[mmasters]

Recently I was thinking about all the folks that preach how life is good, life is a miracle, life is precious...

On the other hand, you never hear people saying things like "death is good", "death is a miracle", "death is precious". I think it's a valid question to ask, after all death is part of life, why shouldn't we value it as much as life?

With the planet becoming more and more run down by explosive growth and resource use it is in need of a cleansing. That cleansing can only be done with the natural process of death as a part and the healing power it will bring forth to this planet. I for one think death sounds nice as a process of completely letting go of this world...a freeing of the soul.

So why is death so taboo? Most religions teach to hold onto life, "life is a gift". And in death we face the possibility of judgement -- things like heaven or hell. This uncertainty surely plays on people's fear of the unknown. In Tarot the card of death represents the archetype of change. And we all know that society in general does not like change. It is a fear of death and fear of the unknown that is at the root of this aversion to change. A society more in balance with its darker sides would be better off. People wouldn't be so scared of terrorists, nuke strikes or whathaveyou. So easily manipulatable to give up their freedoms out of fear. While a society like this is only imaginable, us as individuals can learn to face our fears within and embrace the dark side of ourself, for only then can we learn to completely accept change.

Change is necessary.

I believe to best survive the journey ahead we must come in balance with our darker sides, for life and death go together.

[SinisterBlueCat]

while i would be sad if certain others that i care about should die, simply because i would miss them so, i think death is a wonderful part of the process. oh my, it is just about the only thing in this whole process that might allow me to believe in a higher power.

could you imagine being sentenced to this life with no hope of parole? death is actually quite kind.

[dukey]

think happy thoughts

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mmasters', 'I') think it's a valid question to ask, after all death is part of life, why shouldn't we value it as much as life?

[Eli]

As far as society goes and anthropologically the reason death is not as valued is because it turns out it is not as conducive to commerce and productivity.

Hey it is death day again Yea! I think I will jump off the roof. Splat! and thus dies the best scientist the world had ever seen.

As far as Christianity goes life here on earth is seen as a pale imitation of the world that is to come. To enter into communion with Christ, Christians are called to die to life now and be born again in Christ.

Paul the apostle, at the end of his life was more than ready to go the only thing that held him back was that he still wanted to help those here. He was excited and ready to die when the time came.

Death most assuredly is a good thing. The Christian concept of death is more like the refining of gold or silver. The metal is held in the flame and when it has lost its dross, it becomes pure and reflects the image of silver smith.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mmasters', '
')
So why is death so taboo?

Change is necessary.

[PenultimateManStanding]

I know about Incan practices because of curiosity, I read the stories of the Spanish conquests in their pursuit of souls and gold.

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mmasters', 'O')n the other hand, you never hear people saying things like "death is good", "death is a miracle", "death is precious". I think it's a valid question to ask, after all death is part of life, why shouldn't we value it as much as life?

[Pops]

Nice post eli, while I don't show up much at gatherings anymore, that was a nice witness.


$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TommyJefferson', 'I')f you picked B., put your selection into effect before the sun goes down today.

[mlit]

Like a forest fire. Nasty to go through yourself but needed to keep the forest healthy.

[Carlhole]

Obviously, life = death = life = death, ad infinitum.

Remember, a couple of decades ago when Yosemite raged with forest fires and everyone rued the destruction of such a beautiful environment and habitat? Well, the beauty of Yosemite never died! The beautiful regenerative powers of the Park showed themselves and demonstrated the necessity of continual renewal.

The same thing will ultimately happen to the human race and the enormous infrastructure the present day humans have developed and require. Unlike many of the doomers here who condemn humanity as unalterably hideous, I think that a reduction of population would display the same attributes of rejuvenated cultural beauty in our humanity that Yosemite displayed as a unique environment.

People on PO.com contemplate die-off and merely display the usual knee-jerk aversion to their own deaths. They are not in the least concerned with the health of the planet which their own deaths would be aiding.

It's just more selfish, me-first, cowardly American consumerist culture manifesting itself again. If there is a die-off, it's cause for celebration.