Death
Someone asked a question on a community I frequent that asked how atheists and agnostics comfort themselves about their inevitable deaths. That got me thinking about my own views of death and I realized I have never needed any sort of comfort regarding my own impending demise. I've never really thought that deeply about it because I don't need to think deeply about it. It's going to happen and there's not a lot I can do about it, besides taking care of myself and not taking stupid risks. There's no point in worrying over something that inevitable, over which you have so little control.
This affects my views of others' deaths as well: I might miss the person, but I have no idea what is going on there and there is no point speculating about it except in fun or as a mental exercise in fantasy. I really loved my grandfather, and even as young as I was when he died, I knew I would miss him, but I also knew that he'd lived a long life. The only other regret I'd had was that I didn't spend as much time with him as he deserved - or that I selfishly wanted. I did wonder if I told him I loved him enough. I also kind of thought my grandmother was a heinous bitch for treating him like she did. Other than that, the death really didn't bother me. I'd just miss him. But life goes on.
It also got me wondering if that is one of the reasons some people are so rabidly fanatic about religion. Some people are really odd about religion. It's like if they're wrong, they might have to face the fact that death is not what they think it will be and that scares the bejebus out of them. Religion might give those sorts some sort of buffer between themselves and that irrational fear. I wonder if that is why some people latch on to a dogma and stick with it no matter what sort of evidence to the contrary might come up. It certainly motivates the assholes who think they're going to get to diddle 75 virgins if they die while bombing civilians. A little brain-washing apparently goes a long way.
I can get that some people believe what they believe. That's fine, as long as they don't try to push it on me, try to incorporate it into the school systems, or try to interfere in government. It's those folks that get my derision and wishes for spontaneous combustion.
But I have to wonder if some are sticking to it and following the commands of their prophets out of true belief and faith or are they following for fear of the unknown. It varies from one individual to another, I suppose. I can respect, for instance, a true Christian who tries to live the teachings of his or her Jesus, and sincerely tries not be a pain in the ass.
All that being said, I still want to live as long as is possible and wring every bit of fun I can out of this life. Personally, I am hoping for life extension treatments before I die that will make me live long enough for immortality to be developed. And I've heard somewhere that even if you didn't age, you'd likely die by 500 years from accident or injury. Maybe I'll live long enough to see the sun supernova. If we haven't gotten off our asses and found (or constructed!) another viable planet or planets upon which to live, then we kind of deserve to die off as a species. We only have about 4 billion years, guys! Hop to it!
The heat-death of the universe is nigh and I have a lot of TV to catch up on! Damn kids and your rock music.
This affects my views of others' deaths as well: I might miss the person, but I have no idea what is going on there and there is no point speculating about it except in fun or as a mental exercise in fantasy. I really loved my grandfather, and even as young as I was when he died, I knew I would miss him, but I also knew that he'd lived a long life. The only other regret I'd had was that I didn't spend as much time with him as he deserved - or that I selfishly wanted. I did wonder if I told him I loved him enough. I also kind of thought my grandmother was a heinous bitch for treating him like she did. Other than that, the death really didn't bother me. I'd just miss him. But life goes on.
It also got me wondering if that is one of the reasons some people are so rabidly fanatic about religion. Some people are really odd about religion. It's like if they're wrong, they might have to face the fact that death is not what they think it will be and that scares the bejebus out of them. Religion might give those sorts some sort of buffer between themselves and that irrational fear. I wonder if that is why some people latch on to a dogma and stick with it no matter what sort of evidence to the contrary might come up. It certainly motivates the assholes who think they're going to get to diddle 75 virgins if they die while bombing civilians. A little brain-washing apparently goes a long way.
I can get that some people believe what they believe. That's fine, as long as they don't try to push it on me, try to incorporate it into the school systems, or try to interfere in government. It's those folks that get my derision and wishes for spontaneous combustion.
But I have to wonder if some are sticking to it and following the commands of their prophets out of true belief and faith or are they following for fear of the unknown. It varies from one individual to another, I suppose. I can respect, for instance, a true Christian who tries to live the teachings of his or her Jesus, and sincerely tries not be a pain in the ass.
All that being said, I still want to live as long as is possible and wring every bit of fun I can out of this life. Personally, I am hoping for life extension treatments before I die that will make me live long enough for immortality to be developed. And I've heard somewhere that even if you didn't age, you'd likely die by 500 years from accident or injury. Maybe I'll live long enough to see the sun supernova. If we haven't gotten off our asses and found (or constructed!) another viable planet or planets upon which to live, then we kind of deserve to die off as a species. We only have about 4 billion years, guys! Hop to it!
The heat-death of the universe is nigh and I have a lot of TV to catch up on! Damn kids and your rock music.