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The Fear of Death or the Joys of Life

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Submitted by Charles Knighton
Understanding life and death
Understanding the joys of life

Mac Fingall’s No Laughing Matter column of November 3, “The fear of dying” essentially posits that trauma is not just the result of major disasters. It does not happen to only some people. Evidently an undercurrent of trauma runs through ordinary life, shot through as it is with the poignancy of impermanence. Instead of post-traumatic stress disorder, we suffer from pre-traumatic stress disorder. Seemingly, there is no way to be alive without being conscious of the potential for disaster. One way or another, death (and its cousins: old age, illness, accidents, separation and loss) hangs over all of us. Nobody is immune. Our world is unstable and unpredictable, and operates, to a great degree and despite incredible scientific advancement, outside our ability to control it.

As with all things, one’s perspective is key, and there is a cure for this disorder. We can live our lives with a fear of dying, or we can develop a philosophy which holds that the purpose of mortality is to teach us, not to suffer and die, but to enjoy ourselves and live. Life’s journey leads us all to the same destination. Whether our sojourn is one of fear or exuberance is all we have the power to control.

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11 responses to “The Fear of Death or the Joys of Life”

  1. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    It’s a nice post. Yes, say “Yes’ to life. Trouble is that the fear/exuberance distinction, being all or nothing, takes no account of those whose lives are riddled with discomfort of one sort or another. For them, mere ‘acceptance’ maybe all they can muster.

    Despite the teaching that ‘you shall have life and have it abundantly’, the Church, in focusing attention on sin and death, rewards and penalties, may be said to be against life other than in a ‘do as you’re told life’ sense. Whatever else, that cannot be the way of love which manifests itself ultimately in recognizing our freedom to ‘be’ with the minimum of interference. ‘Life’ with a gun pointed at our heads cannot be ‘LIFE’. It reduces religion, which should be about lifting us up In awe and wonder, to a menu merely for fear and greed. And this is why, for me, ‘religiousness’ will always override mere ‘religion’.

  2. iabingy Avatar
    iabingy

    i do not and can not understand why i write frequently about
    THE SUBJECT./ [ THE OVERPOPULATION OF BARBADOS.]
    THIS will be the undoing of barbados as there will be no jobs for the thousands of students as they leave school – even university .
    just to find there are no positions for them.
    so crime increases , and gets to be smarter crimes.
    robberies,rapes from pure hatred and frustration.
    and so ON and so forth…..
    DAVID you think this would be a good subject to address as it is what will be the beginning of the end for barbados .ESPECIALLY as we let foreigners
    enter the island and take jobs from our children on a regular basis.
    this is done by the English mostly.so they can live there to get away from their dark, gloomy,low class,dread existence in such rain and darkness.and pollution.Chinese a communist country with the worst record for human rights and slave labor and world pollution.
    has a construction company in barbados?
    has Chinese restaurants in barbados?
    unbelievable stupidity continues and we have not seen the results YET.
    wait a little.! and dont take no head to me and keep talking about nonsense.
    like the legend tank Williams.
    a brutal flogger of young boys.and who knows what else.
    tank is a brutal ,mean,disguising excuse for a human being.
    i hope when he reach hell they flog him till his behind bleeds daily as he has to to thousands of Barbadian boys.who cares about that piece of s_i_t.

  3. iabingy Avatar
    iabingy

    oh i forgot Chinese restaurants take in dogs and cats just like the SPCA .
    so drop them off there /especially yellow dog.they will treat them well.
    no worry.ha ha ha yes please .

  4. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    iabingy

    I’m sure you’re a nice fella…and v intelligent. But don’t you think you might just address the topic? Ta very much.

  5. Konkieman Avatar
    Konkieman

    Death is like birth. We all have to pass through it. Everyone wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die. The only thing that gets us through it is faith. I seriously do not understand how people go through life without faith in God. What or who do you turn to on a daily basis?

  6. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    Konkieman

    “Turn to” for what? An emotional crutch? An answer to all my dreams? A sugar lump? The reassurance of reward? Is that what faith is about – the reassurance of things promised? But by whom?

    But thanks for joining me. I think the post deserves better than either of us. But then it’s not about B’s and D’s so what can you expect?

  7. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    Look dRoos
    Time you exhibit more sensitivity for politicos…..just because you have perfected the art of bottom feeding…you should learn when to keep ur ask quiet and stop being a kno-it-all..ok Grimm.?Konkieman has just as much entitlement as Lord Fairchild so woo-took……LOL

  8. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Konkieman | November 10, 2013 at 11:14 PM |
    “I seriously do not understand how people go through life without faith in God. What or who do you turn to on a daily basis?”

    Which “God” are you referring to? If you are referring to the universality of the Judeo-Christian idol called Yahweh then there is a problem. There have been and will always be many gods in human existence so who are you to dictate which god a person or tribe of people should worship?
    But I like your quasi metaphysical assertion of the continuum of “being” with death being the gateway to birth and where your god in whichever form is both the undertaker and ‘over-taker’ in the grand cycle of life.

    Without knowing it, you might have just made out a strong case for belief in reincarnation. Do you accept reincarnation as a possibility, or are you awaiting the coming of a messiah to take your decomposed body and hopefully saved soul to heaven?

  9. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    THE INDIANS THINK THAT SACHIN TENDULKAR IS A GOD—–A SUPER GOD EVEN

  10. Konkieman Avatar
    Konkieman

    I did not dictate which God you choose to look for strength. I suspect they will all the same in the end anyway. As for reincarnation, I have no idea if it exists. But I have had some experiences in life that suggest I lived them before. Maybe we get to come back till we get it right. If that is so, that is why we can’t get rid of these ignorant politicians!!!!

  11. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    Old Onions

    I did say that the post deserves better than both of us. Sorry – you don’t qualify.

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