What is death and why do we fear it?

[HorrorReporter]

Post amongst yourselves.

[aldousburbank]

Death is sexually transmitted and we fear it because it's fatal.

[pyewacket]

Post amongst yourselves.

Do you not have an opinion/theory of your own or do you intend to ignore the thread you've started? 

[West of the Rockies]

I wondered about that, too, Pye, but HR is a longtime poster, and knows the culture here.  Maybe she just wanted to offer a more intellectual, engaging topic for those inclined to indulge?

[TheMan WhoFell ToEarth]

Death is a necrophiliacs aphrodisiac.

[pyewacket]

I wondered about that, too, Pye, but HR is a longtime poster, and knows the culture here.  Maybe she just wanted to offer a more intellectual, engaging topic for those inclined to indulge?

Thanks, West! Sometimes it's hard to tell the tone of conversation in posts. I wasn't trying to be snarky- this is just a different approach to the subject than what I'm used to seeing.

I'll have to give it some thought before I weigh in on such a heavy question. 

[maureen]

Only by embracing the question can we conquer the fear. What is death?  What is life? What is the meaning of it all ? Embrace the question and you conquer the fear.

[The General]

What is Death?  Why do we fear?
Death is a guy who rides a pale horse.
And Hell follows behind him.

[pyewacket]

Nice Maureen! I have no fear of death- not since I disengaged from religious beliefs. It's pointless to worry about death because we all have an expiration date- no exceptions. We either cease to be and go to an oblivion of sorts or the energy that manifests in conscious, physical life transmutes into another life form here or in another dimension- hopefully one that reflects our "growth" in awareness. 

[aldousburbank]

Ok, I see now that this is a serious thread.

Mostly I fear not getting the job done in time, but not death itself, not since a couple of day visits I had there. But what can misshape us, IMO more than the fear of death, is the fear of living.

[bigchucka]

My personal belief is death is a change from one form of existence to another form of existence.  Why we fear it is because of so little that science can tell us about what our experience will be like.  Peoples beliefs tend to fall into one of three categories.

1.  That's the end, and there is nothing but your empty, hollow shell rotting away somewhere, breaking down into the substances that it's made from.

2.  Time for the results of the one time test.  Did you PASS or did you FAIL?

3.  Time to go over your results, evaluate your performance, and decide if and when you are ready to try it all over again.

[bigchucka]

What is Death?  Why do we fear?
Death is a guy who rides a pale horse.
And Hell follows behind him.

Some people feared that The General had departed to elsewhere...  see the appropriate thread on that topic here...

[pyewacket]

Ok, I see now that this is a serious thread.

Mostly I fear not getting the job done in time, but not death itself, not since a couple of day visits I had there. But what can misshape us, IMO more than the fear of death, is the fear of living.

Well put, Alsous! Living can be far more hazardous! If you don't mind my asking, could you describe your day visits, that is, if you're OK with it. I promise- I won't ask any Norryish questions!

[bigchucka]

Ok, I see now that this is a serious thread.

Two words that come to the top of my mind cause I had a related post earlier today...  Midget Porn.

This relates to the rest of your post.


http://youtu.be/y_mjRaL4Bk8

[George Drooly]

"What is Death?"

Could it be a portal?

[RcCle]

I fear nothingness.

I can imagine what it would be like in a dark room, with no sound/smell/feeling.  I am still experiencing the lack of stimuli.  Trying to conceptualize simply "not being" is pretty scary.  I'm leaning towards reincarnation in one form or another.  At least coming back as a work would afford some sort of experience, albeit limited.

[onan]

I welcome death, just not today.

I have seen enough of those that hang on for months to years by extreme measures. I fear stroking out and surviving, but unable to ambulate. I rage against the idea that a family member will have to "unplug" me.

As far as an afterlife... I hope there is one. But I am not living this life with the thought of a do-over to make it all better. And I am certainly not trying to do good things so I get to live on a better street in heaven. So I take this life as all or nothing. I take it seriously, but not all that seriously.

[MV/Liberace!]

I fear nothingness.

agreed.  entirely.

[ItsOver]

Where were you before you came to life?  Why does that not concern you as much as when you are no longer living? 

[Little Hater]

Death is the end of everything. When you die, there is nothing. Any other definition is bullshit.

[MV/Liberace!]

Death is the end of everything. When you die, there is nothing. Any other definition is bullshit.

well.  guess that settles that.  you read it here, folks.

[ACE of CLUBS]

Many native beliefs ....... no such thing as death, you continue on in a different form.  The present form may become damaged or worn out, but your 'essence' returns again. 

Your favorite Uncle Walter, long since passed, just may be that mosquito trying so hard to get your attention .....

After shucking the 'hell and damnation' control measures, what I call/know as death has no grip on me any more.  I do wish to be alert and un-medicated when the 'big circus comes to town' for me .... really don't want to be un-aware ...... 

Enjoy the ride ....... it may be short.

[b_dubb]

who cares. pass the cannabis. beer. girls. etc.

[HorrorReporter]

I wondered about that, too, Pye, but HR is a longtime poster, and knows the culture here.  Maybe she just wanted to offer a more intellectual, engaging topic for those inclined to indulge?

I am actually working on a series for my website about death.. I am emailing as many people in various walks of life I can for their thoughts. I was bummed tonight that John Carpenter denied me the chance to get his thoughts. But I am motivated by this question.. I just want to understand something. Since I really don't get 'life' I may as well try death.

By the way, to bring this back to Art Bell in some way, I do believe--besides time travel--that the question of death and an afterlife was the most important to him.

[HorrorReporter]

Where were you before you came to life?  Why does that not concern you as much as when you are no longer living?

This question fascinates me..so much so that I even ask my 3-year-old son all of the time if he remembers where he was before he was here. He always says no and asks to do some other childhood type event. My wife even looks at me with a concerned eye when I ask him repeatedly.
In a way, if we can find out we were somewhere before life, then in a sense that would say we will be somewhere after death.

I think there will be some very rough theories on death--the nothingness theory is something I truly fear.
I just see so much life (animals, people, even bugs) and question how it can be so electric but yet that electricity just dies out and the energy goes no where..

[HorrorReporter]

well.  guess that settles that.  you read it here, folks.

Close the thread now.

[ACE of CLUBS]

If we just 'fade to black' after x amount of time ..... why, as the human race, are we so damn complex?  Why are we able to formulate a picture of life after death.  Does that old cat in the alley have thoughts of something better when his time is due? 
Re-incarnation is a common theme throughout the earth's indigenous peoples ..... why?

[George Drooly]

If we just 'fade to black' after x amount of time ..... why, as the human race, are we so damn complex?  Why are we able to formulate a picture of life after death.  Does that old cat in the alley have thoughts of something better when his time is due? 
Re-incarnation is a common theme throughout the earth's indigenous peoples ..... why?

Because people are WHACKED OUT!

Also, Carnivora.

[pyewacket]

I welcome death, just not today.

I have seen enough of those that hang on for months to years by extreme measures. I fear stroking out and surviving, but unable to ambulate. I rage against the idea that a family member will have to "unplug" me.

As far as an afterlife... I hope there is one. But I am not living this life with the thought of a do-over to make it all better. And I am certainly not trying to do good things so I get to live on a better street in heaven. So I take this life as all or nothing. I take it seriously, but not all that seriously.

I also fear surviving in a compromised or vegetative state. I've watched several relatives die by inches and I don't want to put my family or myself through that. I'm hoping to leave quickly if not immediately when my time comes. It matters more to me than what comes after.

[Birdie]

I just see so much life (animals, people, even bugs) and question how it can be so electric but yet that electricity just dies out and the energy goes no where..

I think that is what 'God' is, the great mass of energy. This energy all living things contain is the soul, and at the point of death, this energy returns to the great mass, wherever it may be. I believe in reincarnation of a sort, but don't think we reincarnate as a whole, intact soul. Each 'new' soul is comprised of different bits of energy from the great mass.
I don't know what this is, belief-wise, or how I came to believe in it. It is just what makes the most sense to me. It is also surprising how many people I have met who believe something similar and have come to this conclusion on their own, just like I have. There is more to it, but I cannot explain it well right now. I tried typing it out and thought it was hard to follow when I re-read it.
One thing I am not sure of is exactly what happens when you die. Sometimes I think there has to be a contemplation and reflection stage, where you review the life you have just lived. Were you here to experience something that makes your soul evolve into a higher form of energy? Or were you here, in this particular form, just to help someone else's soul evolve? I think that is what infant deaths and certain other, seemingly senseless tragedies are for- to help the souls of parents or the affected to evolve to a higher form. Without this, there is no purpose for life.
But, then again, sometimes I think when you die, that is it. Your energy just returns to the great mass and hangs out until part of it is chosen to become the soul for a new person.
I am not afraid of death, I just don't want it to hurt, physically. I died once (OD) and it was just blackness. I don't even remember it or the 10 minutes right before it happened. The only thing I worry about is a painful injury that my body would have to survive for a few hours before death comes. That would suck while it happened.