If you are religious (any belief/creed) do you fear death?

[sauvignonsass]

Not trying to be provocative or upset anyone.

For transparency I'm not religious.

I always wonder though how I would feel or think if I believed in an afterlife though.

If you believe in life after death does that make you more or less afraid of dying?

I used to attend church regularly as a child / teenager / early 20’s. Then I moved and soon after entered into a relationship with someone of a different religion. DS2 and DD weren’t raised in any faith and weren’t christened either. I would like to go back to church, but I wouldn’t say i’m fully bought into the idea of an after life and a God.

One of my closest friends is dying, diagnosed with cancer on 1st Jan and in the final days of her life. It’s times like this I wish I had a faith and would feel a bit better if I believed that my wonderful friend who did so much for other people was going to heaven where she would be rewarded for eternity. Instead I just feel angry that she is being taken and all the horrible people get to stay and enjoy their life.

My dad died 6yrs ago and was an atheist and it was hard as you can’t have the conversations about being in heaven etc. My friend video called me after she got the news the cancer was too advanced and she didn’t have long left to tell me her ashes will be scattered on the coast and I can come and visit her there and we both cried our eyes out. Because none of us believe that her spirit will be there, just a trace of what was her physical body and she is gone forever. I do feel having a faith would have changed completely how that conversation went. But then I feel bad going back to church as I get older so I can have some belief that death isn’t the end. That feels wrong.

I don't fear death but I do fear dying if something horrible. If I find my faith is wrong and there's nothing then I guess
a) I wouldn't be aware anyway and
b) my faith has brought me such a wonderful community and friendships that I wouldn't regret it anyway.

My Mum is a Christian and has been since her teens, she has a very strong faith. When my Dad died a few years ago it left us all devastated but it is her faith that has helped her. She said to me the other day that when she is gone I am not to mourn her, that the moment she closes her eyes in this life will be the moment she opens her eyes in my Dads arms in Gods Kingdom. She is wonderful woman and I know I will grieve for her desperately even if she will be happier.

I don’t fear death, but I fear what happens after. My biggest fear would be hearing the words “depart from me I never knew you”. I’m Christian fwiw.

i didn’t grow up in a religion at all, and found this path due to scary life experiences but having faith brings me a level of peace that I can’t explain