RE: How did you conquer the fear of death?

[Guest guest]

Hey you bold boy Brad! Bolder than I, but I am proud of you. I need to get behind "the service to others" aspect more, as it is ultimately the most fulfilling way to live. I must say that with my weight loss and health improvements, I probably get between 10 and 20 emails a month from strangers asking for encouragement. Trying to fit it all together and make some sense of it so it may be of benefit to someone else.

[Guest guest]

What the heck. I wouldn't mind hearing a Buddhist perspective, or Hindu or any other kind and I wouldn't tell them they couldn't say it either. We have had Judaism alluded to on the other list and I love it. This is what makes the folks here more real to me. We had moderators on another list I have been on, get very upset before and one way it was handled was to include the word "religious" in the subject line, that way, people offended by religious viewpoints could ignore the posts, or people interested in divergent viewpoints could access the post. Could we do something like this? It seems the most balanced and fair to all points of views.

[Guest guest]

--- In , " Brad Forgy " <brad.forgy@e...>

wrote:

I see life extension as a way to increase the quality and time of

service to others. Some may pursue it due to fear of death and I

suppose we may not completely overcome that fear regardless of our

beliefs.

The fact that Jesus has tasted death for us (Hebrews 2.9), however,

is very reassuring (Romans 8.28-39). It gives me a joy and hope that

make me want to live. I consider health and life extension on earth

as minor matters compared to eternity but I think they are worth

pursuing.

It reminds me of the story of the elderly husband and wife who were

killed in a car wreck and went to heaven. The husband found the place

so delightful that he exclaimed, " We could have been here much sooner

if we had not eaten all of that oatmeal! "

What do you think?

*****I am reminded of St. of Siena's comment, " All the way

to heaven is heaven. "

If the ultimate Goal is eternal life in heaven, then why the

proscription against suicide; after all, it'll get you there

faster. ;-)

[Guest guest]

Brad: What I think is that you're trying to shove your brand of religion

down our throats. I asked you to remove your by-line (a religious one) when

you first posted. So now you put your religious beliefs into your post.

You are out of line!!

on 1/8/2004 11:34 AM, Brad Forgy at brad.forgy@... wrote:

>

>

> I see life extension as a way to increase the quality and time of service to

> others. Some may pursue it due to fear of death and I suppose we may not

> completely overcome that fear regardless of our beliefs.

>

> The fact that Jesus has tasted death for us (Hebrews 2.9), however, is very

> reassuring (Romans 8.28-39). It gives me a joy and hope that make me want to

> live. I consider health and life extension on earth as minor matters compared

> to eternity but I think they are worth pursuing.

>

> It reminds me of the story of the elderly husband and wife who were killed in

> a car wreck and went to heaven. The husband found the place so delightful that

> he exclaimed, " We could have been here much sooner if we had not eaten all of

> that oatmeal! "

>

> What do you think?

[Guest guest]

I'm not bothered by anyone using this as a response to the question--it

seems fairly normal, actually. However, we're not here to discuss theology,

and even death is off-topic (though it's a fairly present 'lurker'...).

Personally, I don't think that any metaphysical argument can be either

proved or debunked, so I try not to get into such arguments, but in terms of

function, I would ask if this somehow transforms the feared into the desired

(hence, conquered). Even Ernest Becker, who many believe is profoundly

atheistic due to his analysis of the function of the fear of death, was

actually very devout -- the point is that whatever theological system is or

is not 'correct' has little to do with how fear, instinct, and social

conventions actually function.

Nonetheless, that level of the discussion has little to do with CR, and is

probably something best left to each person to decide on his or her own,

depending on what suits one best and makes one's life rewarding. I try not

to accuse anyone of forcing their beliefs on me (don't we all do that), but

instead try to turn the discussion to something where actual dialogue can be

had -- at the level of faith, I don't believe anyone can have meaningful

dialogue with another, since it is necessarily personal.

Best agonies,

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Francesca Skelton [mailto:fskelton@...]

> Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 9:44 AM

>

> Subject: Re: [ ] How did you conquer the fear of death?

>

>

> Brad: What I think is that you're trying to shove your brand of religion

> down our throats. I asked you to remove your by-line (a

> religious one) when

> you first posted. So now you put your religious beliefs into your post.

>

> You are out of line!!

>

> on 1/8/2004 11:34 AM, Brad Forgy at brad.forgy@... wrote:

>

> >

> >

> > I see life extension as a way to increase the quality and time

> of service to

> > others. Some may pursue it due to fear of death and I suppose we may not

> > completely overcome that fear regardless of our beliefs.

> >

> > The fact that Jesus has tasted death for us (Hebrews 2.9),

> however, is very

> > reassuring (Romans 8.28-39). It gives me a joy and hope that

> make me want to

> > live. I consider health and life extension on earth as minor

> matters compared

> > to eternity but I think they are worth pursuing.

> >

> > It reminds me of the story of the elderly husband and wife who

> were killed in

> > a car wreck and went to heaven. The husband found the place so

> delightful that

> > he exclaimed, " We could have been here much sooner if we had

> not eaten all of

> > that oatmeal! "

> >

> > What do you think?

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I addressed a good question that was posed to the group, Francesca. I did not give your answer. Whose answer should I give? I gave my answer. I will be glad to see your response and others and I will not call you "out of line" because you give your response--not mine. My faith gives me reasons to CRON. Why do you CRON? What gives your life a quality that makes you want to have health and long life?

What kind of support group would this be if we did not talk about the beliefs and values that support us?

Blessings

Brad Forgy

----- Original Message -----

From: Francesca Skelton

Sent: 1/8/2004 10:43:47 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] How did you conquer the fear of death?

Brad: What I think is that you're trying to shove your brand of religiondown our throats. I asked you to remove your by-line (a religious one) whenyou first posted. So now you put your religious beliefs into your post.You are out of line!!on 1/8/2004 11:34 AM, Brad Forgy at brad.forgy@... wrote:> > > I see life extension as a way to increase the quality and time of service to> others. Some may pursue it due to fear of death and I suppose we may not> completely overcome that fear regardless of our beliefs.> > The fact that Jesus has tasted death for us (Hebrews 2.9), however, is very> reassuring (Romans 8.28-39). It gives me a joy and hope that make me want to> live. I consider health and life extension on earth as minor matters compared> to eternity but I think they are worth pursuing.> > It reminds me of the story of the elderly husband and wife who were killed in> a car wreck and went to heaven. The husband found the place so delightful that> he exclaimed, "We could have been here much sooner if we had not eaten all of> that oatmeal!"> > What do you think?

[Guest guest]

You should have given the answer exactly what you said below: " My faith

gives me reasons to CRON. "

Details of your faith; which faith it is; and the way you addressed your

answer (as if it was factual for everyone ) was entirely inappropriate. No

prosyletizing here!! I'm sure there are boards for those who want to

prosyletize. This is not one of them. As the moderator this is where I

draw the line.

on 1/8/2004 12:40 PM, Brad Forgy at brad.forgy@... wrote:

> I addressed a good question that was posed to the group, Francesca. I did not

> give your answer. Whose answer should I give? I gave my answer. I will be glad

> to see your response and others and I will not call you " out of line " because

> you give your response--not mine. My faith gives me reasons to CRON. Why do

> you CRON? What gives your life a quality that makes you want to have health

> and long life?

>

> What kind of support group would this be if we did not talk about the beliefs

> and values that support us?

>

> Blessings

>

> Brad Forgy