the life of brian. i wouldn't hurt a flea.

[jomifl]

Now that Sandy has graduated to heaven, I can only presume that he won't be with us much longer as he will be eager to pack his bags and be off. I would like to say how much I enjoyed his posts and hope that his creator will be able to find a replacement of equal calibre.

[Ankou]

so are you saying then that tony is ill-educated, of unsound mind (assuming he was c of e from childhood), should resolve the middle east crisis, and on his next safari take condoms and plenty of cash to dish out to the locals, adopt a gay and tell the women in his life that they are magnificent ?

[DTCwordfan]

lol ankou - loved the "Life" - did you ever see the extended stone throwing sketch, pure brilliance and shame it had to be edited in the "interests of time."

[Ankou]

i have it on dvd, its probably in the 'extras' section dt but i don't recall seeing it.

[jomifl]

Craft, are we being too erudite, or not erudite enough

[Ankou]

being rude alright.

i'd forego the eruditeness, on account of me persuasive charms.