Fear of Death

I don't know if it's true, but I have heard that religious people are more afraid of death than agnostics and atheists. It makes sense, given the importance the Faithful place on the afterlife.

Do some religious people doubt that God even exists? Perhaps. (I say, "So what if He doesn’t exist").

Do some worry that the real God may be different from the God they believe in, and will therefore want from us something different than what we have been taught He wants? (What if Islam is the right religion and God doesn’t like "Infidels"?)

Are some religious believers who are nearing death afraid they will be punished for some transgression or deceit for which they're not sure they're "forgiven"? I would say it's mostly this.

Agnostics, on the other hand, tend not to be afraid of death. In fact, I hope to be awake and conscious when it happens. Death is a transition to somewhere -- to either nothingness or to another reality. Whatever it is, it's something we can't even begin to imagine (so stop pretending you can!)

Religious people claim to KNOW WITH CERTAINTY what's clearly "unknowable." They're not kidding me, and I hope not kidding you. They're only kidding themselves. Only a fool can claim to "know" what can't possibly be known.

I love being an agnostic. It's freeing. It's the only honest belief (or non-belief) one can have when it comes to matters of the supernatural and the afterlife. Agnostics believe that God is "unknown and unknowable", simple as that. To disagree, to say, "No, no, I do know!" is to kid yourself. It may feel good, but it's intellectually dishonest to the extreme. How can that be good for you?

I grew up a non-questioning Catholic with "Faith" and clearly remember the moment 40 years ago (I was 24) when I "let it all go." It was so liberating. No longer was I required to “believe” things that were becoming more and more difficult to believe. No more guilt about sin – it vanished almost immediately.

I recall the daily prayer in parochial school we recited in unison for “fallen away Catholics,” a group we viewed with sadness and pity. Now that I’m one of them, I know it was wrong to view them that way. They're fortunate to have broken free! The Faithful out there should know that there can be happiness, satisfaction and peace of mind without believing in Jesus -- or whatever God one chooses to follow.

On the three occasions (that I recall) that I have told a deeply religious person that I'm agnostic, I have never failed to pick up a hint of pity, if not smugness. "Ha ha, I know the truth and you don't." Or more uncharitably, "You just wait. You'll find out."

Was I ever afraid of my decision to "let it all go?" Oh, I've occasionally had the fleeting thought, “Gee, what if I’m wrong about this? What if bread and wine really really is changed into flesh and blood at Mass?"

On Judgment Day, will God and Jesus (the Holy Ghost, too?) listen to my pleadings . . . "How was I to know, Lord? It just never made sense that you would use such an imperfect medium to share the Truth of the Universe! And the Catholic Church left me faithless. It was all beyond my control, Lord!. Please let me into heaven!"

Then the absurdity of it all comes quickly to the rescue and then I’m back to reality.

Besides, I reason, if God did not want us to ask questions and expect rational answers, then Why did He give us minds and brains that inexorably lead to doubt?

And what is wrong about "doubting" in the first place? I can't imagine the idea of "not doubting" a belief system that is totally unsupported by the scarecest evidence or proof, or even plausability.

On the other hand, you might as well face it: Doubting can lead to "losing your Faith," a horrible risk to a Christian believer. And believe me, once the doubting starts, the whole "belief structure" can come crashing down rather rapidly (I found it a freeing experience! I can see how some people might find it scary.). I'm convinced that the only way to hold on to your Faith is to never ask questions!

Isn't it obvious that it's impossible to force yourself to believe in something? The very best you can do is pretend you believe, but you can’t make yourself believe. You either believe or you don’t. It's like sex. You're either turned on you're not. It’s not voluntary!

Yet, the idea that "The God of Our Universe" would place us in the position of having to "lie to ourselves" to please Him is too absurd to even imagine. I would guess that many Christians are struggling with this one, probably the ones who fear death the most.

By the way, I personally "believe" in an Afterlife of some kind. I believe it because I choose to believe it. It makes sense to me and feels good to believe it, although it would also make sense, too, if we die and THAT'S IT.

Was it worth it?

George Bush will never stop saying that the Iraq War was "worth it" -- no matter what happens from here on out, and no matter what the cost to us in treasure and lost or ruined lives. No matter the amount of the debt we're leaving our grandchildren (while he wants tax cuts for the wealthy; we should be outraged), NO MATTER WHAT!

What's sad for our country is that George cannot be different. He does not have a choice. It's all taken on a religious fervor for him. (Don't forget; he's a practicing Evangelical Christian). We're stuck with him, folks. (I'd love to take friends and family who voted for him to the woodshed).

George Bush will have to persist in saying it was "worth it" because the idea of saying it was not worth it is unthinkable politically. (Ironically, it would probably have a positve effect on world public opinion, for the great U.S. to admit they might have been wrong on this one; people and nations make mistakes).

To live the Big Lie and maintain sanity George must actually believe it was worth it, and I suppose he does. He has certainly sold himself! He cannot be different from the man he is.

Okay, so was it worth it? Or is it worth it? Whatever the right question is. Or do we think (or hope) it will prove to be worth it "in the long run"? I would say increasingly the "last" is gaining prominence because of how impossible it is to say it was it was worth it "in the short run."

Even George the liar knows it has not been "worth it" in the short run. It sure hasn't been worth it for him politically! Ask a marine who lost a limb or a family that lost a son or daughter if it was "worth it." (Fuck you, George)

Carter's national security adviser Zbignew Brzezinski said on TV the other day that Iraq would have become a "democracy" some day, anyway. He's probably right. I believe much of the world was moving in the direction of democracy before Bush screwed things up!

The ultimate solution is for all peoples of the world to live in some sort of harmony. We have gone backwards in this respect, not forward.

Same can be said for our fiscal responsbility. Some day we are going to have to pay back the massive debt we owe China and Japan. Some day they'll want to start getting paid back instead of continuing to "invest" in U.S. governement securities. Will we renege and and fall back on our military? It won't be pleasant when they stop buying our debt!