01-16-2007, 03:14 AM
May the Divine Love, Grace & Truth of the Most Blessed Trinity - One God - be with you always.
Hey, FHC. I note that you and I are basically the only ones posting in this thread but it is getting a lot of "hits".
I doubt anyone is actually reading our posts though - LOL!
I haven't had a lot of time to go through your links, (I've had a nose-bleed work schedule to deal with). I did want to address your "fear death" comment though.
Please take your time. Don't ware yourself out.
We all fear death I suppose, since no one knows what lies beyond that event...if anything.
Death is the most crucial event of our lives because of its finality. My fear of death is somewhat different to yours. I'm not worried about suffering or being removed from this life... but I'm scared that when I appear before the Son of God, my Judge, I'll be in an unworthy state. "Death inevitably brings us to the place where we shall be called to account for our actions & our whole life - something that we may have wished to avoid at all costs during our earthly existence."
(Truth be known, I'll bet every fetus is scared at the idea of <i>birth</i>, for the same reasons).
What's a fetus? Do you mean "baby"??? (JD will appreciate that joke)
A close friend was diagnosed with melanoma at 33 years of age, and in the 5 months it took for him to die a miserable painful agonizing death in front of his 27 year old wife and his two daughters, one 7 and one 9 -- he was terrified.
May he rest in peace. His family's in my prayers.
This was a frightening, miserable and heartless way to die-- the pain and horror he endured was a nightmare
A couple of months ago, I witnessed a 27 year old wife & mother of 3 lose her own battle with cancer. It was anything but a nightmare! I spent the last few hours with her. I spent the last few hours with her <i>& Jesus</i>. She bore her cross so beautifully. Her faith carried her through. I wish you could've been there. God bless her soul.
no appeals to Jesus changed a single thing
Hmmm... I beg to differ.
he died less than three weeks before Christmas-- what a nice gift to his children.
Christmas. What a poignant reminder of how valuable their father's soul truly is.
I do NOT wish to die that way. It's frightening, and the process of wrestling with one's mortality on an ongoing basis for months, always losing every battle, is mind numbingly terrifying.
"In the face of death we no longer have control over anything or can decide what is to be done. We are entirely in God's hands." Dying with warning has its benefits. Merely to dismiss the thought of death is not the way to overcome your fear of death. The only thing that can help you is to prepare for it.
Now someone else I knew only casually a few years ago was on his way home from work when he was approached from behind and shot in the head.
I pray that he too is at peace, & may God have mercy on his killer.
This I cannot see being a necessarily "bad" way to go (the human tragedy part of it was terrible of course, but I mean more in the physical sense of dying). I know I have no choice in the matter (I must die sometime), but I readily have no fear of being alive one second and dead the next as I won't have time to even register the fact that I am dead.
Death is lurking on all sides. Regardless of the method, whether you die slowly or instantly, you can't dodge what's ahead. The best thing we can do is prepare for death with a proper fear of judgement. "The agony of having to face death & walk through the dark valley can be turned into everlasting joy & glory - for those who have prepared beforehand. Jesus has conquered the power of death, & if we believe in Him, we shall experience His victory & the grace that He has won for us."
"Into Thy Hands, Lord, I Commend My Spirit."
Now imagine a world where everyone was instructed on the foundations of critical thinking, where each child was encouraged to question the supportive evidence of authority, where we all understood that our senses, while always accurately reporting what is there, often do not give us enough information to arrive at correct and sound interpretations --that we must always dig deeper and support the things we believe... Imagine that sort of a world.
I've skipped the part on death in Islam. I'm not qualified to comment nor do I wish to. Everyone around here already knows how I feel about beginning/end of life ethics.
As for your final paragraph, does it apply to me too... or is it a continuation of your thoughts towards Islam? I can't figure out how that sort of world contradicts Christianity. (Note: in terms of senses, we believe in both external & internal ones)
I pray that the suffering caused by fear of dying will be transformed into the most blissful & heavenly joy... for you & for all.
God bless you my dear friend.