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with peoplc. You can't empathize
with pcoplc. You would just be in
tears constantly. and you can·t do
that. But you have to be sympa–
rhetic and guide them."
Concepts of Death
When asked. "What is death?' '
one person replied: "My definition
of death is to leave this carth, and
l'd say it would be a termination of
your life."
Another said:
"1
guess death is
the end of life."
"Death is rhe final ending of
everything," a third person com–
menred.
Said a fourth: "Well, death is the
end of a11 life processes on earth
and really everywhere else. 1 think
that all that life is, is here on
earth."
A fifth person was noncommittal:
" 1 don't know. 1 feel it's the end of
something. and sometimes the be–
ginning of something else.
1
think
that you can't just stop living all
of a sudden. 1 don't know.
r
think
there's got to be something after
i
t. ..
But one thing is certain. At sorne
time everyone thinks about death.
People everywhere are concerned
about it. Much ofmodern religion is
concerned about it. Most religions
believe in the immortality of the
soul. and teach that the soul goes to
heaven or to hell or to sorne inter–
mediate state upon death.
There are dozens of differing
ideas about death. When you talk to
people on the street, you find about
as many assorted beliefs as there are
people to express them.
Why such widespread ignorance?
lt's simple. Science can't teU us what
happens at death. and theologians
are divided on the issue. As one
television interviewee said: "Death
is a thing of uncertainty. It creates
fear. you know. 1 mean, nobody's
ever come back and explained to us
what's on the other side when you
leave this world physically - so it
puts up a blanket of uncertainty.
And anytime you're dealing in un–
certain arcas there is fear."
But should we fear death?
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