The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

It would seem that the Vampire has begun to fill a rather large void in peoples life for a solution to the question of mortality. Throughout time, mythologies and religions have sparked up or stampeded through the world with the promise of everlasting life.

The vampire isn't new in the scope of things but it's recent allure in the form of a gift as opposed to the fear of folklore curse points to a rising focus on the prize and not the moral challenge required by so many of the religious routes to living forever. The vampire also focuses on eternal youth as opposed to merely living forever. There is a focus in vampire literature that it maintains youth or at least the outward appearance of youth. So what is the root of the appeal there?

Why are humans so afraid of growing old? Is it the fear of physical weakness? Are we afraid of losing our beauty? Is it just the nearness of old age to the finality of death? Do we associate youth with power and fear it's loss?

I guess it is for fear of death,health issues and being not so attractive.

My feara are the last two issues I mentioned.

yeah, its not the growing old, its the dying out while looking like a prune with eyes...lol sorry, that was mean but its funny! I dont fear it though, I'm pretty damn sure I'll die before I'm old enough to be considered "old".

People tend to fear the unknown. Humans are prone to fear what they can not touch, see, taste and smell. It's a conditioning of sorts. Everything has a balance.

alot of people fear death because life is so short. Many people are unable to do the things they want to in the time they are given. Also theres the fear of being forgotten.
Who will remember you when your gone?
What have you accomplished to be remembered?
The appeal of immortallity is that you wont be forgotten, you wont disapear.
Another reason to fear death is not knowing what happens when your gone.
so being a vampire can be appealing for those reasons.
However what apeals to me is the power of being a vampire.

I would have to say that my fears are of losing attractiveness, fear of losing strength that is attributed with youth, and the fear of not getting everything accomplished that I wanted to in life. I don't think I am fearful of death however.

well, if you think about it. when you are old, you cannot do everything for yourself anymore. you get ill more easily. and i guess it would just be very boring in a nursing home with nothing to do all day. well thats my opinion.

I don't fear it, nor do I fear death. Honestly if it came down to where I couldn't do for myself. I wouldn't burden anyone w/changing or feeding me. It is like reverting back to an infant.

There's a lot of great responses here on both the fear of death and the fear of aging. One is an unknown. Since no-one really knows what follows death, I'd like to focus on the other. The effects of age is evident all around us. We are constantly surrounded by reminders that age can bring weakness and frailty, but it also brings knowledge and experience. I'm always fascinated by the fact that older people generally begin to come to terms with age (not that they necessarily have a choice) and there are many stories and myths about the curse of staying young (the ever present 'be careful what you wish for' fables).

Isn't 'vampirism', in the mythological or literary sense, a way to try and have the experience and knowledge of age without paying the price that is loss of youth?

When You Are Young, You Wish You Where Older, And Spend Your Time Trying To look Older, But When You Are Old, You Wish You Where Young So You See, It Works Both Ways.
As A Child I Used To Wish i Was An OAP Because then I Sit At Home All Day Without having To Do Homework Or Go To School Or Work Lol

Shadowed Life- I agree. Though there are plenty of older people who were it not for illness or injury, would say they are very content with their age. They have long ago given up on trying to maintain the more 'shallow' aspects of beauty and or popularity. It's the verility that they miss. The ability to DO what they want without fear of injury.

I have relatives that no longer fear death or age. They have reached that age where death is looked at as a well deserved rest. But they have passed the point of fearing age simply because they've gotten as old as they likely will.

I've posted earlier that there are animals who don't show the cellular degeneration that comes from age. Were it not for disease or injury or starvation they'd live effectively forever. But would that appeal to humans. Would we be ok with the appearance of age without the ill affects of age? If our cells regenerated normally throughout life, would we even lose the appearance of youth?

definatly fear of death of maybe what it is like to die of what the fear is.

I've said this on other topics...time is the ultimate predator. Nothing can stop it, nothing can even hinder it or examine it. We are the prey to time and all prey is afraid of the predator. It answers to none and obeys its own laws. That makes people afraid of it, afraid of what time brings, what time has to offer them, when their time comes, what they did with the time they had. Time, age, the two tie together in all ways and because we fear time, we fear age, time takes away looks, movement,s memories, opportunites. it takes was the things we live for...and we fear that

Dark Angel Eyes- Now there is a really good point. The fear that we wont finish all the things we want to do. The fear of wasted experience.

Realistically, we don't run around trying to do everything we can as if we had this short finite life and yet that is definately a fear that begins to creep in on us. We realize that the years begin to pass more frequently. The idea that you might die without ever having tried this or that experience begins to take hold. Excellent point.

It's interesting that our whole system of society is based on the idea that you'll always have time to do what you want. We work most of our lives and spend very little of that down time trying to really increase our 'experience' in life. If we really gave too much thought to the loss of time working, we'd likely have a much more chaotic society that sought to experience more and work less.

I think that's another aspect of the mythological / literary vampire that is so appealing to us now. The vampire isn't a functioning part of 'society'. They are not only ageless and free to take their time in experiencing 'life' but also because they are seperate from mankind, they don't have to 'work' within it's standards. No need for a real job or for any real roots to hold you to one location or to one responsibility.

How can you fear what you know is inevitable.. Yes we are all going to die sometime..Its what you do with the time giving to you. When it is my time to come, it is my time..

Jasmine and Satin- You both posted on the inability to do things for yourself as age takes it's toll. Satin you were more clear on the need to 'not be a burden' but do you both feel that it's the lack of your own freedom to do things yourself that you fear or the necessity for someone to take care of you? Is the burden really a burden to those such as family or even someone who is paid to take care of you? Or is it more the need or desire to be independent and in control of your own actions and life?

fear nothing Death comes to us all sooner or later I am what I am..

when you awaken up and become spiritual the fear of ageing and death diminshes as you know that there is life after death

if you actually believe in life after death, many people dont so that doesn't count for them? and death finds no one, like i said, time finds and kills all

everyone has his or her own beliefs actually.. and everyone sees this subject differently too

what I fear most about death is that, when I AM dead, people might find my *embarassing possessions* in my stuff.

In my opinion alot of people fear old age because there is no question that they will be weeker, proberbly suffering from many illnesses with the possibility of losing their one remaining asset (their mind), and will have lost friends and family, who would look out for their wellfare.

I tend to think that people fear death because if they have led an amorale life then their done for (If they believe in the afterlife). I don't think people look to vampires as a solution, its just another way of trying to forget about the inevitable.

I do not fear death, you cant avoid it so i try to live my short life the best i can

Humans fear the unknown...and there is no real certainty about what comes after death.

Not to have some fear of death is natural...it is a loss to those left behind and so has always been associated with a "negative" emotion.

Fearing Age?

That is just foolishness. Age is when we gain venerability; wisdom. Anyone who would rather have youth and beauty over that is truly dim.

As that one guy says in "It's A Wonderful Life": "Youth is wasted on the young!"

The fear of growing old and dying.. and the fear of not knowing whats after death.. for sure anyway.

I fear none of that-- just dying alone, is all.

As far as immortality, no such thing unless we're counting the soul.

Soya - I'd have to say that the morality of my life has yet to be a factor in my thoughts of death. I have a personal ethical code that I feel keeps me comfortable but I don't believe that I will be judged by anything but posterity.

Minamurray - I don't think it's foolish to recognize that the older you get, the less active of a life experience you will be able to participate in. Your travels of the world are at an end. Any experience you have after a certain age will be through books, internet or worse TV.

People fear the unknown, as well as bad health, and growing old

Poor health, body aging, lost of strength. But I think it is also the way people react / treat older people. They are alone, shut out in a lot of ways from life. Family leaves, and they are left. That is my fear.
If you can hold that back - who wouldn't take it.

Nara- I mentioned this in another thread but it bears repeating. Immortality for humans may be far off or impossible, but there are animals (including mammals) that do not age in a negative cellular way and only die because of disease, predators or starvation. There is a breed of whale, a rock fish, certain breeds of turtle, and alligators just to name a few. For them immortality or at least an extremely long life would be possible and even probable in the right conditions.

yeah, the whole thought of immortality is what really sparked my interest in vampires, then my interest grew from there...

It is the fear of death that makes people not want to grow old

I thinks its because ppl are scard of death and being un attractive or their health being affected

Felix I agree with you on this point. I do not believe in heaven or hell, but I still lead my life according to an ethical/moral code. But I have had this discussion many times and allot of my friends are religious and tend to embrace old age with fear, guilt and worry. This saddens me. I do not fear old age or even death, it is a part of life!

As far as getting old and closer to the grave I find it interesting. Life has changed and it is always a new experience everyday. Death is just a stage of life and I am wondering what is next?

With age comes experience, with experience come knowledge, with knowledge comes great sex....Ummm I mean responsibilities.

When i hit 30 everyone said i should act my age , think age is a state of mind . I personaly i don't fear getting old i welcome it tc

Separation from loved ones and loved lifestyles is one of the deepest roots of a fear of death I believe.

i'm not really sure, ppl fear to grow old, and some want to much power, to have both to never die or grow old, and to have power, would be the altiment achievment....

Humans fear old age because they fear death. Or an illness they may come upon. Or how they will leave their loved ones and cherished things behind as they leave this world and enter one they have to learn all over again.

I just think cockroaches, personally.
I'm talking human species as it were, 'us.'

FelixFelix wrote : "If our cells regenerated normally throughout life, would we even lose the appearance of youth?"

I found this concept to be very interesting in particular, as "youth" is merely a stage in the aging process, to eliminate aging, would be to eliminate youth as a comparritive state, and therefore it's appeal?

For some dieing is not a fear, Livivng is. So it may not always be about Death. It may be about being alone.

ok so sure growing old sucks you find stuff hurts when it didnt before maybe your not as pretty skinny whatever the hell but for me.... i dont want to die for 2 damn good reasons, and yeah ok it be nice not to age anymore either.

1. Maybe if i have more time ill find the one person that can actually understand, be with, complete, soulmate blah blah blah or find that its all truly bullshit!

and most important!

2. i want to learn i want to WATCH history as it happens not just for my short life span but for centuries! what could be more exciting than that?
not much im sure but it would be enough to keep me going=) gah i know im such a nerd!

Watching history go by is a fun thing to do

I don't fear growing older. You couldn't pay me a million dollars to go back to grade school or high school. When I look back at my 20's and 30's I realize i didn't know who I was, I was walking though life as a zombie. Even now that I'm on the verge of turning 40, I'm much happier, more settled. Physically it isn't a cake walk but I'm much happier now and more settled.

I understand ya there i can wait until i get out of my 20's

Age is nothing but a nuber we use to defyne the times we've traveled around the sun on this rock we call earth

I believe we are all scared in a way to get old .So many illnesses, and death it lies heavy on us ...

Soya- I can definately see where religious beliefs could have an effect on the fear of death or how you look at death in general. I don't see that affecting age as much with the exception of it being a reminder of deaths closer and closer inevitability. I do sometimes forget to include the effect of religion on these discussions...since I have none.

DarkAdmin- experience in all the err forms you mention, do increase with age to an extent...but at some point, the physical body limits the type of experiences in life you can have. Knowledge is of course still available through things like books and computers but real life experience becomes very limited as mobility becomes a serious factor.

Life is Killing - Lifestyle is one large aspect of the reduced experience in life. Granted we might be told that lifestyles change with age and that doesn't necessarily mean they get worse, but (and I think you'll agree) we won't always be knocking heads in the pit...sooner or later, it just wont be possible to keep up with those little punks. Until then of course...really make em feel it.

Liquorice - I was really shocked to hear this a couple years ago (that some animals don't age on a cellular level). Cells divide and as long as they do, we 'regenerate' old cells. Those creatures I mentioned never stop cell division. Humans stop cell division because of chemical 'caps' that start to wear out in our DNA. That's where aging 'negatively' comes in. Key thing about the 'immortal' animals is that they also never stop growing so if they were to escape disease, or predators or starvation, they'd be as big as a house. I'm not sure i'd want that.

I agree with alot of you but i agree with GrieveousDemon. Why fear the unknown. Just embrace it and move on. Fear of old, everyone will be. Fear of Beauty, well beauty is is the eyes of the beholder. Fear of change, well everything will changed eventually. And tomorrow i will be another year older but I have no fear, I call it gaining more wisdom..

Fear of age? Not really. In fact, I welcome each new year to add onto my total. But at the same time, I impatiently wait for death. So the only terror age could hold for me would be the longer time I would have to spend without meeting the reaper. In fact, I've said on numerous occassions that the only thing I would have to think about before accepting the bite of a vampire would be eternity. I have never sought eternity, though it is the price I would pay for that kind of power.

I wanna say that the mundane are scared of aging simply because of what the world views as pretty, youthful and attractive.

It was not untill the recent years that people began to get afraid, and become more aware of how they are viewed in todays siociety. So they now have plastic surgery, and they try all that they can to stay young. today it is viewed as bad if you keep your normal looks when you age.

Our grandparents never had these issues. They didnt see the models on tv, the people getting thinner and thinner.

There are so many answers to that question. Some do not wish to grow old for they are obessed with the way they look. While others are simply afraid of death and not knowing what lies for them in the end.

Personaly I would hate to live forever. For I rather not see what this world will come to in the future. It would be a terrible thing to see all animals go insticnt if that ever happens. It would depress me way to much. See all of mother nature be destroyed.

Not only that but how long can a heart be wounded by losing a loved one until it can't beat any longer.

And I am sure I have repated a lot of people but whatever.

I myself do not fear death. But on the otherhand I am not rushing towards it either. I live my life to the best of my ability and when I am finally called to the Summerland, I hope my journey will be a peaceful one.

well, i guess it's a combination of all of them. no one looks forward to being not-so-attractive, and i'm sure the fear of death is also a major factor. that may be why so many turn to vampirism, to escape death and to be eternally beautiful.

i agree with GothGoddess. the idea of immortality is a far reach but it is the thoughts that vampirism is a fountain of youth.

I like to think I do not fear death, but I greatly feel that when the time comes, I will be scared.

I do not fear ageing, with age comes experience. I do not fear become dependent, my pride is not so great that I cannot ask for help from those who love me. I long ago quit worrying about how I look to others, so becomeing unappealing is not a big deal to me.

My fear is actually for the next few years and my ability to have children.

I long ago came to the conclusion that everyone dies alone, that moment between life and death, when mericles happen, each person faces that moment alone. Some choose to remain, while others choose to pass on.

As for what is after death, I am much to curious to actually say that I fear it. I may be apprehensive, but not fearful.

Sweet eternity - no one ever said that fears were logical or even realistic but a great many fear that the changes that come with age won't all be wonderful.

Onyx - I disagree (respectfully). I think that humankind has been obsessed with age since we created the concept of time. As soon as we understood the finite years before us, there were those willing to sacrifice everything for a few more years. While your grandparents may have a more accepting view of age, it's impossible to believe that we are the only generation concerned with it.

Perhaps Joe DiMaggio worried about life after sports...
Did Marylin Monroe worry about life after beauty?
Did Columbus or Richard Byrd worry about life after reaching an age when world exploration was no longer possible
Did the Borgia family fear the loss of power with age?

Aoibiheal - While I don't fear death or age with some kind of daily fervor, I can't say there isn't some trepidation focused on age and what it could mean. I've lived hard enough that my body will likely take that decision out of my hands.

Gothgoddes and Wrathschild - My point exactly...the mythology of vampirism is an almost direct reaction to a fear that our time here is limited.

Who's the one to say that whatever happens wont be wonderful? I think that life gives us what we deserve thru work, family and so on. Thus when the time comes thats when i call it judgement day and no one will know but the almighty himself no matter what beliefs one may have. But that is my point of view and only my point of view.

Felix, your right there have been people always in search for eternal youth and immortality, but they were never as extreme as those now a days. People now do it because it is easy, fairly cheap. if since the dawn of time we had what we do now, it would have been the same back then. Thats one reason why our youth today is so horrible. All because of the modern day influences

i am not afraid of death, i just don't want to get old....lol.

Onyx - Well I agree that the state of our society now puts more focus on things like outward appearance and fame as well as making it seem like these are 'easier' to come by. As long as we acknowledge that the people have always been vain, it's just the tools that make BEING vain easier now.

Twinks - my point exactly with this whole thread. We've gotten sidetracked occasionally on the fear of Death which is totally valid in it's own right but a little more difficult to nail down since it involves huge unknown factors. It's the fear of growing old that hits us in a different way. Maybe it's not a fear so much as a dread. We know it's coming and we just don't want to face it.

I dont understand how people fear getting older someone please enlighten me on this one

Sweet Eternity - I understand that fearing death is fearing the unknown and that may end up being something wonderful. We've no way of knowing. But fear of age...well barring some catastrophic accident or illness that takes us early in life, age does bring the same situation to us all. At some point, we become too frail to take care of ourselves, to frail to travel, and to frail to experience the more 'exciting' things of youth. That's not to say that all the experiences in old age will be sour or bad...but not wanting to let go of youth seems perfectly reasonable if you were particularly active or independant in your first half of life.

Personally i want to get older because as you get older you get wiser and more inteligent

I believe most fear death, because they don't want to leave the world they've worked so hard to become a part of. There's so much they don't know, and haven't got to see. They are afraid to leave, also because they fear that they will never see the ones they love again... even in this so called heaven they don't even know exists.

it's probably due to the fear of the unknown... the same death and what there is after it, if there is something after, are one of the major scary - or worring- aspect for the most.

I agree with broomhilda, I personaly feel that death is on the scary side because it is unknown. Also many people are not so much afraid of the growing old and dying so much as doing it alone. When all other freinds and loved ones are alresdy gone. (some people feel thing's are more scary when you go it alone.)

i am feared of getting dumb when i am old, not being old itself.
until now i am getting better every day.. like good wine

BlutDurst -
So fürchten Sie wirklich die Effekte des Alters auf dem Verstand mehr als der Körper.

In the words of William Shakespeare: "In time we hate that which we often fear." I think that is exactly the case with society's fear of death. Death is unknown and natural human instinct is to fear what is unknown until we learn how to embrace it.

as they say, no living entity wants to die, nor is death feared as is the natural cycle, but those two conflicting interests means we all need some small escape from reality.. though immortality is flawed as most people here would not have actually contempleted what it means to live an eturnity

For me, fear of age and fear of death most definitely go hand in hand. And I do think that these fears are a great part of the allure of vampirism.

I'm sure there are lots of us who would love to remain young and vital forever. I fear nothing more in the world than losing the abilities I have now. And I fear death for exactly the reason mentioned-- it is the unknown.

Think... have you ever feared something, only to encounter it, face it, and find that it wasn't as scary as you originally thought? That's often how it works.

For me, it's a snippet of my personal interior dialogue... something that rings though my head and sends chills down my spine... "What if the athiests are right?"

What if there is nothing after life? I wouldn't be upset about it, obviously. I just wouldn't be. I think I might rather burn for eternity. Don't quote me on that.

they fear it cause they have no control over it probably, its something bad to worry over but becoming a vampire to get away from it is just something that u shouldnt do. or at least look in anovther direction

i like this but i think that if anyone fears death in there own way then maybe live after death isn't so bad

There is really no reason to fear age as we grow older we grow wiser. Ok some people grow more feable some forget things from their past, others talk to the dead and their relatives dismiss it and tell them they are crazy. Growing old is a part of life and if u stay active u wont have to worry about becoming one of those frail bed ridden people. It is when we give up on life that life gives up on us.

I think it's different for everybody. Some fear death, some fear the end of a certain age (of innocence, of freedom from most responsibilities, etc), some fear the cost of wrinkle cream...

Me? I fear growing older but no wiser.

i dont bealive its so much fear of death that bothers us because as we get older we grow wiser but its the fear of losing our figure and beautiful body and face and the fear of jus looking old and witherd

Mortal Creatures need an understanding of the concept of death to be able to fear it. It is true that a lack of understanding engenders fear, but if the concept is entirely alien to you, there is nothing there to fear.

Humans fear death as a change point between a world they understand (or rather more accurately believe they understand) and a world they do not.

Religious belief can help a great deal. If you believe that an ever loving God will embrace your soul when you pass over then what is there to fear?

Now here is the interesting bit. At the core of most religions is a comforting concept of what happens to you after death. Even atheism has the concept that there is nothing more then blankness, a cessation of existence, in which case where there is nothing, there is nothing to fear. But where is the money in that?

Overlaid over this central comforting concept is the religious Dogma. Let us take Catholicism as an example. If you lead a good live, have atoned for your sins, are given absolution or the last rights before death, you may enter into heaven. If not, you may spend time in purgatory (in fact you probably will anyway), or even fall and pass into hell. Note the catch here, Unless you have done “X-Y-Z” before you die, things will be nasty after, if you have then everything will be fine! Oh, but by the way, we are the ones who control “X-Y-Z” so metaphorically speaking “Pay up!”.

In this sense the fear of what comes after death is a form of control enforced upon your life by others.

I for one am fortunate, my beliefs are different. (see my profile for more info!)

They allow me a certain freedom. I do not fear death, as death is but a doorway through which I must pass before I my spirit may have a well deserved rest, re-assess the things I have learned, and then incarnate again to “Fill in the Blanks” if you will of what I must learn before moving unto bigger things. This gives me freedom to live my life to my own set of expectations, honour, code, responsibilities and so forth, with no outside interference or external judgement of my actions.

Very freeing really.

However, all this a side I still have some fear of death, fear of dying alone, in pain, suffering, or some lingering death, but as you can plainly tell, its not the death which scares me, but the life before it.

Hmmm, post number one, and a DOOSY! :)

Kalenia - you look forward to a certain age no doubt...but you are young. At some point the scales tip from wanting to be older to thing about being REALLY older. Do you feel like 70 is a good age? I'm not saying it isn't but there are definitely new problems that go hand in hand with being of such advanced years.

Vampire Malice - we do work awfully hard to try and make our time our own, only to find that our daily grind takes much of it back.

From Nothing - Vitality...exactly. Vitality equals independence. It gives us the freedom to change. Change locations, change jobs, change lifestyles, change friends, change interests. With the loss of vitality, we may find that we become prisoners of our last choices...lacking the power not to change our mind, but to act upon that decision.

Deaus - yes of course the lack of control the removal of the choice to change...but its the physical loss of strength that removes the choice or the ability to act.

Aridai - you are to an extent correct. We can make decisions now that will ease the chances of frailty or poverty...but there is no changing the fact that at some level, genetics and physics cause you to become weaker and less active. I'm not suggesting that everyone will be wetting themselves, but how you decide what to do will be more directly controlled by one's health

Casanova - your name fits your answer to a t but it's an absolutely valid point. I'm very attached to the way I look right now. I wouldn't want to be horribly disfigured in an accident and I don't particularly look forward to looking like my grandparents.

There really shouldnt be a fear of age and growing older, As we grow older we grow wiser, And you still can do as much as u want when your older, you can be azillion years old and still do the things u used to ,Older people just give up and stop doing, You cant today , you have to keep going, Your only as young as u feel, and old as u make your self . Age is just a numbe to pass time by ,

Vamperellia - Not to sound disrespectful, but are you suggesting that through sheer force of will, we can throw off the chains of genetics as well as a family history of illness? That things like osteoperosis and cancer and heart disease can be overcome with good living and the right attitude?

theres to reasons one is the failness that comes withold age aand the other would be the coming of death.

i dont fear growing old just dying young...if that makes sense

I do not fear growing old I fear the loss of my mind and forget who I am/was.

hmm i dont frea dying age im looking forward to it.. i saw my grandfather and father get older and they still are getting older and enjoy their time... i decided a long time ago that i will do it like they did so i dont feel it..

We are what we are and we die when the time has come, there is nothing more beautiful than that in life to know any moment can be our last.

Druidic - well you've certainly nailed down the fear of death. I'd like to think that I too have stopped worrying about something as unknown to me as afterlife and look at it more as a welcome rest. However, that being said, your fears of the condition and details of your dying tie in very well with the subject of fearing age.

How you die may be painful and lonely or peaceful and short. Either way one would think that your beliefs could ease that burden. Even a painful death is a temporary one and if you have a calming view of death, then time spent dying can't be altogether too long or too horrible compared to the eternity after. Yet we do fear the 'pain' of death...and so we also fear the pains and tragedies that go with old age. We are almost totally illogical in our fear of something as transient and brief as old age and yet there it is. Fear of loneliness, fear of weakness, fear of pain.

mcrgurl16 - " i dont fear growing old just dying young...if that makes sense"...

It does though I'd say that I'm in the opposite side of that sentence. I don't fear death as much as I fear growing old these days.

Runic - if you fear the effects of age on your mind, then you fear age. We don't fear it for it's name but for what it can do.

G Blood - So long as you can experience age with the evident strength and enjoyment of your elders, you may have something there.

~i would have to say it is the unknown~ the losing of your attractiveness, not knowing how you will be when your older, like losing a little or a lot~

Humans fear what they don't understand, and there for they tried to hide it, get rid of it or just simply pretend certian things don't exsist, when indeed, vampires do exsist, werewolves do exsist? , And age exsists, i dont fear to age and die, because i know i will be going to another life from this one and carry one what i am, weather liked or not. Don't fear age, it just shows weakness to our kind, let us be what we are while we can, b4 we know it we will be gone and may regret within the next life what we did not complete in this one.

Keranita Levent'e

The older that you get the more your mortality sets in.

FelixFelix - Indeed, fear of pain is more potent for me then a fear of death. But thankfully to a point I also fear failing this incarnation’s potential. This keeps me going forward rather then hiding in a closet!

Let me see if I can explain. To my mind you have an eternity of incarnations to experience and more importantly learn from, let us use the analogy of a driving test, I took me a year to learn to drive. Now the thing is technically there is no time limit in how long you learn to drive, but the sooner you learn to drive the sooner you’re out there in your own car on the open highway.

It’s the same with Spirit, in theory there is no time limit to learn the lessons you need to learn, but if you waste an incarnation, your just going to have to come back and try that one again, and all the time you missing out on that open highway in the distance!

So while I may fear the pain of life, I also understand its ephemeral and temporary nature, which frees my mind from that fear and allows, even drives, me to go forward, to embrace the pain along with the joy, as they both have lessons to teach me, and every day takes me closer to the open highway of the spirit!

Maybe its the fear that everything dies in time. Even a vampire.

Druidic - I hear you. You seem to have a solid belief that helps you overcome any natural fears toward death and age. It's great that you've got a belief that allows you look at those endings (beginnings?) without struggle.

I does seems like fearing age is a lot like fearing pain though. Both are temporary and both matter little in the long run of a belief that involves an afterlife or a reincarnation.

Unfortunately, I haven't found a faith or belief that I'm willing to bet all my chips on yet so things like age, pain and even death to an extent hold some major unknowns for me.

I can think of a lot of reasons. Fear of our own mortality would probably be one of the biggest ones. As we get older it seems to inch closer and closer towards us, whereas when we are youthful we never give it a second thought. A big part of fear of mortality is fear of the unknown, is there anything after death or do we simply just cease to be. These fears are probably one of the reasons faith and religions came into being. We had to find a way to reconcile these fears with our day to day existence so we wouldn't be scared to even go out of the house. We needed that comfort.


Or maybe we're just vain.

How can you fear what you know is inevitable.. Yes we are all going to die sometime..Its what you do with the time giving to you. When it is my time to come, it is my time..

FelixFelix - Ah, well, fear of the unknown, that's the real doosy isn't it!

Human instinct is to fear that we do not understand, and conversely by understanding something we loose our fear of it.

I was once told a good theory about the naming and personification of anthropomorphic deities. The first cave man to step out into a storm and give Thunder a name, a face and meaning stopped fearing it, he/she had given shape and meaning which he/she could understand to something he/she was incapable of understanding. In this way control and understanding was gained and fear diminished.

In this same way religion can give you a security blanked in explaining your life, and the afterlife, removing fear by giving you a level of understanding no matter how artificial that is.

I am the first person to say that my own beliefs very definitely fall into this “possibly artificial” category as well, I have not one shred of assurance my beliefs are correct beyond my own reasoning and beliefs, however I DO believe in them, and they give me comfort and piece.

I have also discussed them at length with many people of differing faiths, usually with them trying hard to “convert” me, but so far they have done nothing but re-assert my own beliefs and go away feeling slightly confused and troubled themselves! :)

I fear "depends" if I have to wear em kill me, I am Catholic, and I do not fear death. I fear everything that comes with old age. such as looking fugly, smelling of death..(yes old people smell like they are decaying, it's nasty) not being able to run, or move very well for that matter... those things that come with old age fucking suck ass

well health issues and being left alone is some reasons..

Druidic - Of course the unknowns are the real whammies of fear. Those that don't fear death or age have usually had good luck or belief that helps reduce the unknowns for them.

I agree that mankind likes to anthropomorphize things in order to gain understanding of them. Though I don't think it always removes fear from the equation, it does give someone an action in response. In other words, while giving a name and a face to the thunder god doesn't necessarily remove a fear of thunder, we can all quickly go about appeasing the thunder god and thus have a response to occupy our fear.

I can only assume that the faith you found is somehow related to the 'druid' studies of the bard or adder (either that or you should work on a new name :). I've done some research on this belief structure and it does have appeal. Unfortunately, 'appeal does not a faith make' for me. As cool as certain faiths are, there seems to be a switch in some people that has been turned on and thereby allows them to excersize a belief without proof. I've been jealous of that before. I don't know if I don't have the switch or just don't know how to 'flip it', but belief and faith are very difficult things for me to come by.

Felix, this is going to sound odd, but bear with me!

I almost envy you! Within my belief structure learning is paramount.

With an open enquiring mind and no pre-set "belief" to blinker or colour your perceptions, you are free to openly explore and learn a great deal which I would need to work hard to gain! No matter HOW open minded I try to be my, belief will colour my perceptions (the act of observation changes that which we observe).

The wonderful thing is of course Proof Denies Faith. By finding proof faith is no longer a requirement….. or is it?

I was told by my Physics lecturer TOO many years ago “You know all that stuff they told you was fact at school? Well, in truth they were ‘Lies to Children’ something approximating the truth, but was close enough and at a level you can understand, now I going to tell you the real facts…… honest!” (a great man I sadly miss, a true teacher in every sense of the word, kids, respect your school teachers, they know more then you do!)

In other words, what is proof…. But maybe that’s for another thread!

Druidic - Yes a lack of faith allows me to explore my perceptions with what you can call an open mind. I try to have one. But remember that faith is often a piece in the puzzle of what we perceive so without faith, my perceptions are tainted by the absolutely limitless possibilities with never an answer in sight. If you ever taken a philosophy course, you know what I'm talking about. Months of study and in the end, simply more questions and no real answers to the first ones.

Skepticism becomes it's own cross to bear. As it becomes all to easy to see the possibilities in everything and nothing can really be proven can it. When something is proven before your very eyes, we must look at the possibility that something is wrong with our eyes :) Your teacher may have been right but even he probably accepted the possibility that he might not know the REAL facts yet.

Lets bring this back full circle. Age becomes something of an emotional seesaw in the eyes of the faithless. I have days where I understand that there may be more to this world and therefore, age will simply bring me closer to the next path. But the skeptic must also accept the possibility that my one physical life is all I will be dealt and all those countless hours spent with games and work and TV and the internet are merely wasted time in a finite experience. So age can be both frightening and alluring and I never know which from moment to moment.

Very sharp perception!

Age and experience is wasted on the old, when the young need it so much! :-)

Well to get old you have health issues... You have to take all kinds of medicines.. Your bones get brittle you can fall at any given moment... I also think it`s awful to worry about some one to care of you. Diabetes runs in my family so that scares me completely.
You worry about meeting your maker...
But if you can get over all of those fears then maybe you`ll be like this little lady i work with she is 80 years old! She has the energy of teenager. She has had to 2 husbands , and she has the best attitude any body can have. We call her maw maw she a card , I would love to know her when she was young.... So maybe we shouldn`t worrie so much about getting old ,if we can take care of our self then we can all be like maw maw....

For someone young and someone who hasn't gone out much, AGE is a thing to be feared.
Yeah..

Although with age wisdom come's.... in our society old = to weakness..... not only physical... but in health issues.... and in advanced ages mental weakness..... Other matter for people to fear growing old is loosing beuty....(as the author said) and maybe because getting old might be a signal that death is getting closer...... So incounciously people might relate age to death...... in the way that older ages mean to be closer to the time in which our body won't hold it any more..... But many people said that wth age the fear to die becomes lesser important.... and constant..... than in younger ages.....

humans shouldn't live to old age. it's not good for us. our mind breaks down, our body doesn't listen to us anymore. depending on how much breakdown there is you can't even control your own bodily functions.

my fear about growing old is that someday i'll be trapped within my body, surrounded by people who used to be loved ones, and are now just strangers. i'm worried about being there, sitting there, and being one hundred percent crazy.

A fear of Age is a fear that your closer to dieing

The only reason I fear age is that I fear being one of those forgotten old people that die alone. I don't want to die alone. Not that my daughter would do that but if something was to happen to her, she's really the only one that would take care of me.

I think people fear old age because it is a sign that death is closer by natural means...

I fear death in the way that I'd be leaving those I love behind. Death itself holds no real fear- it is inescapable. However- I do fear the ways I could die.

As for growing older- it is also inescapable. I work in the medical field, and in doing so I have seen what people will do to themselves in order to preserve their appearance at any cost. It is almost sickening to watch. I currently work for an infectious disease doctor. Sickness and disease happens to people regardless of age.

I fear losing my memory most. For who would I be if I couldn't remember who I was.

I think it is just all the things in this life that we have that are beautiful and meaningful to us we don't want to give up. So, we seek for prolonging of those things through immortality.

I think there is a fear of death for some people, that you just do not exist in most people. It's just like someone turns the switch off, one second there is a universe, the next second...nothing, never to be filled again.

Hmm ok something to think about...... but its not the answer

i dont have much fear of it.. i see death in my job arround me everyday...
it is just the fear to die without the ability to "have all my or my loved ones plans be finished or paved the way for my loved ones"

I'm terrified of death, and I hate the fact that I will die and there is nothing I can do to help it.
I am afraid of the weakness that age brings and the horrors of being discarded as an old thing in a corner somewhere, is sad but true, :( I hate it, I don't necesarly want to live forever but if the alternative is death and nothingness then eternity is welcome.
I fear death.

I think it depends on the person weather they frear oldage/ dying or not. I think for most people it is mainly about losing a loved one.

I think it depends on the person weather they frear old age/ dying or not. I think for most people it is mainly about losing a loved one.

I think that it really depends on the person weather they fear death/ old age or not. I think most people are truely only concerned about the death of a loved one rather than themselfs.

I think that it really depends on the person weather they fear death/ old age or not. I think most people are truely only concerned about the death of a loved one rather than themselfs.

I think that it really depends on the person weather they fear death/ old age or not. I think most people are truely only concerned about the death of a loved one rather than themselfs.

This is quite close to my heart...... I used to worry about getting old, Im now 37 not a great age i know, but in the last 20 years of my life i have learnt so much and expericenced so much, why should that stop just because my age is rising, I know a man who is supply teacher at our local school he is in his early 70's and is in Egypt at the moment, having a wonderful time.

But i have also said that if i got to a point in my life where i was old and incapable of looking after myself that would be the time to go, I have had a near death expericence and im not worried about death at all.

i would have to agree it is the unknown that most people fear. but there are a lot out there that fear the thought of their death rather then immortality

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