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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.
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.
posted by Jim Fleming | 10:58 AM
3 Comments:
I guess it boils down to a matter of faith. Are people scared of death? That’s just human. I think people would be lying if they said they weren’t afraid of death to some degree, but when you are at a level of spirituality that enables your mind to be relieved of that ‘fear’, then I think it works differently for everyone.
No one knows for ‘certain’ if there is a God or not unless they’ve had some spiritual experience. Then science can come in and say they had some psychotic moment, (ha) or their eyes were going haywire. Many scientific reasons to explain, but not enough spiritual evidence.
Just as it’s debatable about ghost sightings and the little ‘foggy orb’ in the picture---is it a ghost? Or is it a smudge in the lens? It’s a matter of what “you” believe in. No one can force you to believe…just as you said…but I will say it another way: No one can force you to have an orgasm, unless you ‘fake it’.
You make some great points here Jim! I’m a Christian—a believer in God/Jesus and yes, the holy ghost… But I would never force my beliefs on you.
Thanks for sharing this!
P.S. It's much easier for women to fake it. haha! Sorry. Had to add that in there. ;)
Love to you!!! Hope you're doing well!
I do not agree that we all “fear death”. I’m not saying I never fear it myself – I feel a whiff of it now and then. But I think that some religious people (Muslim and Christian)look forward to it WITHOUT FEAR. Same might be true of some agnostics (at least occasionally). I usually feel "no fear" of death.
Why do you think a “spiritual experience” has to be connected with God? (I think I’ve had such experiences and I don’t claim any relationship with, or knowledge of, God).
But let’s suppose there IS a connection between God and spirituality. Then: “Which God do you mean?” The God of the Old Testament whose son was Jesus? What about Islam? They believe even more strongly than you do.
I don't agree it's just a "matter of what ‘you’ believe in!" There is also an underlying truth, which to me counts more. If I BELIEVED there were eleven inches in a foot, would that make it true? Does the fact that Muslims believe the Koran was written by Allah make it true? Of course not.
Speaking of orgasms (your brought it up!), like most men, I like to think that any woman I make love to won’t have to fake it? Am I being arrogant, cocky, naïve or over-confident to think that? I don’t know.
Truth be told, I can’t see myself wanting to make love to a woman I don’t turn on, so I can’t imagine a woman I’m with “faking it.” If she did not want to make love to me at that time, or not at all, I know I would sense it and pull back.
Of course you wouldn’t try to "force" your beliefs on me. But it raises the interesting moral question: Would I ever “fake” being a religious believer?
I never have. But I can see myself being tempted if some gorgeous Jevohovah’s Witness wanted to seduce me. I hope I would have the moral fibre to resist it!!
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