(Athiests only) How do you cope with the fact that dying means THE END?

This might be weird, but reading horror stories has helped me accept my mortality. In some works of fiction, eternal life is a cruel state of affairs, such as in "I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream" and certain entries of the SCP Wiki. Reading that kind of material can help you think of death as a privilege granted to us by nature.

I also sometimes listen to songs about the nature of death.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzKzp76dElM]
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7T4LxtF9qo]

Other than that, take a modicum of comfort in the fact that a variety of companies are willing to vitrify your corpse whenever you die. If you sign up with a company like Alcor before your death and die in a hospital that's affiliated with them -- really not that difficult -- they might be able to have you revived a century or more later. It would be kinda like going to Heaven, except WAY cooler.

For me, accepting the reality of my brain "powering-down" is freeing. I know my memories are stored chemically and when those chemicals and structures succumb to entropy what remains are others' memories of me. I focus on making a lot of happy ones with those around me. I don't spend time worrying that I'm not immortal because that just isn't the way the world is. Focus on the positive :)

“The only position that leaves me with no cognitive dissonance is atheism. It is not a creed. Death is certain, replacing both the siren-song of Paradise and the dread of Hell. Life on this earth, with all its mystery and beauty and pain, is then to be lived far more intensely: we stumble and get up, we are sad, confident, insecure, feel loneliness and joy and love. There is nothing more; but I want nothing more.”
― Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of [i]Infidel[/i]

I dont know who told you that, but they lied to you. But if you're not willing to search every avenue, you'll stay stuck.

Upwards of a trillion people have lived and died on this earth. From the most cowardly, to the bravest they all faced death. Im joining humanity in death, not leaving it : )

Death is the ultimate release from the perpetual struggle of life. It's finally over.

I am an atheist but if you look at the work of Michael Rolle(see afterlife101)death may not be end.Anyway if it is I will be dead and won’t know it .And as someone with far less time in front of me than behind me it doesn’t bother me all.No point worrying about the inevitable.

[b][/b][b]Death, be not proud [/b](Holy Sonnet 10)
[b]John Donne - 1571-1631[/b]

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou'art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy'or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

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Why is that scary? If I don't exist I can't even know it. Just like before I was born wasn't scary.
The thought of being judged by a God for my actions on Earth, now THAT is scary!

I dont find it the least bit scary i just find it a sad necessity. Theres nothing about it to instill fear. I'm more resentful that i have to miss what will go on after l die.

It's not the end. I mean.
And it's not scary when I think about myself. It's scary when I think about others, certain others, memory of them etc.

It's far from being the end.

Every scrap of love or hatred you've ever show will be transferred to your target and will live on long after you're gone.

If you're a parent and you do your job right your love and adoration will be so deeply imbedded n the hearts of your kids/grand kids etc who will as they mature have a responsibility to stay true to it and maybe even improve it and hand it on down the generations.

And if that's not the potential for everlasting life I don't know what is.

It affects me much more when it happens to others. I dread the idea of losing loved ones. And even if I were religious, they’d be away from [b]me[/b]. I worry less about my own eventual demise. And at least atheists aren’t concerned about having to answer to anyone for any mistakes they may’ve made in life.

It doesn’t scare me. I’ve known ever since my parents died it’s the end.

I think of those who are left behind to cope and that makes me sad

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I’m content that I’ve made a contribution to the world and Some assets for those for whom I’m responsible So I do not find the thought of death to be scary.

Agreed. Its something that as I have gotten older certainly gives me some shivers as I try to fall asleep at night.

Perhaps half of all atheists don't believe this, and that percentage is rising.

You'll never know when it's the end

Fine by me.

I don't reject the possibility of an afterlife, but I reject all the attempts people have made thus far to describe one.
As far as death being the end... Death is always scary.