Introduction
The “Flight from Death” is a film made in 2003 that looks at the relationship of human minds to death in the context of human violence. The film questions the role of the subconscious mind as a possible underlying cause of many behaviors especially those of anxiety and uncomfortable behaviors including the spiritual, psychological, and also ,cultural level.
Human nature
Good versus evil is the spectrum of human nature that everyone has to make decisions about each day. The choice to be Mother Teresa or a serial killer is the extreme of choices that one has to make but each day we are presented with the choice to do the right thing or doing what we want to do. One decision that most of us don’t get to make is the time of our death. For most of us death is elusive and fleeting thoughts that become more pronounced as we age and realize that as humans we are mortal beings.
Humans have the mental capacity to understand that death comes to all. Each of us thinks of our own death differently. It is difficult to welcome death if we are healthy and enjoying life. For the sick or elderly death is sometimes seen as a welcome end to the suffering, but there is still a fear of the unknown that pervades the human mind. Humans are knowledgeable to comprehend that we are alive but could die at any time. This feeling of not knowing about the time and the hour of our death causes anxiety in many. Additionally, apprehension can be compounded by not knowing and understanding of life after death, or even if it exists at all.
Humans experience a fight or flight response concerning death. They tend to fight death by taking medications, being cautious, and living a responsible life. People, mostly the female gender turns to anti-aging medications or surgery to look younger, but yet death remains inevitable. Fear of dying, especially your own death can initiate a fear response and cause a great deal of anxiety. Most people feel that they are indispensable to their families and friends. No one could take their place and do their chores and responsibilities the same way that the individual does them. If you think about it can you imagine how your family will function without you or your company how can it possibility continue, no one wants to think of their own mortality. One of the reasons is that we are trying to fit into our lives by doing the best that we can. We love our families so much that we want to be around to see our kids have kids and grandkids. No one wants to make their love owns suffer a loss either as human nature goes the ability to protect those that we love from sadness or loss.
In the film, “Flight from Death” the movie begins with a shot of the faces of children. It is human nature to feel particularly sorrowful when children die. It does not matter if they die from illness or an accident; the loss of a life before they have had an opportunity to live a full life is disturbing. A baby especially represents life and not death, and this is one emotion that crosses culture and religious lines. Life is fragile and precious.
Trends in terrorism and death to many by Weapons of mass destruction are more in line with those individuals suffering from a mental illness. However many that would like to inflict harm on others are not but are highly intelligent and well organized such as Ramzi Yousef . He was able to bring together a loosely knit group of people and connected them into a terrorist group. Osama bin Laden was a possible sponsor. "While nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer nothing is more difficult than to understand him" said Dostoevsky many years ago and is still true in this film today.
Flight from Death Plot Summary
The film begins with the faces of children and the viewer is lead to believe that those children have died way too soon. Looking at man’s relation to death many cultures have different opinions about the inevitable aspects of death. In the film a group of professionals discuss the Terror Management Theory. This is not to be confused with terrorism, in terror management people want to stop the thoughts of death by over achieving in the accomplishments and happiness in life . This theory of living better produces happier and more satisfying relationship while people are living. This theory has elicited several empirical studies and papers. As an individual, writing your own obituary make you want to live and have something significant to include.
One group of people studied found that reminding them of their own death by offering subconscious clues is not effective for the research provided by the Palestinians. Reminding that one group of their own death shifted their thinking process to creating a desire to decide their death. They offered a wish to have the inevitability of their own death mean something in death. This group is the suicide bombers . They claim to be achieving respect as a symbol of sacrifice. There is not a particular religious belief that encourages this action although because of the origins in the Middle East many have attributed this death fighter to the Muslim faith but nowhere in the Quran is this belief.
Religious Belief
The message of the film is that death is for certain and this message will never change. From a personal religious view, my beliefs see death as a welcome event. “Meaningful connections with other people make us feel fully alive and vibrant” . Death is welcome because it means an opportunity to live in eternal peace and with God. The challenge in these times is to live the life that allows the eternity that is so desirable.
The goal of a well lived life is not to only secure heaven for oneself but to bring others to God. The love of a family can be exhibited by teaching our love ones about God and His plan for all of us to achieve eternal salvation. God sent His only Son down to earth to be crucified in order that all of the faithful can be saved. The gates became open and all can pass. Heaven is the end goal of this life and as humans we are satisfied in the belief of the promises of life after death in paradise. Faith depends on believing in things that we cannot understand. There is no doubt that God offers this to us, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” 1John 5:11-12. .
Conclusion
Pondering salvation begs the questions of living a life full of good deeds or repenting before dying to be saved. The person who has not lived a good life may receive salvation as long as they repent and believe in Jesus at the end of their life. The difference in living a good life and achieving heaven eternally is the peace that they experience in their life. The thief on the cross with Christ certainly had not lived a life in Christ but repented and was the only one that we know of that is promised salvation. Jesus said to him “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:32-43). To all the rest of us, we need to believe in our faith that God is true to His promise.
In the answer to the question, therefore, the general answer is that most times the thought of our own death is rather disturbing. When put in the context of our religious beliefs, the fat that we will die is one of the best parts of life. This is the result of that fact that paradise awaits. Yes it is true that we don’t want to see our families feel sad but they should be confident that eternity is much better than life on earth. Hopefully they have faith to accept the fact that we will all be together at the end of time.
References
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Greenberg, J. (1968). the theory. Retrieved March 2016, from Terror Management Theory: http://www.tmt.missouri.edu/
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Mpac. (2004). The Real Origins of Sucide Bombers. Retrieved March 2016, from Muslim Public Affairs Council: http://www.mpac.org/programs/anti-terrorism-campaign/islamic-views-regarding-terrorism-and-suicidem/the-real-origins-of-suicide-bombings.php
Sheen, P. (Director). (2003). Flight from Death [Motion Picture].
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