Just had a read through all this. Some very interesting stuff. Lots of answers I disagree with, and lots of pertinent theories and points of views. My parents are Christians and so I was brought up with that faith, but as many people do, I started to question it around the arrival of adolescence. That also coincided with the realisation of mortality. I *kind of* "got over that" but recently it has been bothering me again, stronger than before. Unsurprisingly, Xant made some points that were very hard to contest, and which resonated with me (transhumanism etc).
I will say this: I don't want to die. I would take immortality if it was offered unconditionally. I realise dying would be less distressing if I had a coping mechanism, but I think I'll tailor my own rather than subscribe to one with all the unnecessary extras (giving no names). It will still involve taking an empirical theory as absolute truth, i.e. fooling myself
I'll lie, sit, stand, walk, run, pray, eat, or fight alongside you.
I'm here.
We're here.
However many of us you need are here.
We'll be here as long as it takes, as long as you need us.
We're right behind you, right next to you, or right in front of you.
We checked the way ahead for you.
It's safe.
You're safe with us.
You'll always be safe with us.
We won't leave you.
We're in your reality.
We know you're scared. But it's ok.
We'll all move forward together.
That's a promise.
, but shouldn't be as domineering a mechanism than a whole religious doctrine.
What happens after life is the ultimate adventure and something to be looking forward to.
This is one of the greatest unknowns that noone has convincingly been to and returned from, so this is kind of true imo.
Also, Beauchamp, tried that one, it compounds my fear of my mortality with yet another person's, as if having parents etc wasn' t enough lol!
If dying was like the aftermath of staying up all life, and being so tired that you forcibly slip off despite having some of those really urgent things that need doing asap, like continuing to be alive, doing the washing up, then I'd be more ok with it.
Problem is I think it's more like the sensation of suffocating and believing you'll soon be completely alone.
