AIBU, fear of death

[aliveandhealthy]

I was raised a Christian and grew up believing in god however I've recently come to the realisation that god is very very unlikely. For anyone interested here is my reasoning behind this conclusion:

A lot of people argue that the universe has to have a cause. The universe doesn't have to make sense, we cant just extend human logic to the universe. According to Einsteins Theory of Relativity, the big bang was the beginning of time. The argument "what came before the universe" or "how could the universe have appeared out of nowhere" doesn't make sense as there is quite literally no BEFORE the universe (time emerged alongside it). I know, mindboggling. That's why I said the universe doesn't' have to make sense it doesn't follow human logic.

Second of all it's very clear that all religions are created by humans. There is no reason to believe we are the centre of gods creation. Animals have conscience and it is VERY likely intelligent life exists somewhere else in the universe. There is no reason to assume we are special (like mosts religions suggest) simply because we appear to have more intelligence than other species. Also it's illogical to assume that god, the creator of the entire universe, would care about petty things, such as sex before marriage, gay sex, all these sins in the bible, these are very clearly moral values imposed by humans.

Also religion is very clearly based on fear. People are scared of death and so they resort to believing in a higher power and an afterlfie for comfort. People are scared of the unkown and so they use religon to explain concepts that cannot be explained. In the Roman Empire people used to believe gods are responsible for storms. Now we know that storms are caused by weather cycles and so this explanation falls apart. And yet we still have many unanswered questions, such as why does the universe exist, and so people resort to religion to explain them. People are also very scared to question religion, as they fear leaving it could lead to eternal suffering, hell. Religion is so powerful because most never question it due to fear of what happens if they do and due to how powerfully they've been indoctrinated.

There is no reason to believe your religion is any more true than any other religion. I used to be christian and I used to convince myself that christianity is real based on "all of the evidence for christ". Now that I look at this evidence from an objective standpoint it's very clear it cannot be held as actual evidence. For example the proof we have that Jesus resurrected are accounts written 100 years after his death by people who weren't alive at the time of his life. All religion has equal evidence. NONE. It is irrational to believe your religion is any more true than any other religion simply because of faith. There's literally zero reason when all have no evidence. Everyone claims their religion is the ONLY true religion.

As a result I've become quite sad recently, acknowledging that all of us have an inevitable death. Neuroscience makes it clear that conscience is an illusion created by the brain. As neurological activity ceases, conscience also ceases. I've heard that you won't suffer during death as you won't be aware of your non existence, just like before birth. But can you imagine your conscience not existing forever? It's crazy that one day we will not exist for eternity. I understand we won't feel it, just like we didn't feel anything before birth, but at least before birth our lives were still to come and after death what if there's nothingness forever? Sad really.

Is my fear irrational, has anyone been in a similar situation?

If we were born even 500 years later, biological immortality will maybe be possible. Death wouldn't be an issue. If only we were born a little later...

I feel the Buddhist way helps me with that, gradually accepting release from attachments in this world.

I find thinking about death gives me a good kick up the arse tbh. I do believe you just cease to exist, sort of eternal rest with no consciousness. I find the thought of leaving my children forever the most sad thing about it, but you live in on their memories which is comforting. I think all we can hope for is a long, interesting journey! The rest was written the day we were born.

You are processing the vastness of the universe and the loss of your religion, which led to a fear of no consciousness after death?

Is there something that led to this?

Honestly, I think the main problem is that when we think of the universe, its vastness is incredibly hard to comprehend. Especially when you realise just how insignificant we/earth is in the universe. I dont mean to sound patronising but maybe try not to focus on the universe.

Think about life here on earth. Do you really think immortality is something to achieve? Earth will not be habitable forever. When we look at the elderly in their last years, its either the body or the mind that cant cope. If people become immortal, then we would have to stop reproducing, as there would not be enough space.

I suppose technically Jesus would have been against it as he was Jewish and so would have followed the Old Testament (Pentateuch) where Leviticus says it’s an abomination and Deuteronomy calls for death etc etc. Jesus was an observant Jew so it stands to reason he would believe this.
I have no idea really as I’m an atheist and don’t believe in any of it.

Hi, I am Christian and thought would join in a bit here. I do think death is a heavy topic but a worthy one for thought and discussion!

Well we all will one day. But there is also the rapture when Jesus returns and there are Christians who believe the rapture may happen in their life time, so they won’t die but be taken up and what a wild ride that would be! It makes me think of Enoch and Elijah.

I don’t know if it will happen in mine and the lifetimes of everyone on here but I don’t doubt it will when we arrive at a specific point in history. Going by world events, it could be soon.

Not that my opinion matters to anyone but I do think we are living in the end times, not because of any conspiracy theories etc but down to the nuts and bolts of biblical prophecy being fulfilled. Jesus spoke about the things that would precede his return, we are seeing a lot of these things happening right now.

I have a personal relationship with Jesus that is not dependent on going to church or anything or anyone else. I wasn’t indoctrinated, my family didn’t go to church. It is entirely stand alone. I don’t read the Bible everyday but my God, my saviour, my Immanuel, my friend? I love him with all my heart and could not live without him x

Im an atheist too. But according to scripture Jesus gave his opinion on lots of things but never once sexuality.

Me too. I don’t care about dying, I’ll be dead so what does it matter to me but I don’t want to leave my children. They are adults but everyday they need me for something even just to tell me something and the thought of not being here for them is too much for me to think about.

But I think the whole point of life is the memories we leave behind. If we do life right people will remember us with love and live their life with how we affected them and what we gave them. So I want to do it right for my children and husband and other people I love.

When those people who remember us are gone then we cease to exist.

A very dear relative of mine recently passed away. They were fit and healthy, and it was a very short illness, so it hit me incredibly hard. For the first time in a long while, I found myself questioning death, religion, and science. I became terrified of death and the idea of ceasing to exist, forever. What scared me most was the thought of being completely alone, never seeing friends or family again (I know I wouldn’t know this though!)

I don’t believe in God, which I think made it even more frightening. For a while, I even considered going to church, just to ease my fear of dying. The idea of non-existence terrified me, but the possibility of something beyond this life gave me peace.

Thankfully, I’m out of that mindset now. I don’t dwell on it as much anymore. I try to focus on being here, on living a good life on earth. Death is something we can’t control, and there’s truly nothing we can do about it. But I do think more people should reflect on it, if can be a powerful reminder to live fully and stop putting things off.

I believe that he didn’t too, and tbh I can’t believe anyone who believes in the loving and forgiving god and Jesus would not agree with or hate anyone just because they were gay but that’s part of the reason I’m an atheist, it all is just made up.

It makes sense to me that Jesus would agree with the Old Testament as he was Jewish and it’s not surprising that the New Testament also has reference to it as Christianity originated from Judaism so it would draw quite heavily from it.

I totally get that

I like that thought too, I feel like there's this never ending churn of energy throughout the universe

Exactly, like a big inhale and exhale of the universe.

I haven’t read everything on the thread.. I was struck by a person I know who had a sudden unexpected cardiac arrest. At home with her 2 young kids. (She is now married to a woman but was originally married to a man). Very young.
Had absolutely no awareness of anything until she woke up in hospital.
I almost died from massive blood loss when I had a placental abruption (and stillborn full term baby). After the immense pain of the abruption that went on for hours I knew I was dying. I just felt tired.
It is sad but I don’t believe there is anything after death of any consequence to consciousness. But it’s also unlikely to be painful at the moment of death.
I was brought up catholic (Irish). Life taught me (not theory - and I have a PhD in philosophy) that biological death is undoubtedly what we call “the end”.

I share your existential angst and am a lifelong atheist. Sad and frightening as it is, in some ways, the inevitability of death is what makes life so precious.

I truly believe this life is just the beginning. Eternity will follow. Where we spend it depends on the choices we make here.

Eternity sounds hideous to me, wherever it’s spent.

That could be because you’re basing it on life here, in this imperfect fallen world that is subject to death, suffering, sickness, fear, hatred and evil. Imagine even an earthly life, free of those things, how different that might feel.

Like my username suggests, I have shared things on chat forums and don’t expect they will be believed. But I am a truthful person and share things from my heart, I hold myself accountable to a high standard and believe I am accountable for the words I say or write.

I wish I could show you the things God has shown me over the years, they are transformatively beautiful. I wish I could show you the love he has for you. The things I have been shown are beyond beauty, have shaken me to my core, given me unending hope of the life here and one to follow. Also of the judgement coming and some of the things that will take place in the last days, it is so real.

Why does he allow chikdren to die of malaria then? Or be born with no quality of life? Ypu can argue war and starvation are due to man’s free will, but malaria and childhood disability are not. Either he’s omnipotent and he coukd stop these things but chooses not to - and how hateful is that? Or he’s not omnipotent and therefore can’t guarantee anyone anything.

If non-existence didn’t bother us when we weren’t born it won’t bother us when we’re dead.
yes mortality is a depressing thought at times but think of the circle of life, and that we are all made of stars, we all have our time on this earth.
you can see how religion can take hold or how people have faith, the prospect of an eternity in a “heaven” with all your family sounds absolutely fantastic.

now This is the most horrifying part for me too
I try my best not to think about it

I'm not especially religious but I don't believe the energy that animates us can just cease to exist when we die. Scientifically energy has to go somewhere. That, to me, is our souls, and I believe they live on in forms we cannot possibly comprehend while we're here. But I don't really know what that will be like - how could I?

These things are truly awful, I totally agree about the pain and horror of all these and other terrible things. We are living in a world where death reigns, at least for now. It is not deliberate inaction from God, but the consequence of a living in a sick fallen world which is being made ever worse and sicker from the continual practice of evil and the innocent suffer. The Bible describes how bloodshed literally stains the earth and corrupts it, it ‘cries out’ from the ground, People wonder why God has such a problem with sin and the answer is easy - it’s because sin is death! He hates sin because he doesn’t want us to die. He loves us more than I can possibly describe.
This is a very precious thing for me personally and I haven’t openly shared it anywhere else but I will here. So I was talking with God a few years back, heart to heart, and he gave me a glimpse of his broken heart for humanity. His broken heart as Father God and I heard him weep. Literally, crying. He is utterly heartbroken over us, like a parent grieving. That shook me, it was all I could think of for weeks and weeks after. I will never forget the sound of God, my God, weeping and the pain that was in it 💔

You honestly can see them after! There are so many people who have seen relatives in heaven, even family members that they never got to meet before on earth before they got there, like siblings lost to miscarriage and great-great grandparents. Jesus is the key though, he is the only way to heaven because we’ve all done things wrong and doing ‘good stuff’ doesn’t just cancel it out. Sin is like the bloodshed that stains the ground, no amount of trying to be good can cover up or wash away the blood stains. Only the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus on the cross paid the cost of those stains and washed them away forever. I’ve heard it said that all religions are equal, however Christianity stands alone in that it isn’t about what you can do for God, but what God did for you.

Same