What is there to fear about death? (ritual, moral, beliefs)

[GeneCosta]

During my first period class [Journalism] a conversation emerged about Global Warming, which in some way or another evolved into a debate of Christian morality. Being removed from the discussion, I turned around and listened in on the freshmen voice their opinions. Eventually the topic came to me, in which I responded in the negative by saying I don't believe in God so any questions involving assumed beliefs would be pointless.

The class suddenly fell quiet.

In my experience most teenagers down here have not met an open atheist before. We're a pretty diverse Texas community: Mormons, Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and some Muslims. But it's assumed that a person believes in something to the degree of God.

I don't.

Although everyone in the class who didn't know me before this year was taken back [most students enrolled in Journalism I are freshmen. The teacher, whom I've known for the past two years, is the only person who really had insight into what I believed before this instance], most returned to their own arguements. However, a few made a joke out of it, inciting the all too common "you're going to hell," "that's dumb," or my personal favorite, "Say hello to Ghandi."

I'll assume for now that most of the comments were done jokingly; of course there probably is some credibility in what they say, but for the most part it seemed like a bunch of knee-jerk responses. I handled the situation in the best way I could, by responding with some calm and collective answers.

The one subjection which drew the most focus from these students was the concept of death. They just couldn't understand the idea of an atheist not living in fear of death. I informed the puzzled freshmen that atheism does not necessarily mean disbelief in an afterlife, and although I belief in the established dead-is-dead philosophy, I am in some sense very spiritual. As I expected, most still couldn't grasp the idea of nothing after death.

Which brings me to the point of this thread.

For those brothers and sisters who do belief in an afterlife, could you stomach the idea of nothing after death?

I'm convinced social conditions have convinced many people to fear non-existance, when in some ways we can all embrace the notion [note, I am not saying you SHOULD].

[BFD_Zayl]

actually, nothing after death might be refreshing. in a sense anyways. non-existance cannot be imagined, for to imagine is to exist. so no one knows what non-existance really is.

[Jaymes]

It's already what I expect. Anything else and I'll be surprised.

EDIT: Whoops, I missed the 'do believe in the afterlife' bit.

[YmirGF]

Originally Posted by GeneCosta

For those brothers and sisters who do belief in an afterlife, could you stomach the idea of nothing after death?

Well I am not your brother or your sister Gene but I can handle the idea of the extermination of consciousness beyond physical death. It doesn't really affect my view of reality in the slightest as it is a distinctly physical, ego bound view of reality (IE. that there is nothing beyond the 5 senses). Curiously during out-of-body adventures one dismisses ones earlier primitive concepts in a heartbeat as they grow to understand that they are as dead as they are ever going to be.

Originally Posted by GeneCosta

I'm convinced social conditions have convinced many people to fear non-existance, when in some ways we can all embrace the notion [note, I am not saying you SHOULD].

For sure Gene. People have been indoctrinated into this limited focus of reality and so they fear their own annihliation. Based on those parameters one can easily understand why death is something to be feared. The ego wants to play as long as possible, after all... I'd write more but I am falling asleep.

[Mister Emu]

I can't say I am afraid of non-existance, I wouldn't prefer it over a blissful existance, but it wouldn't be a bad thing(I wouldn't say it would be a good thing either).

[Hema]

I know that I'm not this body. I'm Spirit having a temporary experience within a human body. How do I know for sure? Well, a couple out of body experiences convinced me. I know that the Spirit keeps me alive and when it leaves the body, the body dies but not the Spirit. The Spirit keeps the body alive now so for me to imagine that there would be nothing after would imply that I'm just a physical being, which I know I'm not.

[Dream Angel]

If it is all false and there isnt an afterlife (which I think there is!) yes I could stomach the idea of nothing after death - as I would be dead and wouldnt know about it!

[Terrywoodenpic]

Fear of Dying is one thing, a painful death could be frightening.

Fear of death is quite another.

Although I believe we Do have a spirit that continues. I am far less sure we carry our memories of self forward into a new existence...
Our spirit may have a totally separate concept of self to the one we do. Since it is immortal, and like God not subject to time, It may not see life as consecutive events.

There may be no practical difference in our terms between existence after death or there being nothing at all. I am sure a butterfly has no memory of being a caterpillar, but I am sure it enjoys its new existence. Just as we do on being born.

[roli]

Originally Posted by GeneCosta

During my first period class [Journalism] a conversation emerged about Global Warming, which in some way or another evolved into a debate of Christian morality. Being removed from the discussion, I turned around and listened in on the freshmen voice their opinions. Eventually the topic came to me, in which I responded in the negative by saying I don't believe in God so any questions involving assumed beliefs would be pointless.

The class suddenly fell quiet.

In my experience most teenagers down here have not met an open atheist before. We're a pretty diverse Texas community: Mormons, Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and some Muslims. But it's assumed that a person believes in something to the degree of God.

I don't.

Although everyone in the class who didn't know me before this year was taken back [most students enrolled in Journalism I are freshmen. The teacher, whom I've known for the past two years, is the only person who really had insight into what I believed before this instance], most returned to their own arguements. However, a few made a joke out of it, inciting the all too common "you're going to hell," "that's dumb," or my personal favorite, "Say hello to Ghandi."

I'll assume for now that most of the comments were done jokingly; of course there probably is some credibility in what they say, but for the most part it seemed like a bunch of knee-jerk responses. I handled the situation in the best way I could, by responding with some calm and collective answers.

The one subjection which drew the most focus from these students was the concept of death. They just couldn't understand the idea of an atheist not living in fear of death. I informed the puzzled freshmen that atheism does not necessarily mean disbelief in an afterlife, and although I belief in the established dead-is-dead philosophy, I am in some sense very spiritual. As I expected, most still couldn't grasp the idea of nothing after death.

Which brings me to the point of this thread.

For those brothers and sisters who do belief in an afterlife, could you