NationStates Jolt Archive

If you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, does death still seem scary and sad? Why are you upset when someone dies if you know (assuming they've been good) they're going to a good place (and that assuming heaven is perfect, you'll see them again), or at least returning to earth? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, just curious.

I think it's personal reasons why they are sad...but if you ask any religous type, they're almost bound to mention that they're in a better place now.

But still, them not being here...and you...being here...kinda makes you sad, doesn't it?

If you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, does death still seem scary and sad? Why are you upset when someone dies if you know (assuming they've been good) they're going to a good place (and that assuming heaven is perfect, you'll see them again), or at least returning to earth? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, just curious.

well, I can't quite say how I feel about death because I can't really compare how I feel on death as is opposed to how I would feel if I were an athiest but it doesn't bother me too much

we take comfort knowing the dead are in the hands of God but we do still miss them because we won't be seeing them for a while and they probobly had dreams and goal yet to be acomplished before they died

I think a sadness and a degree of fear about death is natural. Even in the best case, if you really convince yourself that you'll be seeing them again, it still means you're not going to be seeing someone for a while (like if someone were to move away to a country with no telecommunications). If they were close to you, it means a major change in your day to day life. So yes, there's a comforting aspect in looking forward to an afterlife where everyone is alive and healthy and happy, but it can only soften the blow; you can't really logic yourself out of human emotion, which involves grieving when someone you love goes.

I mean, think if you had a close friend or relative whose dream was to work in a country on the other side of the world. If they left to do so, you'd probably feel happy for them in a way, because they're fulfilling their dream, but you'd still miss them. Then just magnify the happiness of the place they're going and the degree to which you can't contact them, and you'd have a reasonable model for what it's like for a spiritual person to have someone close to them pass on.

If you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, does death still seem scary and sad? Why are you upset when someone dies if you know (assuming they've been good) they're going to a good place (and that assuming heaven is perfect, you'll see them again), or at least returning to earth? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, just curious.

I'm not religious, nor am I certain there is an afterlife, but there's considerable anecdotal evidence for something ( call it soul, if you like ) which persists after death. There is also significant anecdotal evidence for reincarnation. I suppose that, if I were religious, I would try to incorporate those two items in my belief system ... at least until they were disproved.

If you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, does death still seem scary and sad? Why are you upset when someone dies if you know (assuming they've been good) they're going to a good place (and that assuming heaven is perfect, you'll see them again), or at least returning to earth? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, just curious.

It's really not that complicated. When people die that I care about, I am sad because I am, quite frankly, selfish. I cared about these people for a reason. When they are dead, regardless of their status in the afterlife, they are not here with me in the life I now have to continue in without them.

Do you have anyone in your life that you care about? (Stupid question, I know, and I'm not being snarky. Just roll with me here.) When you are apart from them, do you miss them? Does knowing you will see them make it any easier? In many cases it does, but you still don't like being seperated.

That covers the death of other people, but it doesn't address my feelings about my own death. I don't like the idea all that much. For one thing, I regret the sadness I know it will bring to my family. And since the only point of reference I have is my own life, I can't imagine not missing them as well. Add in all the things I want to accomplish, the regrets for my failures, and the people I wish I could see just one more time to tell them I love them, or I'm sorry I was such a bastard when we knew each other, or that they were right and I was wrong, and you can see why I am not eager to close the book on this life, just as any other man.

So what about the non-theist, or Bright. Why are your feelings on death so strong, if you know you will no longer care when it happens?

Ah, I forgot part of my question- regarding not seeing them for 'a long time'. In heaven, you'll be with them for eternity... kind of pales in comparison to the time you won't be with them.

If you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, does death still seem scary and sad? Why are you upset when someone dies if you know (assuming they've been good) they're going to a good place (and that assuming heaven is perfect, you'll see them again), or at least returning to earth? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, just curious.

I can't speak for everyone else, but one of the biggest reasons I fear death is because it's part of my nature to wonder if I'm wrong. The penalties of being wrong can be quite severe.

Also, I've put together quite an impressive collection of music and the idea of having to start over scares me. :(

I am definitely NOT saying I don't feel sad when someone dies!I really really do.

Being agnostic, I have a hard time conceiving of the concept of heaven, but I could see reincarnation as more of a posibility. Reincarnation is a bit sadder, because, as some have said, you're most likely not going to be with the same people (or beings, souls, etc whatever)

If you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, does death still seem scary and sad? Why are you upset when someone dies if you know (assuming they've been good) they're going to a good place (and that assuming heaven is perfect, you'll see them again), or at least returning to earth? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, just curious.

Some I would miss because they will no longer be in my life ... I cry for my own misery moreso than theirs. Some I am upset about because of the manner of their deaths or the untimeliness of their deaths. Some few I cry for all of those who remain because a light has passed from among us.

So what about the non-theist, or Bright. Why are your feelings on death so strong, if you know you will no longer care when it happens?

Is that a question for me? Whats a non-theist or Bright?

I see this life as a temporary thing, compaired to living forever in a paradise as God promised in the bible (revelations 21 verse 1 to 5) God started with a beautiful paradise for mankind (eden) and in the future he will restore this paradise on earth and undo all the pain and undo death. I thus view death also as a temporary state. No matter if you are dead for thousands of years or just a few years, God will resurect you in the paradise where everything will be perfect again. So I know that death, war, pain all is temporary and this gives me peace. But if a loved one dies, ofcourse I grief, I cry, because that person will be missed. But the grief will be less, because I know I will se that person again. If you have any questions, please mail me: tpiller@gmail.com

If you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, does death still seem scary and sad? Why are you upset when someone dies if you know (assuming they've been good) they're going to a good place (and that assuming heaven is perfect, you'll see them again), or at least returning to earth? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, just curious.Because their time on Earth is over, their company will be missed. That is why we greive.

It's really not that complicated. When people die that I care about, I am sad because I am, quite frankly, selfish. I cared about these people for a reason. When they are dead, regardless of their status in the afterlife, they are not here with me in the life I now have to continue in without them.

Do you have anyone in your life that you care about? (Stupid question, I know, and I'm not being snarky. Just roll with me here.) When you are apart from them, do you miss them? Does knowing you will see them make it any easier? In many cases it does, but you still don't like being seperated.

That covers the death of other people, but it doesn't address my feelings about my own death. I don't like the idea all that much. For one thing, I regret the sadness I know it will bring to my family. And since the only point of reference I have is my own life, I can't imagine not missing them as well. Add in all the things I want to accomplish, the regrets for my failures, and the people I wish I could see just one more time to tell them I love them, or I'm sorry I was such a bastard when we knew each other, or that they were right and I was wrong, and you can see why I am not eager to close the book on this life, just as any other man.

So what about the non-theist, or Bright. Why are your feelings on death so strong, if you know you will no longer care when it happens?

An excellent post! For those of us who don't believe in, or have serious reservations about heaven or reincarnation, attempting to envision our own non-existence is a virtual impossibility, or at the very least will give us serious headaches.

When I was younger, I use to lie in bed each night before going to sleep and listen to the beat of my own heart. I would think, "Someday, that will stop and I will no longer be alive." Eventually I got over having that scare the ever-living crap out of me, but it still lurks somewhere in the background noise of my life. I begin to see now that growing old-er is actually merciful.

If we have to die ( and so far, there is no "cure" ), making us ache and forget and hurt, and lose those close to us, and all the other things associated with advancing age, will make us eventually welcome Death as a friend, or at least as not an enemy. As Poe said, "surcease from sorrow."

Dying is good. Without death nothing would ever get done. It is only when we have deadlines that we get off the couch and do something.

If we were immortal we would all still be sitting around in a cold, dark cave waiting for someone to get around to inventing fire. The wheel? I'll get around to it in a few million years.

If you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, does death still seem scary and sad? Why are you upset when someone dies if you know (assuming they've been good) they're going to a good place (and that assuming heaven is perfect, you'll see them again), or at least returning to earth? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, just curious.

I believe I'm Heaven bound, and I really don't care about death. Cept I'd rather it not hurt too much, but whatever. If someone I know is Heaven bound dies I am not upset, and if they aren't then I'm not too happy about it. Pretty simple.

If you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, does death still seem scary and sad? Why are you upset when someone dies if you know (assuming they've been good) they're going to a good place (and that assuming heaven is perfect, you'll see them again), or at least returning to earth? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, just curious.

I'm not scared at all. I am completely ready for my death. I'd prefer that I had a chance to say goodbye and such, but if I were to randomly die right now, it wouldn't be so bad. I'm not out to die, I'm not seeking for death or hoping for death, but I wouldn't mind if I died.

As for other people dying, I'm still human, so even though I know they're in heaven, I still miss them. Also, when people die who I know arent going to heaven, well, that's very sad...
Either way, I miss them, I can't talk to them or be with them or anything like that. They're still gone. When I cry, I'm not crying because they're dead (if they're in heaven, anyway), I'm crying because I won't get to see them again for probably a long time.