After Death

Death is an abstract concept that has brought about a lot of wonder and anxiety in many lives, as well as a lot of theories as to what happens after. Some of these theories are likely only believed because of a fear of nothingness and a hope for those who are already dead- these theories can be titled two different ways. If you believe in the theory, then you would call it your religion. If you believe in a theory other than that specific one, then you would call it a mythology. It’s a bit hypocritical, really, defining another's unproven theory as fake because your unproven theory is what you have grown up believing in. A step above that on the being-a-dick-biscuit scale is believing everyone should follow the rules that accompany your theory. Theories are beliefs, and to try and force your beliefs on someone (or, ya’ know, an entire fucking country) because you think it’s right is kind of messed up.

No one really knows what comes after death, and trying to come up with something without evidence of any kind as to what actually happens is comparable to trying to find a blade of grass someone else in the world picked without any hints or means to know if you’re right. I respect these beliefs, of course, up until the point where they prove themselves to be on the dick-biscuit scale earlier mentioned. I can understand that people believe what they believe, and may believe because simply because they want to believe it (like someone who is religious because they want there to be something other than nothingness after their death).

Now, no matter what you believe there are many who are scared of death. I do not see the point in being scared of such a thing, as it is inevitable. Why waste time being scared of something you can not hope to understand? If there is nothing after your life, then it will not be scary. It will be like a permanent retirement from the world into a state of nothingness- much like the time before you were born. Some could be fearful because they do believe in something, and that something says if you disobey you will be punished. There are many options when it comes to confronting this kind of fear, but I will only list a few. You could live your life as a complete and devout follower of the laws put in place, never straying even a hair, because there are two ways it could work out. One- you were wrong and wasted your life following a false prophet’s idealisms out of fear. Two- You were right and end up where you wanted to be while everyone who lived their life in disbelief is where you were scared of ending up. Either way, you’re taking a risk- so you have to decide which risk is worth taking. Looking at it this way is also good for deciding whether or not you are a true believer in whatever it is you think you believe in.

My personal risk is the ladder. It’s hard for me to see why I would want to devote my life to belief, when belief is just self assurance in uncertainty. Why give up my freedom just to appease something that doesn’t for sure exist? I suppose this is a bit of a “play now, pay later” mentality; but I believe there won’t be any actual price to pay outside of the consequences of my actions in the here and now. Even if I do end up damned for my sins, I committed them with a smile on my face and lived a full life because of it. So whatever I have to go through, although potentially torturous, will likely be worth it looking back.

Now, what about other people’s deaths? Those whose names you don’t even know as well as those who are close to you? Well, as I said, this dark shadow that looms over life will inevitably snuff out everyone’s fire. So handle it in whatever way you can. Try to come to the understanding that death is what makes life precious, and remember them and the life they lived. Coping style is dealer’s choice.