Just Death, Nothing More

Death. One of the most illogical and inconsistent views persistently held by the majority of humanity is that death is a fearsome and innately evil thing. Incredibly, in so believing, people relegate themselves to unavoidable misery and failure. Everybody dies. In order to be happy, it is entirely necessary to have a proper and realistic understanding of death.

Two possibilities exist, either death is an end to our being or merely a step in our progression. The first option certainly doesn't give any reason to fear death, no existence is neither better or worse than existence, it is simply nothing and, therefore, nothing to fear. However, I believe the second possibility is the consistent option of the two.

As has been discussed previously, man is meant to progress and God acts to aid man's progression. Death, therefore, cannot be a bad thing, as God the optimizer continuously allows it to occur. Death can only be a necessary step in man's progression, certainly not a bad thing. In fact, I believe in many cases, death can be an honorable and great thing. When a man gives his life protecting his beliefs, a woman sacrifices (in the redefined sense) her life for her children, or anyone dies having understood and lived consistent and true principles, these are good deaths; deaths of honor and integrity that should be celebrated. In many cases, death is a great success.

Therefore, the media's use of death to evoke pity and concern and outrage is terribly inconsistent. Everybody dies. The portrayal of death as the ultimate evil to be avoided and feared is illogical and self-defeating. Death is a natural progression that comes at its own time, not something to fear. I am not advocating that we seek death or that things like murder are not wrong. We avoid death in order to take advantage of life and we cherish life for its goods. Still, death is not a thing to fear, it is not an evil. Eternalism necessitates this.