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Why are people scared

smac2012

smac2012

New Member
I was watching the video posted in the video section about Georgia Rudolph's recollections of a past life.

I am somewhat confused as why she (and others that i have read about) state that as they realize that their experieces are real and that reincarniation is real and more importantly the bigger picture: "That we do have a Consciousness that never ceases to exist" - they report being uneasy and scared.

To me - it is completely the opposite - that is - by understanding this - nothing really scares me. Before i understood this -- i was terrfied at the thought of my own death - not any more.

What do other people think - why are some people who are lucky enough to experience personal validation scared to learn the truth - is because it goes against some religious beliefs?
 
smac2012 said:
What do other people think - why are some people who are lucky enough to experience personal validation scared to learn the truth - is because it goes against some religious beliefs?
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I've wondered about that same exact question so often. Since Vietnam I've contemplated fear on just about every possible level. And, I've faced serious threats of many kinds without blinking. Yet, if I were suddenly confronted by a disembodied spirit, I still wonder how I would react. Being a person whose both feet are firmly planted in everyday life, experiencing a spectre would be like suddenly stepping off terra firma into an abyss to the great unknown. While I long for any spiritual experience of any kind, I simply can't predict my own honest reaction.


I believe that we are protected from such extreme spiritual experiences with the help of symbols that seem to guide our consciousness in more limited ways which have less impact on our psyche. For example, when I dreampt of my mother some years after her death I found myself angry and argumentative, My aggressive manner seemed to drive her away. But then, she reappeared as my most beloved cherry tree and spoke to my dream through my bedroom window, so that what she could say things in ways that no longer delt in the contextural issues of reality. I believe there is nothing to fear when handled in this way.


Of all my considerations, I find very few of them have to do with religious or scientific beliefs. Dealing with dogmatic believers, on the other hand, can be seriously destructive argumentative, and quite destructive, which I find more frightening than meeting up with an angry ghost.


I believe that we should all be trained in handling the unknown in much the same manner as some role-playing studies in which one half of the participants dress up as unknown entities of varying impact, while the other participants are given opportunities to act out their expectations after accidentally running into each other.


Those who have never faced anything other than what is commonly experienced in our present physical paradigm will likely experience a difficult trauma if they were ever confronted by anything strange, and their ability incorporate such things in their lives will be severely handicapped.
 
I have known some people who are fascinated by anything to do with life after death, while others are very uncomfortable even thinking about anything to do with mortality and life beyond. Some people can't get enough of the spiritual side, while others are terrified by the thought of being confronted by anything paranormal. It depends on the individual, and each one has their own reasons. The simple general answer for those who are scared by it is fear of the unknown.


Perhaps being confronted with proof that there is a life after death scares them even more because it makes it real and something that they do have to deal with. Religion is a way of people not having to think about it. If religious dogma has already told you how it is, then there's nothing for them to think about, nothing to investigate. If anything comes along that challenges their religious beliefs it can be upsetting. If anything they have been taught to believe about the afterlife is put in doubt it puts all their beliefs in doubt. It disrupts the certainty that religion provides them.


Personally, I have not feared the paranormal in years. I have experienced strange happenings and I saw a disembodied spirit about three or four years ago. While it certainly got my attention, it did not scare me. I was more excited than anything. When it comes to spirits I just remind myself that they are just people, possibly even bored or lonely people.


Likewise, my belief in reincarnation as almost all but erased my fear of death.
 
I may have lost my fear of death when I realized my past lives, but the concept is threatening to some people's religious ideas, and for others, they're just afraid of somehting they can't understand.


I can understand people being afraid of what others might think of them. I've had some very bad experiences with people's reaction to what I believe. The one fear I had was that I might be terribly wrong. But when enough proof that my memories were real came through for me, I lost the fear.
 
In NO way am I trying to sway someone away from their individual belief system, whatever it is, for if you are happy with it, then it works for you; I only mean to relate what my belief in Reincarnation means to me as an individual!


From when I first accepted Reincarnation as an older teenager, I had experiences with dreams as a young child, and the dreams showed me in a body, that was not the one I was in then, and likewise with situations that I had never experienced in this lifetime.


Even as a child, I knew something was different with these dreams, as opposed to regular dreams or nightmares, as if I was watching my mind perform in a different body and in a different time frame.


Then after I accepted Reincarnation (and other Physic Phenomena) these "events" that had happened in my current life became clearer to me and I begin to understand them better.


And so I began to realize that Reincarnation had to be real, as the evidence for it was so overwhelming to me, that my decision to believe, left me with no doubts in my young mind.


But when all was said and done, I basically accepted the concept of Reincarnation on faith, knowing in my soul that it was real for me, and I've never looked back!
 
Now am also with Truthseeker with what he said on this.


In my life I have some very good friends who are on the atheist - agnostic side of things. I can just say one word it seems which can set off a whole long debate it seems. It seems to me that they fight against so many things that are spiritual all together. Now with them I seemingly can't say one word with refering to reincarnation, the spiritual, or anything in this regards. This strikes me personally as sad and why would they so limit themselves and their reality.


But I also know some including in my own family who are deeply religious. And they seem to be in a box with the blinders on, as much as the atheists are bigtime in my opinion. When around them how much do I have to censor also what I say or risk being dragged thru the mud or getting into some long unwanted debate.


It seems in this modern day world, are there how many folks it seems who are scaried or not really wanting to open there minds to think on all kinds of subjects including the topic of reincarnation and past lives for many a varied reason. As for myself, I have had such an interest in this since I was little. And in my wilderness wanderings thru the years, it has encouraged me to think on these things and explore since I had so much time by myself.


Anymore I just try to live and let live. I do not want to get into some contentious debate with someone. So now how often do I just keep my mouth closed so to speak and keep my thoughts to myself. I have been there and have been dragged thru the mud so to speak on many a topic. It seems in this modern day world, there is alot of talk on love, light, helping people, and listening to other ideas. But when it comes to actuality, it seems as if the opposite is true when it is encouraged just to stay and think in the box so to speak. And if one dares to think outside the box and outside of the status quo, then one had better be prepared it seems for what will come. Why someone would be unwilling or afraid to ponder things that might be outside the box, guess this in reality just bewilders me. Just my personal opinion and two cents worth.
 
I think it's the religious contradiction for most people. I don't recall the exact quote, but I think the Bible says something about it being appointed for man once to die, which can be taken as a strike against reincarnation. Yet many reincarnationists can point to passages that seem to support reincarnation. However, one may ask how many who claim to be Christian are Christian in name only, content that their place in Heaven is secure as long as they plop their butts into a pew every Sunday and put a "Jesus Fish" on the back of their car? (A pastor I know once called these people "hypochristians".)


Now take these people, or even those who actually do try to pay more than mere lip service to their faith, and if you ask what they believe happens to us after our bodies die (and once you work past the dodgy "it's not for us to know" cop-out), I'll bet most believe that your soul goes to Heaven if you've been good and faithful where you spend eternity in the presence of God. All of sudden they find themselves faced with the notion, apparently supported by sometimes-measurable evidence, that this core belief of theirs might not be accurate. If that's wrong, what else have I believed that is wrong as well? What if there's no Heaven? What if there's no Hell? What if there's no God? Was it all a lie?


I think it forces them to confront things that are not ready to contemplate.


Some, however, believe that borders exist to be crossed. They may have their comfort zone, but are not too bothered by going outside of it. They may be simply too full of curiosity to fear the unknown (which is not always a good thing). They embrace things that cause them to question even the very core of their beings. It's fine if you're ready for it, but sometimes these same people, in their lack of fear, find themselves taken down some strange paths indeed, and they wind up with no more answers than they started out with.


I have never feard my PL memories because I grew up learning that reincarnation is real. I suppose this left me unafraid to contemplate such things. I imagine growing up in a fundamentalist household might have produced quite different results.
 
A second thought regarding people who aren't particularly devoted to faiths may be the fear of becoming a "New Age whacko". Oh, if I buy this malarkey, do I now have to arrange crystals around my house and prance around with bells on my ankles while communing with the spirits while spooky-mystical amorphous sounds take over my iPod instead of Led Zepplin? (No offense meant. Just try to see things from the typical Joe/Jane's point of view.) Especially these days, people tend to see things as an all-or-nothing deal. You either buy all of the spooky-kabuki stuff or you don't. They don't see that you can "buy" reincarnation while dimissing Feng Shui, or that an interest in cryptozoology doesn't necessarily mean that you believe in alien abduction. Its the problem of birds of a feather tending to flock together, and one element is seen as thoroughly intertwined with the rest. If I mention that I believe in reincarnation to certain people, they assume that my habit of always wearing blue somewhere on my person means that I'm trying to channel positive energy from the spirit world of cats who want "cheezburgers". (Come on, guys! As Freud said, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar!) To be fair, though, I've met a few people who, once I've explained that one does not equal all, we've had some great conversations.
 
Truthseeker, I think you are right on.


I further think that instinctual curiosity is required to not fear things that are outside "normal" and "accepted". Curiosity enables one to see new and different ways of functioning and opens new lines of thought and exploration. Satisfaction with the norm does not provide any motivation for change.


And like you I just knowingly encountered my first disembodied spirit...last week! I walk three miles every morning at 5 am and last Tuesday was a particularly cool, still and silent morning. I heard some leaves along the side of the road make a rustling noise as I passed. Then I realized it was rustling to my left but not my right. Then I realized it was rustling with me at the pace I was maintaining. I couldn't see anything moving, nor could I hear leaves rustling to my right which was actually closer to any wind I might have been creating with my movement. It was then the realization struck me with a run of ice up my spine...I was not alone and I could not see my company...but I had a presence on my left keeping even with me as its unhappy attitude made its presence known.


The first thing I shouted in my mind (silent scream?) was "I am protected by the God of Love!" I'm not sure where that came from and at the time I didn't think of the obvious Eros, but rather the Source, and it didn't seem to have any effect on the presence I felt. I kept repeating that phrase to myself and kept up my pace and even after a left turn and a right, my "being" kept rustling leaves on my left. Finally, two cars passed in quick succession and I was left alone.


Later that day I asked an intuitive friend if I had been startled by a being of some sort or if I was just scaring myself. She took a moment and said matter of factly "He is scared and unhappy and comes across in a really aggressive manner. He can't find his way and is looking for anyone who can help him. You are now "open" and he sensed this and was trying to get your help."


"Who is he?" I asked, more out of surprise than anything else.


She said "He's a young spirit who can't seem to find the light...you can't help him but they'll come get him when it's time. The next time you see him just tell him "I can't help you and I'm protected by God" and he'll probably go back to where he hangs out.


The next morning I got the same sense of his approach along the same stretch of road...the leaves rustling in still air and no leaves rustling closer on my right! I announced in my mind "I cannot help you and I am protected by God!" I repeated it several times and after the fourth or fifth time, I actually saw the leaves that were rustling...and they spun around as if in a miniature whirlwind and died out, and the presence of the being was gone.


I am a little perturbed that I was more scared than I thought I would be. Anyway it was in retrospect an interesting event and now I guess I'm going to have to find out what being "open" entails.
 
Shiftkitty said:
Now take these people, or even those who actually do try to pay more than mere lip service to their faith, and if you ask what they believe happens to us after our bodies die (and once you work past the dodgy "it's not for us to know" cop-out), I'll bet most believe that your soul goes to Heaven if you've been good and faithful where you spend eternity in the presence of God. All of sudden they find themselves faced with the notion, apparently supported by sometimes-measurable evidence, that this core belief of theirs might not be accurate. If that's wrong, what else have I believed that is wrong as well? What if there's no Heaven? What if there's no Hell? What if there's no God? Was it all a lie?
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Boy, I could write all day about what you have written here. Between the ages of 6-21, I was utterly terrified of contemplating death. I don't understand why everyone says "young men have no concept of mortality" because I certainly did! I was afraid to talk to anyone because I didn't want them to feel the fear I did. I grew up in a very liberal Christian home (United Church of Canada) and was essentially told that your soul went to heaven (with no mention for or against reincarnation) That seemed reasonable until I took a University course in Philosophy. We studied "proofs of God" and I left that lecture saying to myself "are you $@#@ kidding me? This guy is clearly a hateful, nihilistic person". I immediately went online and found out he was telling the truth: these were considered the best proofs of God's existence and they were almost laughable. At that point, I HAD to know the truth no matter how painful. I tried to talk to people in the church and was increasingly frustrated by the very vague answers I got from the church. I tended to believe they had no idea either and we merely deluding themselves into a false reality.


I decided to see for myself what the Bible really said and was very frightened upon reading it. This God isn't loving: he's a hateful, egocentric piece of crap that sounds more like a devil. I then had encounters with fundamentalist Christians and I was absolutely stunned how poor their arguments were. I couldn't believe how someone could believe a loving God would sentence someone to pain and suffering. I, as an average person is far more loving and merciful. The biggest obstacle I had to overcome was the idea that I was lied to by almost everyone. After all, most people I knew were Christians and there are literally thousands of quality sites 'proving' Christianity. How could they all be wrong? Was I just crazy? Why can't I see what seems obvious to everyone else?


Eventually, that led to my presence here today. I have no idea if reincarnation is real yet but I am now 100% sure there is no God who will throw me in a lake of fire for asking questions!

I think it forces them to confront things that are not ready to contemplate.
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There is definitely a lot of truth to this statement. If it wasn't for the horrible experiences I had as a teenager, I would have probably never had to face this reality until much later in life. My brother tells me it's because religious people don't want to leave the comfort of their beliefs but I do not see much comfort in knowing there is a (Bible) God. Just the thought of anyone suffering forever would be enough to drive me insane. Reincarnation seems like an obvious answer to me and fits in nicely with the memories I had as a child and being around large groups of 2-4 year old children has reassured me I'm not crazy after all. While no child has directly mentioned a past life many of them (usually girls) sure act like they were a grandparent at one point with the lectures they give me!
 
I think the concept of reincarnation didn’t elicit merely fear, more like outright terror, for the earlier generations in my family, at least. It wasn’t speculated on much but if it was mentioned the idea that they’d have to ‘do it all over again’ was far scarier than the prospect of hell. I suppose hell was at least a change of scene. They’d gone through both world wars and the Great Depression, with some of the men serving in both wars. They did hard labour on farms and in logging camps and constantly dealt with hunger. My mother was battered by her parents, beaten by the people for whom she worked, raped by somebody or other, and abused by her husband, but that wasn’t anything unusual for any of the women. The small things she enjoyed were lost or taken from her. Nominally they were supposed to believe in an afterlife, as in a vague ’heaven’, but I don’t think many of them did, as far as I know.


For myself, I was very much drawn to the idea of reincarnation when I was younger (imagining that I’d either have, or had in the past, a life that would be easier, I’d make fewer mistakes, be better looking, or more interesting, or something) but it’s becoming less appealing as I age and look back on this life. The thought of being a child again is terrible, I hated being a child, I never want to be a child again - and I had a fairly fortunate childhood! I lived in a wonderful place and my family loved me. My young adult life was mostly work, I struggled with a heavy workload through university, got a job with long insane shifts, had a business that required eighteen hours of standing on my feet a day, then another job that had really insane shifts and often no days off at all. I don’t remember much fun although presumably I must have run across it as I seem to have emerged with a husband. :laugh:


For the past twenty years I’ve been in constant pain, and when I look through at my day-to -day journals, emails, cheque-book, I’m struck by the realization that I’m a terribly dull person leading a dull life. Okay, you can see this as I’m feeling sorry for myself and whining. But believe it or not, I do see that I have a life of great privilege and have been very lucky. I’ve survived all the dire things that happened to me, and I’m better off in every imaginable way than the vast majority of people who’ve ever lived. I’ve been at least as fortunate as other people I know. Turns out I wasn't even that bad-looking :rolleyes:, albeit a bit hefty. And make no mistake, I do appreciate my life, I see it as a gift, am able to experience even the rough parts as ’interesting’, and I wouldn’t give it up without a fight. But as it was for my parents and grandparents, the thought of having to ’do it all over again’ isn’t comforting and the idea of endless death isn't so bad. I don’t think I approach the thought returning with fear, but if it does happen I’d hope eventually my soul can find a way to move beyond it.
 
That was weird... I wrote up an entire post and only a few things showed up?


Well, I just lost my morning, so... nevermind. Short version: I think there's fear not just because of religion, but the fact that we don't know where we'll end up if we are born again.
 
@Looking Backwards- Sometimes the data just gets wonked up. When I do a large post, I always copy it before submitting it.


@Sister Grey- Seems it's the perception that "do it all over again" means doing the same thing all over again. For good or for ill, it's not a guarantee. So the current one blows chunks. What about the others? What were they like? Surely they didn't all suck. Some must have been great, and who wouldn't want to do those all over again?


My parents had this light belief that you come back opposite of what you are now. (Yippee! You mean I get to be tall, slim, and filthy stinkin' rich next life?!? Cool! I'm gonna take sky-diving lessons from that cut-rate place without a license!) I don't even think that's a guarantee. Too many variables.
 
I think it's fairly mundane myself. People are always afraid of the unknown and the new. It's human nature. Boring perhaps, but there you go.
 
It's cultural as well of course. Hindus and Buddhists take reincarnation very much in their stride, talk about it very matter-of-factly and are not afraid of it. It's the 'unknown' that is considered 'spooky' by westerners.
 
I believe that the hundreds of years of inquisition inflicted upon numerous European countries has left an indelible mark on Western Society that won't disappear for sometime to come. Add a healthy dose of ego, and we find ourselves working hard to establish our place in a materialistic one-life-per-customer lifestyle which has been passed down to us by our ancestors, priests, teachers and respected authorities for hundreds of generations.


Then, along comes a peaceful, smiling foreign teacher from another type of society that tries to stress the denial of their own ego while offering us very little in the way of military skill or technology. At first this teacher is seen as a harmless and inconsequential soul who attracts only little interest at first. But, then, as his message gains increasing interest, the safety of our system begins to weaken as we observe other people taking things less seriously, and wasting more time in meditation, refusing to carry weapons against their fellow man, and buying fewer ego-driven products.


It will see to some that their world is being turned upside down and that everything we have learned about our God and our own self-reliance, Neutonian Science, industry and nationalism is being challenged. I think the opening volley of such change began with Gallileo, and much blood has been shed over many related issues having to do not only with heresy, witches and foreign religions (philosophies), but with anything that threatened the welfare of some professional guilds. Once case in point was the 1804 invention of the Jacquard Loom, which made complicated fabrics using punch cards sewn together and eliminated numerous workers as well as competitors. As a result, all of France's silk workers rioted, and attempted to destroy the equipment and murder the inventor.


We are hard-wired to fight change when our livelihood or central beliefs are threatened. Add a threat to our ego and societal beliefs -- from which all other things are believed to flow -- and you will have violent reactions, even from your best friends and closest relatives.
 
Wow Nightrain! I really liked that...and so true. One very close to me reacts with just that fear and anger with anything discussed or done which is out of the ordinary or out of her realm of comfort...bordering on the unreasonable. A friend of mine gave me this evaluation:


Some people's world view enables them to automatically update their internal operating system with each new input of information, new event or situation, while others' world view does not come equipped with the auto-update feature and freezes up or crashes whenever the input received is not identifiable as normal or established and ok. Those of us with the auto-update feature can deal effectively with change, while the others are obviously earlier models (I have looked at them more as following a lifeplan that required them to live in and be anchored to a materialistic environment).
 
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