What would you say is man's greatest fear?

That this is all there is.

We exhibit it in everything from our religion to our desire to connect with Alien life. To imagine that after this there is nothingness is terrifying to many if not most people I believe. Some are in denial about it.

I believe it is this fear that has allowed people who know this to control us. This fear has made us susceptible to manipulation throughout our history.

Even in ancient culture we see massive evidence that the fear of what lies beyond death greatly influenced our societies evolution and does even today.

Even those who claim no faith and think they are not the same delve into spirituality and falsely believe it is different.

For some it drives them into fanatical political ideologies that once again are the same as religion even though they don't accept or realize it is the same.

Even so called Atheist have developed into a pseudo-religion. They still fight the fear with an ideology tantamount to religion.

I don't think most of us fear death nearly as much as the concept there is nothing beyond death.

[edit on 10/22/2009 by Blaine91555]

Well off to work for me. I will check in later and see what's new. Thanks for the posts and stars and flags. If one thing I have learned is that ATS does have a lot of intelligent people who really put their minds to work. Good job guys.

Originally posted by CSquared288
That there is nothing after the existence we know

Sorry, I did not mean to copy you. I'm working and did not read the whole thread. My bad.

reply to post by Conclusion


I think the opposite is true myself, if there is no afterlife then I can see every reason to fear death and why people would hope to prolong life as much as possible. Even to the point of going on expeditions to find a fountain of youth or concocting alchemical potions that give one immortality. Without an afterlife, there is an ultimate end why would someone not fear that? As for the other point, that's just demanding that the concept of an afterlife must have arisen around the same time man invented written language. It is only through religion that we find most of the time a concept of someone showing them that an afterlife exists, but even then, between cultural and religious beliefs, all concepts of an afterlife are not the same.

reply to post by sirnex


The way I see it is the search for that Fountain of Youth would be yet another substitute for religion. Yet another search for immortality.

Well, if you mean fear of "men" as not "my personal fear", I could say that at least it seems like Men are afraid of people who know more than they do.
Me? If I have to pick something I fear, I'd say probably my own way of thinking.

I think man's greatest fear is a moving target that revolves around the concepts of:

1. choice (without consequence or the lack of it)
   
2. group (the lack of all cooperation leading to self-destruction or a group-mind with no individuality)
   
3. self (cogito ergo sum being the only real truth or the idea that all things are one /w no real sense of self),
   
   and
   
4. nature (that reality should be necessarily cruel leading to the destruction of all things or that a time will come when there's nothing left for man to see or do)

What this seems to suggest is that creations greatest fear is that all existence should be anything less than moving for all things. Perhaps this is why we have a 3rd law of thermodynamics - you can never reach absolute zero. Otherwise the game would stop.

[edit on 22-10-2009 by Xtraeme]

never to be loved or have the chance to love

reply to post by Conclusion


Mans greatest fear is himself, or even fear itself.

I personally think its not having control over a situation/life.

Look at situations that don't go according to plan, people fear that more than anything, Imagine if we were to live that life everyday.

My Answer: No Control

reply to post by Blaine91555

So in denial about it. Think of it. If there is nothing, then what is there to fear. You can not fear nothing for there is nothing to fear.

reply to post by sirnex


Why would someone not fear nothing? Ok I am glad you asked that question. Think about it. It is nothing. You will not know it is nothing because there is nothing. No more pains because there will be nothing. No more fears because there will be nothing. You will miss nothing because there is nothing. What is to fear about that. Sounds like you just want to be immortal. You know searching for that fountain of youth which you so condemn. You do not want to die because you do not really know what will happen. If its nothing then you have nothing to fear. But if it is something what will it be? Which religion is correct? So many choices. But as evolution points out, there can be only one end. At least the same for everyone. Is there a Hell? Could be. Some of the early Christian churches believed everyone was going to Heaven. When I learned that I was like .....WHAT?! Well if there is nothing then nothing will matter because well when its over its over. But if there is something, and no matter which one, well then Morality and ethics come into play.

[edit on 23-10-2009 by Conclusion]

reply to post by Blaine91555


I agree.

reply to post by Klavier


So the Fear of someone who knows more would be a fear of not succeeding another individual in intelligence.

Fear is cultural and enviormental yet still instinctive at the same time, if that makes sense. Some things we are told to fear, some things we learn to fear and some things we are bred to fear.

reply to post by keepureye2thesky


Since the greatest percentage of the world are religious most love their God, gods, god. And they believe that their God, gods, god love them. So that can be dismissed, speaking from a psychological stand point, and scientific, and spiritual.

[edit on 23-10-2009 by Conclusion]

reply to post by stereovoyaged


Very deep, and true.

reply to post by onequestion


I have explained fear itself in a previous post. Now you other one. The fear of himself. I would have to say that if one fears himself then one is unsure with himself. Trouble making decisions or always makes the wrong decisions which he is aware of. People like this usually are impulsive. Making decisions out of haste rather than thought. So since they make decisions not based on thought then I am inclined to believe that they are wrong.

reply to post by Ghost in the Machine


I covered that in an earlier post. So that has come up once or twice. Good thinking on your part because that is a good one.

reply to post by Conclusion

Why would someone not fear nothing? Ok I am glad you asked that question. Think about it. It is nothing. You will not know it is nothing because there is nothing. No more pains because there will be nothing. No more fears because there will be nothing. You will miss nothing because there is nothing. What is to fear about that.

Your reading in to much to what I am saying and missing the point of what I said. The fact that death is the largest fear is what leads people to seek out a means to sidestep death, be it through religion, fountain of youths, or technology.

Sounds like you just want to be immortal. You know searching for that fountain of youth which you so condemn. You do not want to die because you do not really know what will happen. If its nothing then you have nothing to fear.

I don't personally want to live forever either in this world or another after death. I myself am not afraid of death, but simply pointing out that due to the majority of the world does indeed practice some form of belief of an afterlife as a way to sidestep the eventual reality of death.

But if it is something what will it be? Which religion is correct? So many choices.

Indeed, so many choices today and possibly a thousand times that many different ideas since the dawn of our species. Yet not all of them can be correct and since none are in agreement it stands to reason none of them are correct as they reflect religious and cultural norms rather than logical deductions.

But as evolution points out, there can be only one end. At least the same for everyone.

This statement is false as Evolutionary Theory makes no statements about death.

Is there a Hell? Could be. Some of the early Christian churches believed everyone was going to Heaven. When I learned that I was like .....WHAT?!

I doubt it considering where the concept and how the concept of hell first arose. Exactly the reason why early Christians thought everyone was going to heaven.

Well if there is nothing then nothing will matter because well when its over its over.

Exactly why people would fear death. It would be an ultimate end. No more family, no more friends, no more anything that we have known in life. Just, nothingness no perception of being you any more. A complete total utter death of yourself with no continuation. Why wouldn't someone fear that, especially if they don't understand life and death.

But if there is something, and no matter which one, well then Morality and ethics come into play.

That is another false statement. Morality and ethics has nothing to do with religion or an afterlife at all. This demands that people are incapable of being moral without belief in your God, which is just wrong. I don't believe in any God(s) and yet I lead a more moral life than some Christians I personally know.