Death Should Motivate Us Not Scare Us | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Death Should Motivate Us Not Scare Us

Making sense of the never ending cycle of life and death

84
Death Should Motivate Us Not Scare Us
Franz Von Stock

Death is everywhere: plants, animals and strangers are dying all around us everyday. Many of us think nothing of it and go on with our everyday lives, but when faced with the death of a loved one, everything changes. We then start to see just how real death is.

It reminds us of our own mortality and often leaves us confused and desperate for answers. Is there an afterlife? Will I ever see my loved ones again? What's the meaning behind it all?

One way we often try to confront this problem is turning to religion. Religion attempts to help us by providing clear answers to these question. Belief in an afterlife is a common thread in the world's religions and there's usually an explanation on how to make it there. A central problem in life is clearly diagnosed along with a solution. In Christianity, atonement is the solution to sin in order to make it into heaven. In Buddhism, negativity is overcome with self-discipline and enlightenment in order to escape the endless cycle of reincarnation, an idea that many of the world's religions also follow.

But what if there is no meaning that is sacrosanct after all? What if all these religions are false and just offering false hope? If we were to discover that these religions had no merit and that life had no clear meaning, we would naturally be filled with a sense of hopelessness. If there's no life after death, is life even worth living?

According to legendary French philosopher Albert Camus, despite such hopelessness, life is certainly worth living. The universe is indifferent to our suffering and we have involuntarily been thrown into a pointless cycle of life and death. Religion is simply a failed attempt to escape this fact. Life is inherently meaningless and we are left to fend for ourselves.

But while the inevitability of death seems overwhelming, death shouldn't fill us with despair. On the contrary, it should lead us to be rebellious against our fate. Rather than allowing ourselves to be overcome with despair, we must rebel against the indifference of the universe by enjoying our experience on this earth and living the best life that we possibly can.

So rather than being afraid of death, we should feel empowered by it. It should serve as a reminder that every moment in our lives is precious and must not be wasted.







Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

609328
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

500466
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments