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Fear of Death Fuels Religion

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
Near Death Experiences appear to be a natural result of the brain shutting down. No longer can they be claimed of evidence. Nor has anyone ever reliably communicated with the dead. There have been countless people taken in by frauds. But when those people were put to the test they have failed.
Well, I've spent enough time with these subjects to be confidant of my position and as in the link I provided, an afterlife belief is warranted by the evidence. I find that many atheists grab the best materialist explain-away and stick with it.....and never the twain shall meet
 

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
Within my experience it has seemed that fear of death absolutely fuels religion.

When we love someone so much and they die it's unacceptable to a lot of people to think they will never see them again. Death is so horrible for so many people. Instead of seeing the life it creates it is perceived as purely a loss.

A significant member of my family died this year. Watching my family (Christians) was heart breaking more so even than the event itself. Their lives seemed to be over and the only comforting recycled noise was that he is in a better place or we will see him again one day.

So many people are weak and cant handle anymore. Its easy to see why say a heaven is a comforting idea but we can't dismiss all the false and immoral claims within.

Life cant exist without death. Two sides of the same coin. We need to embrace it and be ok with it. Making childish stories to serve up as comfort food isn't beneficial for anyone.

Speaking on myself death does not fuel me nor my belief in a hereafter. Death is the inevitability of all living things and I believe religion helps to explain life but it is not the answer to life.

"Every human being is bound to taste death: but only on the Day of Resurrection will you be requited in full [for whatever you have done] - whereupon he that shall be drawn away from the fire and brought into paradise will indeed have gained a triumph: for the life of this world is nothing but an enjoyment of self-delusion." - 3:185

Now whether or not you hold an afterlife as a delusion is your opinion but more importantly for me I like to think that the Islamic perspective and approach of death is more pragmatic. This life is but a fleeting dream and although we live in it and exist in it, and we act in it, it is not something we ought to be fully invest in it. Although many religionists point to the hereafter I like to think what is important is what we do here, and now, in this life and what we do to make the best of our temporal existence.
 
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Trip Bapho

Member
That explanation does not take into account those people who believe hell is real and some people will go there unforgiven.

How is THAT "comforting?"



Oh no, of course not, theres just millions of NDEs for nothing and we got no evidence? Lol. Also dont forget about the VERIDICAL NDEs. Those are the ones that rule out halucinations.

But, ya, youl just wave all the evidence away. .



So its about how you feel vs whats real?

Looks like its about YOUR comfort, isnt it?
A religious person saying what they believe is real.. Imagine that.
 

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
Precisely speaking, I believe what people are afraid of is the death or end of their psychological selves -- what they think of as "me" or "I". The distinction might seem moot, but in practice it has somewhat different consequences from being afraid of the death of their body, mind, etc. Some people are indeed afraid of both those things, though.

Funny, I don't think I'm the real me, but a shell of some incorporeal mind. I think physical death is less painful (considering that the method of cessation is peaceful), like being comatose, one does not think about anything as you know I'm sure. I do however think if we know about the moment of our end inevitably there is some fear but I don't think those of us who truly accept our fate in life really fear death or the loss of the "me" or "I."
 

Trip Bapho

Member
Well, I've spent enough time with these subjects to be confidant of my position and as in the link I provided, an afterlife belief is warranted by the evidence. I find that many atheists grab the best materialist explain-away and stick with it.....and never the twain shall meet
Not clinging to material. Just only believe in what's fact and not just my opinion based experience.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
Well, I've spent enough time with these subjects to be confidant of my position and as in the link I provided, an afterlife belief is warranted by the evidence. I find that many atheists grab the best materialist explain-away and stick with it.....and never the twain shall meet


Your link does not look all that different from a flat Earth site. Have you ever considered trying to find a reliable source? One that at least tries to test their beliefs?
 

Trip Bapho

Member
Near Death Experiences appear to be a natural result of the brain shutting down. No longer can they be claimed of evidence. Nor has anyone ever reliably communicated with the dead. There have been countless people taken in by frauds. But when those people were put to the test they have failed.

Yes, just as much as Muslim near death experiences can confirm teachings of Muhammad.. Christian near death experiences could confirm Jesus as God. It means nothing yet so many base these things as core facts.
 

Trip Bapho

Member
That explanation does not take into account those people who believe hell is real and some people will go there unforgiven.

How is THAT "comforting?"



Oh no, of course not, theres just millions of NDEs for nothing and we got no evidence? Lol. Also dont forget about the VERIDICAL NDEs. Those are the ones that rule out halucinations.

But, ya, youl just wave all the evidence away. .



So its about how you feel vs whats real?

Looks like its about YOUR comfort, isnt it?
Most all Christians believe hell is real.. Yet they also believe you can be forgiven just by asking in a split second.
So it is never a true fear.
I can murder and steal tonight with the comfort of knowing god will forgive me in the morning.
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
Your link does not look all that different from a flat Earth site. Have you ever considered trying to find a reliable source? One that at least tries to test their beliefs?
I am sure the author holds the earth to be spheroidal actually.

Yes, the data is considered against all evidence and argumentation. It uses open-minded skepticism to reach its position and carefully considered cases.

If you are an atheist you might consider that you attack before reading things that seem to contradict your position.
 

Trip Bapho

Member
I am sure the author holds the earth to be spheroidal actually.

Yes, the data is considered against all evidence and argumentation. It uses open-minded skepticism to reach its position and carefully considered cases.

If you are an atheist you might consider that you attack before reading things that seem to contradict your position.
Nisargadatta Maharaj is one of my favorite of all time. It sad you cant hear his truth George.
 

Firemorphic

Activist Membrane
Yes, just as much as Muslim near death experiences can confirm teachings of Muhammad.. Christian near death experiences could confirm Jesus as God. It means nothing yet so many base these things as core facts.

I don't think the symbol is what is the important factor, it could be Christopher Hitchens for all I care, during a NDE the individual still experiences a facet of reality beyond the physical and beyond the psychological.
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
Within my experience it has seemed that fear of death absolutely fuels religion.

When we love someone so much and they die it's unacceptable to a lot of people to think they will never see them again. Death is so horrible for so many people. Instead of seeing the life it creates it is perceived as purely a loss.

A significant member of my family died this year. Watching my family (Christians) was heart breaking more so even than the event itself. Their lives seemed to be over and the only comforting recycled noise was that he is in a better place or we will see him again one day.

So many people are weak and cant handle anymore. Its easy to see why say a heaven is a comforting idea but we can't dismiss all the false and immoral claims within.

Life cant exist without death. Two sides of the same coin. We need to embrace it and be ok with it. Making childish stories to serve up as comfort food isn't beneficial for anyone.

Religion for me gave me a stable work and stable marriage life. It kept me off drugs and alcohol. It kept me away from violence and hate. It gives me inner peace, joy, happiness and contentment. It teaches me to think for myself not follow blindly what other say. To question. It teaches me not to gamble so I am debt free. It gives me enormous vision and hope that humanity will unite and come together in peace. It has restored my faith in humanity. It gave me loving friends and companions.

It gives me true life. Death never enters into the argument. Because of religion I have lived a good life and so I will be able to live with myself in the next realm without regrets. The worst hell for me would be throwing away all the good things in this life (like religion) because it was the popular fad at the time. What a loss for those who follow blindly those who think religion is nonsense. It won’t be me living in regret as I’m not throwing away the ‘elixir of life’ just because it’s popular to do so.

Religion for me is no crutch to lean on but wings to fly. My life has meaning, purpose and vision and I would not barter all the treasures on earth for it.
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Within my experience it has seemed that fear of death absolutely fuels religion.

When we love someone so much and they die it's unacceptable to a lot of people to think they will never see them again. Death is so horrible for so many people. Instead of seeing the life it creates it is perceived as purely a loss.

A significant member of my family died this year. Watching my family (Christians) was heart breaking more so even than the event itself. Their lives seemed to be over and the only comforting recycled noise was that he is in a better place or we will see him again one day.

So many people are weak and cant handle anymore. Its easy to see why say a heaven is a comforting idea but we can't dismiss all the false and immoral claims within.

Life cant exist without death. Two sides of the same coin. We need to embrace it and be ok with it. Making childish stories to serve up as comfort food isn't beneficial for anyone.

Is it possible that it could be the other way around? Could it be that religion fuels the fear of death? Do people truly fear death, or is it the possibility of a long, agonizing period of suffering before death? But then again, if the idea is planted in people's minds that there could be even greater suffering for eternity after death, then they could feel compelled to be obedient and passive. That's what religion does. It obviously does very little to allay anyone's fear of death, but maybe its purpose is to make people afraid of life.
 
Most all Christians believe hell is real.. Yet they also believe you can be forgiven just by asking in a split second.
So it is never a true fear.
I can murder and steal tonight with the comfort of knowing god will forgive me in the morning.

Thats not true. Not all christians believe that at all. Some do. But not all. There are religious folk who believe you must PREPARE.

Your not accounting for THOSE people. What THOSE people believe is NOT comforting.
 
Nope. Mine is the norm. Yours is unprovable immoral nonsense.

Yours is not the norm. Most Americans believe in heaven … and hell

Further, its not about the norm, its about reality. Who cares whether the whole world believed a lie. Reality matters.

And for someone whos telling me my view is unproven, you sure wont answer my question and account for the problem.

As i expected, you handwave away all the evidence for a after life.

Its about your "freedom" and about you not being "judged". Thus its about YOUR "comfort" not about religious peoples comfort.
 
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