Übergeek 바둑이: Death.. yes well... part of life. Biological machines are not made to last, although people have been known by will to extend a scheduled change in address, such is that our bodies are designed to break down.

So much covering death I believe is the church's fault... religion has in the past (not so much now) found it profitable to make us afraid of a change in state. But I find in such fear a paradox in that it denies part of who we are in it's belief.

(V): So much covering death I believe is the church's fault...


Funny... I have always felt that religion made us fear death less, that we had a better place waiting for us? Since I personally have no beliefs like this, death is something that I am not looking forward to.... and I believe the big draw of religion is the "afterlife"... the "eternity" that people crave (not to mention all the virgins)

Czuch: This is the problem Czuch... If taken as per the original intent of religions then death is just a normal life event. But, so much has been empathised on fear of the afterlife by nature of ... have we been good boys and girls. The original 4 'hells' have been converted by bad translation into 1 'hell'.

As to virgins.... you have to be a bit metaphorical regarding some aspects of religion.

But my original point was the difference between suicide and choosing to die with dignity. This difference has been lost somehow. We recognise when in battle a hero may sacrifice their life to save others and remember and reward such sacrifice. Yet if someone is terminally ill with no chance of recovery, and as such a painful undignified death.. we say this is wrong. Yet at the same time doctors get to choose at times when to 'switch off the machine' that is keeping a persons body alive.

Tuesday: And if there is no family? And three comes up in many forms in Judaic based religions, as does 40.... btw.. when it comes to death, it is also said that it is not certain (see Gospel of Thomas) which refers to that the Bible talks of more then one type of death as the original texts used more then one type of hell.

Over simplification causes complication that leads away from the simplicity of the Bible. It's no good just going by what others think is right.

Btw.. Christian wise... there is always transmigration!!

Tuesday: Which hell? there are 4. Gehenna is no more. That pit died out when it was no longer used as a garbage pit and a place to through the bodies of those killed as criminals. But the metaphorical aspect still has use. then there is sheol, hades and separation. And btw.. by 'devil' I presume you mean yetzer ra (the desire to satisfy personal needs) such is it that if in place and yetzer tov is followed, that inner voice of God rather then the 'devil' within is nullified. Make no mistake though, yetzer ra is a part of us that we use from day to day. It's that part of us that marries, has children, runs businesses and many other normal things. Yet if it is out of control... ...

Tuesday: You did miss the point. The world "hell" is a made up word of 4, possibly more concepts. When people say "the devil made me do this" it is a denial of responsibility and as such an escape for people who don't want to change, or.. a ways to escape the consequences of their own actions in the eyes of others who like blaming 'the devil' for their own failings.