Death and Fear

[Smeets]

Imho

We are only scared of death because we fear to be judged.

But we can overcome that.

Everybody has to be judged. We are all the same.

[cyberangel]

Hi Smeets,

I think the harshest judge is OURSELVES! If only we could or would realise that we are all worthy we would be far happier and have much more peace.

Love and Light

[sparklekaz]

Hi Smeets,

I don't believe God does judge us. I agree with cyberangel, that it is we who judge ourselves harshly. I believe the reason why some people fear death, has very little to do with the fear of being judged and more to do with fear of the unknown.

For me fear of the unknown is all to do with fear of change. I think if people were more comfortable with change, and seeing it more of an opportunity to grow and explore new horizons and experiences, then death would hold less fear for them. Death to me is not the end, just the beginning of another wonderful adventure.

Love and light
Kaz

[Smeets]

It could be, yes, the fear of the unknown. All fears can be conquered. Maybe it's personal for everybody. But you are right. It's another way to grow. And facing your fears is always a brave and good thing to do.

But what about the idea that in the end (when we die) God will judge us, the dead, and everything. It says that in the Bible. That's every man's fear (maybe not women). Guys hate it when another man judges them and God is a man. At men's core is a belief that we must be better or atleast the same in everything we do. I must be faster, stronger, funnier than any man out there. Women are not like that. They accept other women equally.

What do you think? I enjoy talking about the male and female. Both of you said we judge ourselves... is that a women thing? I don't judge myself; I'm quiet fond of myself, lol.

[sparklekaz]

Dear Smeets,

I think men and women all equally fear and worry about the same things to be honest. I am not one of these people who believe in stereotypes. Men and women all equally feel love, pain, fear and insecurity. I believe if you understand this we don't make assumptions about what is tolerable for one person and not for another.

I know that the bible does talk about judgment, and God's wrath and anger. But without fear of offending anyone's religious beliefs here. I do think we have to remember, that the bible was written 2,000 years ago. It was written in the symbolic language of the times and it was interpreted by man. The bible is full of analogies and parables to teach moral lessons. I think this is something we should consider when we read it and not think too much in literal terms. But that is just my opinion.

I do believe in God and I do believe in Jesus. But I do not follow a religion, I have a personal relationship with God. So I would consider myself a spiritual person rather then a religious one. My belief about God is that he/she epitomises perfect unconditional love. A forgiving God, a non judgmental God. As cyberangel said in her response to you and I agree. The judgment that is spoken about, is the experience we have when we pass into spirit and reflect, look back on our own lives. What did we learn from this life. What would we have done differently if we could have. We see the consequences of our actions. We feel those emotions again, and the emotions and feelings of those we affected.

My own personal feelings about this are different now then what they were. I don't believe we have to wait until the day we meet our lord to talk about what happened to us. I believe as we grow and mature as human beings as we walk the earth. We start to see the consequences of our own actions and feel their repercussions. So in a way we suffer here. We don't have to wait until we pass over to feel regret or remorse.

And then there are the lessons we learn from these experiences. If we had never made a mistake or did something we deeply regret. Would we have ever had the opportunity to learn from these mistakes. Would we have ever grown and matured through them. Though not all do I grant you, but many do. I see everything that happens to us in life as a learning opportunity. This is said in no way to justify hurting others even if it unintentionally. Simply that I believe that it is through understanding the consequences of actions that we are given the opportunity to redeem ourselves, now here in the present should we choose too.

Life is all about choices. We can be ground down by life and its challenges. Or we can see it as an opportunity to grow and become better people. As the saying goes, 'it is not over till the fat lady sings'. Every day we are given the opportunity to start afresh and live a happy and fulfilling life. Don't waste it!

Love and light
Kaz

[buzz]

Im not afraid of dying cos I dont have something to afraid. Death is just a symptom of our life. If we love our lives we must expect that sometime we die!

[subsidinginsanity]

I'm with Kaz and cyberangel. God does not judge us. ACIM tells us that God never forgives us because he never condemns us. The reality that we experience is of our own choosing. We are at cause not effect.

On a personal level I do fear much suffering. To me physical pain is the stiffest test of Spirituality. It's virtually impossible to believe that we are not bodies when we are in pain. Pain has a way of making all this seem real. As long as I'm not in much pain I do not fear death.

One thing I've been contemplating for awhile now is how I feel about suicide for the sake of ending suffering. I'm no where near the point where I would do it, but sooner or later my body will give out like every body does. When that time comes, if I should be in too much pain, I may well choose a quick death on my own terms. Needless to say I'll do much praying and soul searching before I decide on that.