Why Do We Fear Death?

I think most people fear death for one reason or another at some point in their lives...like fear of not knowing what's on "the other side", is there "the other side", things like that. However, I've heard people say when lying in the hospital, and they are tired of fighting whatever has them there..."I'm ready, I want to go home", home meaning heaven. My grandmother said that and about two months later, she did.  I think there comes a time in your life when it's no longer a fear of it but a longing for it because you've seen enough of this old world that the streets of heaven are much more appealing.  Hopefully, if you're a child of God and believe what the bible tells us of heaven and what's on the other side of death for you.....then all fear should be gone.  Maybe the fear is because they don't know their destination upon death......

Death is just kind of unknown. Nobody knows exactly what happens when you die, and science tells us it's different for every person (w/ near-death experiences anyways). People tend to fear the unknown when you think about it, it IS scary. But I believe that there is an afterlife, and you don't have to be afraid. Janes said it best.
Hope I was of help!

People fear death mainly because none knows what happens once you are dead,and although it is normal its still frightening because it is unknown.

More than death itself, I think people may fear the unknown.  Of course people who have religious beliefs feel they have an idea of what will happen to them after they die, but my personal belief is that none of us knows what happens to us after death and most people have at least some fear of anything that they have not experienced.

Some people may be more accepting of this unknown than others.

Think fear of death is the fear of the unknown  some have there religious beliefs but still may fear death no matter how strong their faith

I think the biggest fear is fear of the unknown,no one knows what happens after death,as has been said before no one has ever come back and informed us if it is good or bad,we only know they don't return,we are here we know what it is like most people don't want to leave but it is a must. God knew it would be this way that could be why you don't know when,it just happens...

People fear death for many reasons..
1- because of the unknown.
2- because they love life.
3- because they don't like to get separated from their buddies, families, etc.
4- because they're afraid to be punished because of their sins.
5- because they don't want to leave someone who depends on them.

I have to be honest I don't fear death, but I understand that others do. My life has not been the greatest and things have been tough, and I think death would be wonderful no matter the pain to spend an eternity with my creator.

Man is a creature of habit. Man likes predictable and reoccurring events. Death is an unknown and is change. This unknown factors and the change is what is feared the most.

Death is a great UNKNOWN, when it will happen, how it will happen, what happens afterward; we may think we know but there is no proof in this physical reality. Fear and thoughts of evil often run deep for people who don't know and can't control the outcome, can't prove how right they are, and are left having to trust something more than they know.

Evil does not prevail until it is given power. ~ Rabbi El’Azar

It's because it's the fear of the unknown. No one's come back to tell us what happens once you are dead. But some people think your born as a totally new person.

I think it is being afraid of the unknown.  It is also the lack of control we have over our own demise.  We could be hit by a bus tomorrow or die in our sleep at 94.  As a child I learned the pray with the line..." And if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take".  Many, many years later, I never go to sleep without thinking of this and worrying about it.  Now, how silly is that?  I want that kind of peaceful death of gently slipping away in my sleep.  But I want more control over it or much more information as to what is on the otherside.  I believe, as every good Christian does, that we are going to  a place prepared for us by Jesus Christ and it will be wonderful.  I have been with three loved ones as they died.  It was not grisley or fearsome but quite inspirational as all three met death with a joyful expression.  However.......

As many people have already shared here, many are afraid of the unknown.   Many who believe they will be going to heaven after they die are not as afraid of dying because they know they will be brought together with other loved ones who have also passed away.  Sometimes death in itself is not as scary as how we die, maybe there will be a lot of pain associated with dying.  And many do not want to leave their family and friends behind also.  Some people may associate dying with some kind of punishment and that is why they may fear dying.  If people have any over-whelming fear of dying, they may want to think about making positive changes to their lifes, ask God to come into their lives and change them.

People fear death because they don't actually believe what God/Jesus told them it is appointed once to die then the judgement...then eternity in heaven or hell...if you don't want to fear death believe in the one that conquered death hell and the grave Jesus king of kings/ lord of lords /the lion of the tribe of judah............oh! And just so you know we were never intended to die for we are eternal,death is the price for sin....before sin Adam and Eve in the garden of eden disobeying God we never had any of the things we have now such as work/pain/death.....the saying may sound a little corny but " read the bible it has the answers"

It could be a number of things, some of which revolve around: Leaving their family and loved ones behind, fearing that they didn't get to live life to the fullest, and perhaps because they don't know where they go or what happens to them after death. There's so many stories going around about the afterlife it's really impossible to tell or even know what your fate will be.

Frankly, I'm not afraid of death, but I don't necessarily welcome him with open arms either. Death is a savior and a disaster in one neat package. If we didn't have him, we'd had more chaos in this world than we have right now. People should learn to embrace the fact that death isn't as bad as they make it out to be. Besides that, death pulls us from pain and suffering as well [or our loved ones, like those in an accident].

He can come at the worst times and arrive at the best times. No one really knows when though.

On a final note: We wouldn't be human if we didn't fear. Death is simply one more to the list.

Probably because they feel like if they die. They won't see their kids nor their family. And who likes dying. No one

It is not death itself, since I am positive I will go to heaven.  But the dying process is cause for fear- I would be afraid of pain, suffering or violence.  I am afraid of loved ones dying- esp. Since my husband did die.

We fear with death because of losing everything beauty nature present on earth. We don't want to lose our relations our friends.   .........and many more

It is human nature to fear the unknown. We don't know what is waiting for us, and we just want some comfort in knowing that heaven is waiting. What the future holds will always be uncertain, and we can only make what time we have here something precious.

Everyone wants to live longer.. And there are some who wants to be immortal! I personally think we shouldn't fear death, cause it happens when God wants. And there's always a reason behind his doings. Sometimes God take away the good ones before the bad ones =(

I don't really. I just want it to get over it when it does happen. I wish not to suffer. I wish to die all at once.

Maybe they are not afraid.  They just feel that they are not yet ready.

I don't know why we fear death it's not like we know what's going on afterwards but it is scary and I think it is natural to be scared it's the fear of the unknown I guess. I have some fear about this myself this may sound really weird but I am very clausterphobic and it scares me to think of being buried that's why I want to be cremated. I think it's the fear of leaving behind loved ones and not being there for them. We all have our reasons for this fear but of course there are a lot of people who don't fear it and I guess they feel certain of what will happen in the afterlife.

Well i have a very strong fear of endings and to me death is an ending to never see that person again for our relationship to end is the scariest thing to me.