April 9, 2008

I do a lot of public speaking and storytelling (mostly about ghosts and hauntings: see the Events button) and encounter many folks who are terrified of dying, especially in a violent manner. If every one and every thing that has ever existed has died in some manner, how can this event, the “last great event in our life” be bad or wrong. My perception is that death is a graduation ceremony of sorts, an event that our unconscious or soul agrees to. My understanding is that, as body life is an opportunity to work on what we believe or say we believe, all of us eventually get tired, unable or unwilling to accomplish any more of our goals. Many times, I suspect, we agree to die simply because we can no longer find happiness in life or become bored. So we agree to our body death, though it is not the end of the real, much more complex, “us.” If life does indeed continue outside the body, what is all the fear about? And, maybe we get to return, refreshed and re-energized at a later time (though there is no “time”).

Looking at the world situation today, I find great ignorance, even here in the US with our vaunted free educational system. Fewer and fewer people take advantage of it any more. With the Internet we have the answer to almost any question just one or two clicks away. Instead (note the national election coverage, no matter how accurate) we rely on seemingly “educated others” to interpret events for us. Fewer and fewer newspapers are sold because we seem happy with sound bites. Those are easier for dozing minds to process, though they can only produce a prejudiced voter; one who dares not admit (s)he has only a portion of the truth. It’s one thing to be ignorant; it’s another thing not even to recognize it.

In any case, today’s irritation on my part is that (regardless of how the election and Iraq War turn out) so much of information put on by e-mails is pure hate and prejudice. Most of it that comes through my computer is directed against Obama, but I’m sure you have found anti-Hillary and anti-McCain (how many cute names have you heard for him?) stuff as well. In case you run out of items to fear, we are about to (remember the Fear of Y2K?) see lots of “end times” stuff, certainly from those who claim to worship an all-loving God. How can one love God and fear Him at the same time? It can’t work.
 
Much of the fear (even though not based in monotheistic scriptures) will be directed at the date of December 21, 2011. “The world is going to end! We are all going to die! But before you go, please send a donation to (fill in your favorite cause)!” Sometimes death is great medicine, I think. Let’s hope it shuts up the fear mongers and maybe inspires more of us who claim to worship a Loving God.