The Significance of Religion in Addressing the Fear of Death

How have various religions addressed the fear of death throughout history?

Options: Hindu belief, Christian belief

Answer

It is commonly said that there are only two guarantees in life — death and taxes — but what can be more taxing than the prospect of one’s own death?

Ceasing to exist is an overwhelmingly terrifying thought and it is one which has plagued individuals for centuries. This ancient stressor has been addressed over time by a number of different religious explanations and affirmations. Arguably, this capacity to provide answers for fundamental questions is what defines religion.

For instance, under Hindu belief one’s soul lives on after biological death and is reborn in a new body. Under Christian belief one can expect to live in a heavenly paradise once one’s time runs out on earth. These are just two examples, but the extension of the self beyond its physical expiration date is a common thread in religious texts.