Does Anybody Here Truly Not Fear Death?

[zeyeon]

how many people here would truley die for thier beliefs? How many people here would let other people die for thier beliefs?

And if you're truley not afraid of death... how many of you hear are also not afraid to live?

Just curious to see some of the replies.

[Kosh]

I would die for my beliefs, yes. Don't know what you mean by the second question.

Ah, as Lorien on Babylon 5 said, "Its easy to find something worth dying for. Do you have anything worth living for?"

Am I afraid of death? yes. Mainly because I reeeally dont' want to go to Hell.

Peace,
Kosh.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Keeping in mind that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, I would say that I am willing to die for my faith and, more importantly, for my God.

However, we should keep in mind that even St. Joan of Arc wavered before she was martyred...and many others with her. It's hard to put ourselves in the situation, but I am willing to die for God.

[toledo_jesus]

I wouldn't mind dying for God.


But I'd hope it was quick. Like an explosion.

[onlygrace08]

What an honor to be a martyr!! I would love to give my life for God but, like others have said, I don't know exactly how I would react in such a situation since I have never been there....

[zeyeon]

[quote name='onlygrace08' post='1130416' date='Nov 28 2006, 11:55 PM']
What an honor to be a martyr!! I would love to give my life for God but, like others have said, I don't know exactly how I would react in such a situation since I have never been there....
[/quote]

true. I'd die if I had to but I'd prefer to avoid it lol. The pen of a scholer is worth 1000 times more than the blood of a martyr (lupe)

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='zeyeon' post='1130424' date='Nov 29 2006, 12:02 AM']
true. I'd die if I had to but I'd prefer to avoid it lol. The pen of a scholer is worth 1000 times more than the blood of a martyr (lupe)
[/quote]
That's a silly quote. What's done more good for the world?

[suuran]

I hope God would grant me the strength to die for him if I was called to do so.

Edited November 29, 2006 by Jalazar

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1130426' date='Nov 29 2006, 02:03 AM']
That's a silly quote. What's done more good for the world?
[/quote]
not much, to be sure, but offhand I would say soap's contribution to humanity cannot be overstated.
Seriously, I think in a worldly way martyrdom is not exactly the best thing. Spiritually it may be excellent, but for practical reasons it is not always so good. A martyred husband would no longer be able to provide for his children, say.

[musturde]

[quote name='zeyeon' post='1130424' date='Nov 28 2006, 11:02 PM']
true. I'd die if I had to but I'd prefer to avoid it lol. The pen of a scholer is worth 1000 times more than the blood of a martyr (lupe)
[/quote]

The blood of the martyr's = the seeds of the Church.

Now, this applies not only to religion. Lebanon is an excellent example, Rafik Hariri's death did more to influence Lebanon than any "scholar" could have within a 100 years. A person who dies for his beliefs inspires others to join him more than any scholar could. Besides, if a scholar really believed what he did, he would be willing to die for what he believed in.

Now here's a scenario, a person who is a political leader that is on someones black list decides to hide so he can lead his party the way it should be led without dying. This would be smart, of course. However, if he was to die, the support of the people around him (depending on where it is we are talking about) and their reaction to his death would be more outspoken than their reaction to any of his works or speaches.

Edited November 29, 2006 by musturde

[HeavenlyCalling]

Death doesn't scare me, I dont know, it just never has. What happens after death does, I do not want a date with the Prince of Darkness. : Would I be willing to die for my God? Yes, if that is what he called me too. Personally I would prefer a firing squad to being hung, drawn, and quatered, but He would give me strenth

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' post='1130404' date='Nov 28 2006, 10:47 PM']
I wouldn't mind dying for God.
But I'd hope it was quick. Like an explosion.
[/quote]
In our homily tonight, Fr. mentioned something from when he was in seminary. He asked a question of the priest who was teaching the class, "What would happen if the fullness of God's glory was before us right here?" And the priest said (in all seriousness), "You would explode."

Just thought that was interesting that you would say that on the same night that I heard this story....

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' post='1130436' date='Nov 29 2006, 12:09 AM']
not much, to be sure, but offhand I would say soap's contribution to humanity cannot be overstated.
Seriously, I think in a worldly way martyrdom is not exactly the best thing. Spiritually it may be excellent, but for practical reasons it is not always so good. A martyred husband would no longer be able to provide for his children, say.
[/quote]
Indeed, but we should let God sort out that detail. If a man is going to be martyred for his faith, it is not likely that he can find a way to get out of that without denying his faith.

There's a story of one of the Mexican martyrs...he was known for helping the underground Catholics and he was arrested one day and shot without a trial. His wife and children heard the gunshot, but didn't know he'd been killed. They stopped what they were doing and prayed for the soul of the victim, not knowing it had been their beloved husband and father.

God has ways of working things out for the greater glory.

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1130453' date='Nov 29 2006, 02:23 AM']
God has ways of working things out for the greater glory.
[/quote]
Well, as long as God also directs the man to have life insurance then that's fine. I have never been comfortable with assuming God will take care of everything.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' post='1130404' date='Nov 28 2006, 11:47 PM']
I wouldn't mind dying for God.
But I'd hope it was quick. Like an explosion.
[/quote]
Reminds me of Sojourner's old sig: "She knew she could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quickly."

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1130458' date='Nov 29 2006, 02:26 AM']
Reminds me of Sojourner's old sig: "She knew she could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quickly."
[/quote]
yeah, I was thinking about that too. Seemed like about my speed.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' post='1130457' date='Nov 29 2006, 12:26 AM']
Well, as long as God also directs the man to have life insurance then that's fine. I have never been comfortable with assuming God will take care of everything.
[/quote]
We needn't assume it, we may rest assured of it.

That isn't an invitation to presumption, but to confidence. Certainly, we must do everything we can to live for God before it is necessary to die for Him (I like the way St. Thomas More says it in "A Man for All Seasons").

[homeschoolmom]

[XIX]

I'm not afraid to die for Jesus as much as I'm afraid to live for Jesus.

[Sojourner]

[quote]"She could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quick"[/quote]

Yeah ... that statement is pretty much true of my take on martyrdom, and on my faith in general. Flannery O'Connor is a fricking genius when it comes to succinctly describing the state of my soul.

I do so much battle with fear and doubt and anxiety that I'm pretty sure sainthood is out for me. Maybe I could be the patron saint of those perpetually afraid of being hurt and taking risks.

My one hope at achieving any sort of special status in heaven is a quick martyrdom. I'm with toledo in the explosion thing ... as long as I didn't know about it for too long beforehand. If it were longer, God would have to seriously up the amount of grace I'd receive so I could persevere, because I don't have much natural holiness to carry me through.