stillcrazy

I wonder if fear of death will ever lose it's grip upon the human culture?
Even if there is no after life, as if this is it, at least we will suffer no more, and if this is it, after we die we won't know that we are dead.
I think that even mourning for those we care about after they die, is a selfish act, as we are feeling sorry for ourselves
Also would it be fair to say that religion is a major reason for fearing death?
Jack

Og

Maybe. Fear of death seems to be a positive survival mechanism, however. We'd have to get to a point where that was no longer the case.

__________________
Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. (By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe)
The self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process of relationships
You & I, no distinction. - Tat Tvam Asi
Become Who You Are

stillcrazy

"positive survival mechanism, however. We'd have to get to a point where that was no longer the case."
I would agree that this using the fear of death as a survival mechanism no longer needs to be apart of the mentality, seems very primitive really.
Think about it, death is just as natural as life, using the bathroom, or whatever...
But if someone dies close to you and you act as if nothing extraordinary has happened, people will think you are crazy or calloused.
I do think that if this is all there is, then I want to be happy every moment I can so I can get the most out of life, so I hate the sadness that comes with death,
but,,,,is sadness also just a natural part of life?, is it also a part of feeling alive??
Come to think of it, Buddhism covers a lot of what I am thinking...
Hmmmmm...
Just thoughts I think about....
Take care..
Jack

Og

Good thoughts

__________________
Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. (By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe)
The self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process of relationships
You & I, no distinction. - Tat Tvam Asi
Become Who You Are

debdodd

I think the people who fear death are those who still have things that they want to accomplish or the want to see "what's coming" next. Having worked in the medical field I have seen people welcome death and those who were not suicidal, just felt they have lived long enough and wanted to .... stop. The worst is those that still have their mind and are trapped inside a body that cannot communicate with others ... talk about a prison .... that would be horrible. I think it's more about fear of pain that people are afraid of than death itself.

__________________
"Ubi dubium ibi libertas."

"We are all lone souls. It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms. And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, again and ever again ....."

jaej

I agree. I'm not afraid of death in itself, but I am afraid of not living to my potential, and 'sucking the marrow out of life.' I'm afraid of dying before I've experienced everything I want to. Before I experience life, to the fullest.

__________________
Μολὼν Λαβέ

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate

Og

The buddha likens your state, jaej, to a guy in an opera house who forgot to lock his car in the parking lot. He can't get up to go lock it and he can't enjoy the opera because he's worried about his car.

Fear of death and desire for life. I think what all the mystics are saying is that you truly experience eternal life when you have quenched this desire and fear upon one another.

__________________
Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. (By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe)
The self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process of relationships
You & I, no distinction. - Tat Tvam Asi
Become Who You Are

jaej

Is it possible to be completely satisfied though?

In Fight Club, the fake Tyler asks the real Tyler what he wishes he would have done if he were to die in the next instant. Doesn't everyone have something? I understand what you're saying about not letting it control your life, and it doesn't control my life, I'm just saying I don't think it's possible to be completely satisfied.

__________________
Μολὼν Λαβέ

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate

Maximus

Religion was created to conquer the fear of death as the majority of society fears death, I for one don't but I would say I'm in a small minority, a fraction of the world's people.

This is why destruction of religion would be a definite negative, let's face it most of the world's people aren't all that smart, reason why democracy fails, so I say let the rats run around the maze for that hunk of cheese, is it worse than having them gnawing at the walls?

The An-Jel

I see where your going with that and I couldn't agree more to a certain extent. My reservations however are the what is currently happening in the world at large at the moment. Much like if the harder drugs if made illegal, if the illusion of religion would be released there would be a huge amount of chaos and then things would level out. Life on Earth would be peaceful. What would be wrong with humans seeking out the real reason for Universal existence... I think it would be a greater drive than Capitalism and even suit Capitalisms needs in the long run.

(gnarly AV jaej!)

__________________
"And let there be Light!" said the Blind man.

Life is simple, people make it complicated - Basilisk

Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti - Royal Gibraltar Regiment