The causes of death and life expectancy rates in North America have changed drastically throughout history. Pestilence and famine provided a much lower life expectancy than we have today. The average life expectancy has risen from living to your 20s and 30s, before Europeans settled in America, to over 75 years old in modern times (Lamb, 2003). According to Lamb, the rise in life expectancy and fall in mortality rates from disease is due to medical and scientific advancements, as well as improved hygienic practices in water collection and disposal (2003).
Moore and Williamson suggest that the fear of death is universal and has a firm grip on humankind’s evolution and decisions (2003). However, they do make the point that certain aspects of fear of death can vary by culture, sex, and age (2003). They note that death anxiety is often complicated and religious belief systems can shape how people view death; however, they stated that the 9/11 attacks showed that the underlying fear of death can resurface as a natural response (2003).
From the course material, awareness of death seems to make people gravitate toward religion, or even finding a purpose within society (Moore & Williamson, 2003). Some people will adopt a form of spirituality to come to terms with their death. This seems to stem from the fear of not knowing what will happen, making humans more biased to believe in something that promises immortality (Cave, 2013). They may create rules they must follow that permit them to die into another existence. Religion could shape their diet and bodily impulses, often relating to sexuality (Moore & Williamson, 2003).
Religious belief structures pinpoint specific ways of living that would allow the soul into heaven or experience enlightenment, which allows the participant to “free” themselves from the mortality of being human. From the course material so far, fear itself seems to be the main factor as to why someone would produce spiritual or other behaviors that enhance the actor’s perception of the self.
References
Cave, S. (2013, December 12). Ted [Youtube Channel]. The 4 stories we tell ourselves about death [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB7xs7UpIfY
Lamb, V. L. (2003). Historical and epidemiological trends in mortality in the united states. In C. D. Bryant, & D. L. Peck (Eds.), Handbook of death & dying (pp. 185-197). SAGE Publications, Inc. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412914291.n19
Moore, C. C., & Williamson, J. B. (2003). The universal fear of death and the cultural response. In C. D. Bryant, & D. L. Peck (Eds.), Handbook of death & dying (pp. 3-13). SAGE Publications, Inc. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412914291.n1
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