demius said:

after listening to the audio in the 'dangerous for our children....' thread, i got to thinking:

when did people take belief from having something to hope in, as factual?  why did this change take place?  what benefit do they gain by imposing their beliefs as fact, as opposed to maintaining them as a hope?

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Veritas said:

For the best guess about this, I recommend "Denial of Death," by Ernest Becker.  He posits that we create religion, culture, art, etc...as a means to distract ourselves from the unbearable awareness of our mortality.

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Religions such as buddhism & hinduism make you face death, not distract you from it, they teach you to face everything and be aware of it. They more than likely would have started from a fear of death & mystical experiences but they do not teach you to distract from anything, especially not death.

Conscious dying is one of the best things a person can practice in meditation. The fact we humans can consciously die through the awareness of our own mortality is such an incredibly beautiful thing, i have been obsessed with death much of my life and enjoy facing it, its very humbling.

Buddha used to train monks by making them watch burning bodies in a cemetary for 24 hours a day, i don't consider this "distraction" from death anxiety.

the ultimate paradox is in truly facing you own death you realise immortality, not of "you" but of life, of which we are all a part of.

Veritas said:

For the best guess about this, I recommend "Denial of Death," by Ernest Becker.  He posits that we create religion, culture, art, etc...as a means to distract ourselves from the unbearable awareness of our mortality.  Whether you agree or not, his book is a great read.  Once you've finished his book, watch "Flight from Death," an incredible documentary which follows research based upon Becker's work.

http://www.flightfromdeath.com/index.htm

http://faculty.washington.edu/nelgee/lectures/speeches/hughes_1.htm

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right, if you are able to take a real good look at yourself and can follow the trail you will end up with fear and while every moment may not be lived this way, it just might.