Combining a psychological point of view and a religious perspective can produce intriguing results when it comes to the question of if and why we fear death. Some people are under the impression that everyone fears death. However, there are many people who really do not fear death at all, and some who even look at it as a comforting and welcome reward for having lived through this life being the best person they could be.
The issue of if and why we fear death really depends on how a person perceives the life they’ve lived. Someone who has lived outside the law, for example, may be more fearful than those who have lived as a law-abiding person. When faced with the prospect of death, or even the thought of the prospect of death, many people begin to take stock of the decisions they’ve made over the course of a lifetime, and it is then they ponder the possible consequences of having lived a less “worthy” life. This is especially true of people who have had a religious upbringing and subsequently turned away from religious ideals. In this case, there may be fear associated with death. The time they have left may be spent seeking a return to their religious roots.
Others, also basing their life’s outcome on religious beliefs, may question their demise anyway. Even the most devout Christian may wonder if they have lived well enough, served well enough, or prayed enough. Have they lived according to the tenets of their faith? Have they been “good” enough to enter into Heaven? This may weigh heavily on the minds and hearts of people who still have questions about how well they’ve done in their lifetime, but firmly believe in an afterlife based on their religious beliefs. As death nears, they may find reassurance from family members, friends, and clergy, allowing them to pass without fear.
Still other people without religious beliefs may not fear death at all. For some of this group, it is the end of existence in any form. Because this is their way of thinking, there is no reason to fear death. They will simply cease to exist, and there will be no form of reward or punishment afterward because there is no Heaven or Hell. They will accept the notion of dying into oblivion, with nothing to worry about beyond their final heartbeat. There may be fear associated with illness and pain beforehand.
Those who feel they have done all they could to ensure a spot in “a better place,” may express acceptance and lack of fear. Although none of us have true assurance of our ultimate future, many people do believe without a doubt that they will go on to live on another level, beyond hardship and pain. They may look forward to reuniting with loved ones. If they have suffered from illness or injury, they may welcome death as a transition to lack of pain and further hardship. “Going home” may be considered a blessing. When asked if they are afraid to die, you will hear a definite no. For this group, faith will get them through the dying process and death just as it has gotten them through life.
So what is it that people fear, if they do, about death? Studies have shown that it is the process of dying that is most unsettling. Pain is the factor that most people want to avoid. Not knowing how severe the pain of a terminal illness will be, how severe the pain of devastating injuries will be, or how incapacitated they will be in old age, many may be more concerned about the process of dying than their actual death. Loss of control of bodily functions is a leading cause and source of fear. There are people who welcome death as a release from suffering, but only fear what they will have to endure prior to their death.
We all have to die, but the question of if and why we fear death turns out to be a very individual one. Those who live a rewarding life, keep their affairs in order to the best of their ability, and even make practical arrangements for when that time does come can face the inevitable more calmly, without undue fear of the unknown.
