Fear of the Unknown
Throughout history, death is a subject not touched on a lot in the western world. In other Cultures, an individuals end is seen like their beginning. Some have accepted the hard truth that death compliments life. That without death life itself will hold no value to mankind. Our life in my opinion is a journey with death being the final destination. We take this journey and make decisions because we know there is a final destination.
The lives of mortals are supposed to end at a time not known to any man. Religions and cultures have a notion of what happens after death. Some believe there is a heaven and hell, others reincarnation, and others nothingness. Many people believe these things and it gives rest to their mind. Whichever story one believes in alters their choices in life. These choices made in life are to determine where and how the afterlife treats you. This makes us aware of the possibility that the fear people have isn't because they're going to die, but rather because they might be forgotten or never remembered. This brings me to an arguable conclusion that we fear death because we know not what story will be told of us or how we will be remembered or if we will be remembered at all.
I believe that at this point in life or some other point, we will accept one story of what happens after death. What we do not know for sure is whether we will be remembered after we're gone. This makes me confident in saying the unknown in the instance of death is the question of whether we will be remembered for all we did for others and the world. This is because we have accepted and know that there is an end, also that there is something or nothing after this end, and yet we do not know, how the living will speak our names or even celebrate us. The question we ask ourselves therefore is, "Did I do all this for nothing?", "What did I do all this for?", and, "Why did I make these choices?"
The lives of mortals are supposed to end at a time not known to any man. Religions and cultures have a notion of what happens after death. Some believe there is a heaven and hell, others reincarnation, and others nothingness. Many people believe these things and it gives rest to their mind. Whichever story one believes in alters their choices in life. These choices made in life are to determine where and how the afterlife treats you. This makes us aware of the possibility that the fear people have isn't because they're going to die, but rather because they might be forgotten or never remembered. This brings me to an arguable conclusion that we fear death because we know not what story will be told of us or how we will be remembered or if we will be remembered at all.
I believe that at this point in life or some other point, we will accept one story of what happens after death. What we do not know for sure is whether we will be remembered after we're gone. This makes me confident in saying the unknown in the instance of death is the question of whether we will be remembered for all we did for others and the world. This is because we have accepted and know that there is an end, also that there is something or nothing after this end, and yet we do not know, how the living will speak our names or even celebrate us. The question we ask ourselves therefore is, "Did I do all this for nothing?", "What did I do all this for?", and, "Why did I make these choices?"
I agree with these claims! I think that it’s true, we all get to a breaking point where we ask ourselves those questions. I wonder if it is good to start now, as younger college students while trying to determine the path we are going to go on. Now is the time of pros and cons, to ask ourselves important questions instead of procrastination! It seems daunting to do that when it seems life is just beginning, but I wonder if that’s healthier! It may create less anxiety to truly explore and search for answers sooner rather than later, and ask those questions now.
ReplyDeleteWe will have to accept our death because it is inevitable, but the story of what happens after death is something that humans will never know; the reason why we will never know the story after death is because each member of humankind has led a different life, so everyone's version of the 'afterlife' varies.
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