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?

[ludwig]

Several factors I think.

Firstly, it's just a bit scary to think that death is the end of everything - for everyone, religious and non-religious alike, so we'd all love to believe that it's just a transition to some higher happier state of being.

Secondly it's a way the living have of coping with the fact they're never going to see loved ones again who've died.

Thirdly, it's a way of coping with the depressing thought that good people aren't going to get any massive payoff for being good, and similarly bad people aren't going to get any massive punishment for being bad at the end of it all...
"What, you mean Idi Amin died happily and peacefully in his sleep after a life of murder, torture, rape, and various other brutalities? I'm not having that - there MUST be a hell for people like that, and a heaven for the rest of us - there absolutely must."

[pdust]

I'm not afraid of dying. I never have been regardless of whether I was or wasn't religious.....

[Old_Geezer]

Are the religious particularly afraid of death more than the non-religious ? It's not something I've noticed. Being dead, we may or may not know about according to whose beliefs are correct. But dying, then most of us will won't we ? At least for a moment.

The 'problem' is probably evolution and the reinforcement of those who naturally wish to avoid death. Those that don't care are more likely to die before breeding & nurturing the next generation and passing on their don't care attitude. These feelings we have from birth, religious views would find them difficult to overcome.

[Davethedog]

But OG you would expect the non religious to fear death, because thats it the end.

Whereas the religious are going to thi s beautiful nirvana where all sins are forgiven and you pend all day running through green fields putting flowers in each others hair. So why would you be scared?

[naomi24]

OG, //Are the religious particularly afraid of death more than the non-religious ?//

Yes, I think they are. Non-believers, whilst they may not exactly relish the thought, accept they are going to die - the religious can't do that. Attempting to avoid death is the whole basis of religion. Without a 'promise' of an afterlife, religion would be redundant.

Dave, I've always wondered why the religious cry when people die. I'd expect them to celebrate! Yeah .... lucky old him ....he did it!!

Ludwig, the notion of 'I'm good and you're bad' does seems to encourage the idea that they are somehow exempt from the laws of nature.

[ludwig]

The other thing of course is that some people just have a horrible life. The belief that the horribleness is temporary and there's something better at the end of it is what keeps them going.

[Old_Geezer]

I disagree with your interpretation. The religious also accept death. They just happen to have a different view on what it is. For them it is not a simple end, it is a transition of their essence, for want of a better word, from their physical body to elsewhere to continue their existence.

[craft1948]

I disagree, I think some atheists are afraid of death..........in case they got things wrong.

[ludwig]

// The religious also accept death. They just happen to have a different view on what it is //

Yes. The key difference of their view being that you don't actually die.

[DTCwordfan]

This aetheist isn't afraid. Once you are dead, you are dead, stiff, pushing up the daisies, no more, extinct......

However, I do believe there may be some unknown energy forms that exist that we may translate on....we are yet to discover this unknown, just as folk, pre mid 18thC and Franklin/Priestley knew that electricity was there through lightning, static, Elmo's Fire etc, but didn't have an idea what it was.

[jackthehat]

If an Atheist was sufficiently worried about having got it wrong, craft, I'd say that that Atheist was actually a Christian in 'unbelievers garb'.......:o)

[craft1948]

I can only go by my father, a confirmed atheist. Once when he genuinely thought he was dying (he wasn't) he called on God to help him............

[Old_Geezer]

At the risk of turning it into a "oh yes it is" "oh no is isn't" sort of "discussion" they accept you do actually die, merely that it is not the end. And one can not reasonably use that believe to mock. Believing differently does not equate to being afraid of something.

As for why the religious are sad rather than happy at funerals; well that is what one should expect. They are not going to see someone cherished by them any longer on this physical plane, and can only hope they may 'bump into them' in the next when it is their turn to go. Why wouldn't they be sad at a period of being apart ? Are parents ecstatic when their offspring says they are emigrating to the other side of the world and they may not see them again, despite any opportunities it may bring their offspring ?

[ludwig]

// I can only go by my father, a confirmed atheist. Once when he genuinely thought he was dying (he wasn't) he called on God to help him............ //

He sounds like a practical man. He saved the nonsense to the last possible moment and didn't waste a lifetime on it.

[craft1948]

Well as he recovered, and once more reverted to atheism ludwig I found that to be a tad ungrateful...........

[ludwig]

// they accept you do actually die, merely that it is not the end //

Ok. It sounds a bit like not actually dying to me. I also think there's a clue in the religious promise of 'everlasting life', but we'll leave it at that.

[ludwig]

That's a fair point craft, maybe he was actually dying but his prayers were answered.

[jackthehat]

My Great-grandfather rejected his RC upbringing so he could marry 'out', and wasn't the least bit religious for the remainder of his life.

He called for a Priest to administer the last rites on his death-bed........just 'in case'.....LoL

[naomi24]

OG// The religious also accept death. They just happen to have a different view on what it is //

Ludwig //Yes. The key difference of their view being that you don't actually die. //

Ha ha! Absolutely right, Ludwig. :o)

[naomi24]

//Well as he recovered, and once more reverted to atheism ludwig I found that to be a tad ungrateful...........//

Craft, that illustrates my point perfectly. The religious are religious because they think that will exempt them from death. There's no other reason to be religious.