Kuolema
 

Another, rather simple question for you all. What is your look on death. I know there's been a thread about this already in the normal forum, but this isn't the normal forum. I actually took a course in college to study how different cultures see death and it opened my eyes a bit on the subject.

Normally, in America, death is one of those taboo things that no one really wants to talk about or do anything about, unless they happen to be homicidal maniacs or serial killers. The way we are raised is to value life to the point of fearing death. Heck, it's gotten to a point where we are trying to defy death. Now I'm all for living longer then 60, 70 even 100 years, but I understand that death is a natural part of life. Without death there can be no life. Of course I am afraid of what will be after I die, I mean who isn't? But I refuse to let my undeniable death be a major deciding factor of my life's decisions. I embrace it as I embrace life, and I hope that I die with no regrets.

So, anyone else?

I think much of this is tied in with the Deism vs Naturalism thread. People who believe in one god or another think that something happens to them in the afterlife, whether it's going to heaven or something like reincarnation. Those who believe in more of naturalism will most likely say nothing happens, and that's the stance I take. You get recycled into the resources nature takes to make things.

Sad? Maybe. Depending on your life people may or may not remember you, but you yourself is gone.

I know my death is coming some day and I don't want it to come any sooner than it already is. Everyone has regrets ,though, its part of life but I choose not to look at the past you can't change it I just look at the present and the future live life to the fullest and enjoy ever moment I got. Death does scare me but whats after that does not I have my after life all worked out but honestly I don't want to die I have so much to do and a life to live.My look on death is its natural what gos up must come down what is born must die.We can't control it it has to happen at some time or another.

This is a good topic Lee I'm gonna read up on this it has sparked my interest.

Obviously, from my many posts and even the pictures in my "self portraits" album, I do not fear death. Nor do I particularly care if I do happen to see his smug face again, he is too much of a familiar face now to do so. Infact, we even like to get together on Thursdays and Saturdays to play a few games of chess...

But I do however sometimes wonder what my death will be like, and what will happen to me afterwards. Will there be big white fluffy clouds and lots of relaxing music? Or am I going to be surrounded by acres of fire, brimstone, blood, body parts, and the sound of Slayer being played in the background? Or maybe... will I just cease to exist?

Granted, the ideas of afterlife and what happens are tied to Deism and Naturalism, but I'm more after what your cultural look on death is, not what might happen afterwords. Is it something to be feared, something we should try to take control over, or is it something we should just let be, whether it is natural or not.

Death is of course a scary part of life, and something that must be fulfilled in order to have a complete life. It is not so scary in some cultures when you do actually look at it, like the Hindu Religion where death is just a cycle between lives. You can also look to the Buhdists Preists, who in death become one with Buddah. No one wants to die, life is so grand, but death must come to us all.

I'm not entirely certain what I would consider my culture to be, so I can't really awnser that one in particular. Most people seem to be afraid of death which I could see easily since you really don't know what happens no matter how much you believe in something. I prefer to view things in more of a... passive way I suppose. Things will happen no matter how hard you try to prevent something, and it's better to accept things that happen than stew over them.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm not particularly afraid of death. Do I want to die? No, in fact I wish I could live forever, but that's not because I'm afraid of death. I guess if I died and I could show an emotion about it, it'd be a shrug.

For me I know that death is part of our life. As Leerock said it's taboo here too. They are not talking about it. I think if you want to know better what are people thinking of death you should read lots of poem. I'm atheist but I believe that there is something after i die. The only thing what I fear is that I will have only a little time. I don't want to die at a very old age ( I know people who don't want to live more than 40-50 years because she doesn't want to age) maybe around 70-80.

In regarding the fear of death, i believe that everyone does to an extent. Even Russkie. As human beings, we have evolved to survive. Without survival instinct, you are not human. Every one in this forum, everyone in this world has feared death, and fears death; whether you've acknowledged an afterlife or not. This is the reason behind the development of your adrenal glands. To deny your fear of death is lying to the world and yourself. and if you honestly do not fear dying, chances are you are already dead; be it literally or in spirit.

It is not necessarily the pain of dying, but it is the gloomy thoughts of being forgotten over time. In time, your loved ones will stop mourning you. Your friends, teachers, neighbors, everyone you've ever known will forget about you. In order to move on with their lives, they would have to. I would think this fear of being forgotten, and also the fear of not being able to laugh, cry, or enjoy anything earthly anymore, would be even more eminent in atheists. It is because you have no place to go. You are nothing. You feel nothing, conscious of nothing. Your memories, hopes, fantasies...everything is Mu. The thought is unbearably depressing, is it not?

However, the fear of death itself , be it instinct or conscious, is also countered by our constant knowledge and acceptance that it will inevitably come one day. This separates us from other species. We know that our death will come, and it's okay. But until that day, we do our best to thrive and flourish to our fullest potential. So on that day, we may depart from this world with a smile and closed eyes...

A nice and grim way to look at it.

In some cultures they have celebrations for the dead and deceased. In Mexico it is called El Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. They go around and make small altars, visit grave sites, eat the favorite foods of the departed, and wear masks. The Day of the Dead is celebrated on the 1 and 2 of November which is also the same days of the All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.