wenglund Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 (edited) My puzzlement is just the opposite from that expressed in the OP.To me, it is the belief in God and an after-life, if not also the pre-existence, which gives real meaning and purpose to mortal life, making it not only highly valuable, but worth living even under very challenging conditions.Absent these belief, I have to wonder why, beyond instinct, people would want to live, let alone cling to life under very trying and non-enjoyable conditions. So what if its supposedly the only life to live? Once you are dead it no longer matters to you and you will have no way to care.Thanks, -Wade Englund- Edited April 10, 2012 by wenglund
Deborah Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 In answer to the question, in large part it's the survival instinct, something that is so strong in us we will fight to hold onto life. But even when we've accepted the inevitable our loved ones may still be holding us here.And as others have answered we also have things we still want to do and people we still want to be with. This will sound frivolous but when I heard they were making Lord of the Rings into a movie I wanted to live long enough to see the whole thing, and then after that I wanted to be around to see my new grandchild born, and after that....and so on. Now this is not to suggest that I have a terminal illness and am dying but that I recognize the fragility of life and how it can be lost in a split second.There have been times when I've been in so much pain I wanted to die. But then I'd look at one of my grandchildren and think that I need to see this little one grow up first. But then what happens when I have great grandchildren, which is probably just a few years away. There is always something to live for.
MorningStar Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 So if an Atheist isn't afraid to die, can we assume that they secretly believe in God? 1
mbh26 Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 When decisions like this are left up to God, to me it seems like it becomes the individuals responsibility to figure out what God wants. Medicine can keep people alive a lot longer than those people can afford to pay for it. That's why I'm such a strong proponent of these decisions being left up to individuals and their families rather than governments.
Mark Beesley Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 In answer to the question, in large part it's the survival instinct, something that is so strong in us we will fight to hold onto life. But even when we've accepted the inevitable our loved ones may still be holding us here.And as others have answered we also have things we still want to do and people we still want to be with. This will sound frivolous but when I heard they were making Lord of the Rings into a movie I wanted to live long enough to see the whole thing . . I'm assuming that I'll be able to retrieve my Lord of the Rings movies so I can enjoy them in the eternities.
Deborah Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 I'm assuming that I'll be able to retrieve my Lord of the Rings movies so I can enjoy them in the eternities. Me too!
Stargazer Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 Interesting topic.I think that as believers we were put here for a reason and are expected to remain until called home. How do you know the call is serious until it is inescapable?A man in my ward just a few months ago lost his wife of 60 years to cancer. He is still hail and hearty, but a few Sundays ago he sat with me and confided to me sadly that he really missed her, and wanted to go join her, but couldn't.I've kind of decided that I won't fight if the call to go home gets issued. Past the point of I'd like to provide some of my grandkids with my accumulated wisdom, I am somewhat looking forward it.
thesometimesaint Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 Stargazer:I'm still at the point where my younger Grandkids laugh at my jokes. Maybe when they get a little older they'll just moan.
BCSpace Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 Why put up such a valiant fight?-More time to repent.-Faith is not a perfect knowledge, hence fear of the unknown remains.etc. 1
Craig Paxton Posted April 10, 2012 Author Posted April 10, 2012 (edited) Craig Paxton:All we know is that this life is 100% fatal. We are ALL really doing is just prolonging the inevitable.We don't know what is premature. My mom lived to 93 was that premature when I have aunts and uncles that lived to be 103?Some do give up, but the vast majority don't. It seems to be a built in that we want to live a meaningful, to us, life however long that happens to turn out.I have loved ones on both sides of the veil. Which ones should I choose to be with?I believe that life should be lived for as long as life is worth living. Each individual must make this decission themselves. but (for me) I see some extending life way beyond what (I) would view as worth living...I see this as a fear of what else is coming...the big unknown...despite these people claiming to have a belief in the hereafter they still appear to fear the hereafter.I do not think anyone who is healthy and enjoying life should end it prematurely...but once it is not worth living...should one continue to fight to extend life? Yet I see many around me doing this...despite their claim that they believe in an after life Edited April 10, 2012 by Craig Paxton
AddamS Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 Just my 2 cents...I think nearly all human beings, regardless of spritual beliefs or lack thereof, fear change.It is human nature.
altersteve Posted April 10, 2012 Posted April 10, 2012 Because I don't want to die yet. I'm having fun down here on this little blue and green marble. 1
LDS_RM Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 why fight so hard to live, even if you believe in the afterlife? I think some lyrics address the reason:"And I was round when jesus christ. Had his moment of doubt and pain."I believe Faith will always be tested. Joseph Smith was told "Thou art not yet as Job"; I view this phrase meaning "as" Job, not exactly the same situation Job was in. A kind of "proportionality test of Faith". We know that we will not be tested beyond what we can bear, thus everyones "tests" is proportional or relative to the next person, and in the end we will all have passed the same test of faithfulness.
LDSToronto Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 Because faith is not knowledge, death is the ultimate call of all wagers. Anxiety hides in the shadows of faith; as faith is but a guess, equal to all others.H.
rodheadlee Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 Craig Paxton: There are several reasons for my wife and I personally.1)We are not sealed yet.2)The next reason for me personally is it's my job to live longer than my wife so I can care for her. After 2 cancer surgeries I doubt she'll go for number 3. She is reasonalby healthy right now but she has expessed a desire to not go through that again.3) We're not done doing the work we are supposed to be doing for the Lord4) We have older parents that will need hospice care sooner or later and no other family member will do it We've done 2 already and we have experience at it.5) Endure till the end
Tarski Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 Or maybe they're afraid they haven't lived a good enough life?It they were viscerally despirately fearful of that possibility, they would have done something about it a long time ago.But they didn't. On the other hand, we don't fail to keep ourselves alive at all costs if we can.PS: You would be just as insanely fearful of the blackness if you were staring down the barrel of a gun even if you had no more family on earth and nothing left to do.
MorningStar Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 It they were viscerally despirately fearful of that possibility, they would have done something about it a long time ago.But they didn't. On the other hand, we don't fail to keep ourselves alive at all costs if we can.PS: You would be just as insanely fearful of the blackness if you were staring down the barrel of a gun even if you had no more family on earth and nothing left to do.I will always have something to live for.
Kenngo1969 Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 Because faith is not knowledge, death is the ultimate call of all wagers. Anxiety hides in the shadows of faith; as faith is but a guess, equal to all others.H.No offense, but no, it's not. Alma 32 and Hebrews 11.
Buzzard Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 College Football!!Well, BYU Football, anyway. And BYU Basketball as well.
rpn Posted April 12, 2012 Posted April 12, 2012 Oh, I think that this is a human thing. Humans are famous for seeking treatments to hang on a little more, regardless of their faith or lack there off. It is the major reason for the huge cost of health care --- ineffective end of life interventions. But there are plenty of faith oriented people who reject such treatment for the very reason you mentioned, that it is silly to fight and spend out resources to prolong life without quality of life, especially when you are joyfully going home to a God you believe will welcome you and family who are waiting there.Trouble is, not a few of us still have things we are working out and some of us want the extra time to get better at the things we should have gotten better at earlier.
Stargazer Posted April 12, 2012 Posted April 12, 2012 Stargazer:I'm still at the point where my younger Grandkids laugh at my jokes. Maybe when they get a little older they'll just moan. Yes. One of my daughters asked her mother something, and her mother told he she should ask me instead. The daughter demurred, saying she didn't want to know THAT much about the matter.That's right. Ask me what time it is and I will explain in great detail how to build a clock.
LDSToronto Posted April 12, 2012 Posted April 12, 2012 No offense, but no, it's not. Alma 32 and Hebrews 11.No offense taken. Alma 32: "and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good."Hebrews 11: Now afaith is the bsubstance of things choped for, the devidenceof things not seen.Both refute faith as knowledge. Faith, at best, is hope and belief.Ralph Waldo Emerson: The faith that stands on authority is not faith
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