Humanistic and secular approaches to death

Humanistic or Secular Approach to Death

One reality that people learn to live with very early in life is that death is inevitable. It is the end of all human beings, and indeed, of all living things on earth. At some point, death will come for all of us. This reality is most profoundly considered in Aurelius' writing. I find his writing on death not only more secular or humanistic, but in a very fundamental sense more realistic than any of the "traditional" views I have encountered so far. I do believe that it is possible for all human beings to attain this view of death. However, it will also depend on the specific person involved and his or her religious views. Some individuals will find it more difficult to adopt Aurelius' views, but this certainly does not mean that it is impossible for them to do so.

In today's world, many people are religiously oriented, especially in terms of their views on death. Because of the traditional concept of death as holding either eternal reward or eternal punishment for how life was conducted, many people have a profound fear of death. Others, in turn, look forward to it as if it is by far desirable above the physical life that we enjoy now. A large amount of fear regarding death therefore consists in the fact that we, as religious people, fear punishment.

Aurelius, however, does not consider this a valid viewpoint. Indeed, he even briefly caters for the fact that the "gods" of his time might not exist. He argues, however, that, if they do exist, they mean no harm to human spirits. Indeed, in Aurelius' view, they are either concerned with human well-being or indifferent. This might be a difficult point for today's fundamental Christians to accept. Hence, for the extremely religious, I think it is possible to accept Aurelius' view, since we are all rational human beings but it is somewhat unlikely.

Another profoundly interesting point that Aurelius makes is more difficult to argue with. Death is as natural as life itself and as birth. He argues that no rational, adult human being should fear death because it can be accepted simply as a natural process. Hence, since it is inevitable and it is natural, there is no reason to fear it. This is a difficult point to argue with. Aurelius looks at death from a purely physical point-of-view. He recognizes that it is both inevitable and that it is an eventuality in all life of all types. Nobody and nothing escapes death. For this reason, it makes no sense to him to fear it.

This is, for me, the most important point that he makes. No human being can argue with the fact that death is the natural end to the process of life. Interestingly, this is also the point he makes that I find most comforting. We do not know what happens after death, but Aurelius suggests that there is no reason to let this distress us. We will either change form or lose consciousness altogether. In either case, we will be free from the physical.

On this basis, Aurelius also suggests that no moment in life belongs to us that is not in the present. Even a long life is not more important or better than a short life. He suggests that we should enjoy what we have for what it is for as long as it lasts. When it ends, we should be happy for having had it and for continuing the journey afterwards.