religion and death

[Chimera]

A few months ago, I lost a beloved pet. For weeks I had a hard time dealing with the fact that I would never see her again.

Soon after, I started having nightmares about my husband dying. I thought a lot about how I will not see him again after he dies.

It got me thinking about how powerful religion is in times of death. Religion gives people the prospect of seeing their loved ones again in heaven, versus never again. People are really comforted by the notion that death is not permanent.

This idea does not make me want to "not be an atheist". I can't just choose to believe in God again anyhow. But I wonder if dealing with dying is the top reason for the continuing existence of religion.

What do you think?

 

[Phil]

One of the top.

But often I think people take the wrong approach to dying and the fear thereof. (You can always re-read a little Epicurus.)

 

[Gertrude]

I can't just choose to believe in God again anyhow.

Exactly. True belief is not a choice. Now the question is: can people 'pretend' to believe and gradually convince themselves because it is easier?

I do think that the promess of eternal life is the main 'gift' of christianism. It is a carefully designed 'reward' for blindly obeiying all the other restricitve rules.

 

[Miss Anthrope]

Yes, I think this is a major reason. Over at the "Stop Robert Lancaster" thread the discussion has evolved to believing in woo because of the fear of ceasing to exist.

It's a heavy one. The human ego does not wish to face it's own demise. Many atheists struggle with this throughout their lives, and it is especially hard when someone dies.

But you're right. Deciding to live in denial isn't going to change the reality.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Even the sincerest believer has to accept that death means you'll never see the loved one again in any way resembling the way you saw them while alive.

What would "I" be like as a disembodied soul or spirit? Would I still have gender, nationality, language, certain cognitive abilities? Would these attach to a spiritual or astral body? (And what exactly is a discorporate body?) Would I be the same person if I knew I would never get sick or injured or die?

Even if you believe the self lives on after death somehow, there's no way it could be anything like it is alive. So denying the finality of death is pretty thin.

I suspect many believers struggle with death for the very reason that when it's real, when you really lose a loved one, it hurts precisely because you know they're gone for good, even if you profess to deny it. We don't mourn out of sympathy for the person who's died, but because we the living feel the pain of separation.

 

[Phil]

When asked if he was afraid of dying, Mark Twain said, "I was dead billions of years before I was born, and it never inconvenienced me once." (or words to that effect)

The point being, and I think this is the gist of the views of Epicurus as well, the feelings we have about death, whatever they may be, can only be experienced while alive. We somehow think it will suck to be dead. We project those feelings forward to a time when we are dead, not realizing that death eliminates the ability to perceive suckiness, or fear, or regret, or whatever. Even atheists have trouble getting past the fact that when the body dies, consciouness also dies. There is no reason to fear death, because in death we cannot experience anything that we might be afraid of (i.e. pain, loneliness, longing, etc., etc.).

 

[PrincessIneffabelle]

I don't know enough about religions other than Christianity to comment on them, but I've pretty much come to view Christianity as a death cult that is used by religious leaders who seek to amass followers in order to control the behavior and mind-set of their followers. People will always seek and respond to emotional comfort, authority, and righteousness; Christianity offers all these things ... if you're willing to pay for it in fear, guilt, shame, self-loathing, and obedience.

I really don't think that we "exist" in any way after death. The thought of ceasing to exist does not scare me or give me pause. Of course, I could be totally wrong and end up in Hell suffering eternal torment even though I am a moral, ethical, compassionate, generous, unselfish, and generally "good" person. That's because religion is not about actually being good, it's about following the rules.

 

[MelBrooksfan]

Death is heavy stuff. The great equalizer. Game over. The end. It's certainly accurate to say religion preys upon the fear of death. It boggles my mind just trying to imagine what it would feel like to cease existing. Those last few moments when your brain realizes you're circling the drain and kicks into that state that producers NDEs. When faced with that sort of thought, a great many people would prefer a beautiful lie to an ugly truth; and this truth is about as ugly as it gets.

But, truth be told, that's not all that religion preys upon. It also preys on that desire to be part of something bigger. The premise would fit nicely into Tolkien's writings. Join the side of jesus and you'll be a part of a great struggle between good and evil. The sides are clearly drawn and there is no ambiguity. If only real conflicts could be so simple.

 

[Marquis de Carabas]

I think the thought of seeing loved ones again is a part of the bigger "every little thing is gunna be all right" comfort package that religion offers. Wrongs righted, justice prevailing, love and peace and harmoney reigning. And you get to see Aunt Hilda again, without the frighteningly sagging breasts.

For me, though, even as a rather young child religion held little comfort. The thought of eternity scared the st out of me. The prospect of never getting to the end, of always having to make it through one more day? No thanks.

 

[petra10]

I dont want to die,not yet anyway,but im not scared to die because i wont know that im dead.I am very scared about my love ones dying i greive hard.I think its because i know i will never see them or have any contact with them ever again.Sometimes i envy people who truly beleive they will be with their loved ones again and everything wil be rosy.

 

[Chimera]

Yes, I think this is a major reason. Over at the "Stop Robert Lancaster" thread the discussion has evolved to believing in woo because of the fear of ceasing to exist.

Yes...that thread is what reminded me of it. Are you psychic?

ETA: Har-har.