A Culture of Death - anybody else see this?

[Mama Etna]

I find Halloween and that death stuff abhorrent.   I do think the skulls and stuff that bikers wear is an attempt to look tough. Even military squadrons used the theme as an intimidation tactic.   Not my thing.

[AnOrangeCat]

1 hour ago, Neighbor said:

Interesting! My family used to tour cemeteries in New England, finding patriots of old's resting places and sayings, testimony on their markers also toured around little church cemeteries looking  for stones with funny sayings on them. Strange what some stones shared  as a lasting epitaph of a real person.

Some similar reasons contribute to my own interest. My grandparents, who were my parents in practice, went on a lot of road trips that would last for days or weeks at a time. There wasn't much to do as a little kid except watch the scenery go by. Cemeteries tended to be the most consistently interesting things on the read. Later on when I was able to see them up close reading the epitaphs was a big draw. A lot of stuff that was funny, strange, beautiful, or just interesting like you said.

[Mr. M]

21 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

As I drive around, it amazes me the number of symbolic death references we have in our society! Skulls and skull & crossbones appear on vehicles in prominent places and also on clothing, buildings, etc.  There's also many drawings of zombies or demons or dragons . . . it's all over the place!  Ever notice this?  

The images of the skulls and skeletons and other references to death can get quite stylized and fancy . . . dare I say almost like idols?  And in many cultures around the world, there are various holidays celebrating death, dead loved ones or dead spirits.  (Here in the US we have the ever-so-strange Halloween.)  

It's weird to see all these death and hell references around.  People, in the US at least, seem to think it's kinda cool.  I guess displaying these images shows that they have no fear and/or trying to convey that, "You'd better not mess with me, because I'm fearless and don't even fear death itself!" (yeah right!)

Of course, as Christians we know how sad this is, if this person is brought down to death without receiving the Savior, the One who overcame death.  They just don't know what they're doing, and need to be told about the One that loves them and can release them from the power of death! 

Does this upset anyone else? (and maybe "upset" is too strong a word . . . at the least it's an ongoing curiosity/bothering to me)

Death can only be of service to the spiritually minded.

Romans 8:

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,

but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 

8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Another thread has been started to further elaborate on a Christian relationship with death.

[Vine Abider]

3 hours ago, Neighbor said:

What  is evil also presents opportunity- to share of the gospel of Jesus. To be in  prayer for very  specific individuals and groups. So upset?  No, Grateful? Yes. 

The very symbols and practices one comes across might also scream out; you, you there, you are needed here! Come, please come and give testimony in word and deed of your creator and your source of hope that  is certain within you.

Being upset might be the beginning of awareness that the Holy Spirit is calling. Some  do get called and moved, to places as diverse as Sandy Hook Cn., Benin, Nassau,  Papua New Guinea, and even Palos Verdes Ca. There is both evil and opportunity most everywhere.

 Us just pointing is not a response, not really, to a call from the Holy Spirit. It is merely a beginning observation, least it seems that way to me as I see by comparison people  of all ages even geezers go where called to at least be helpful support to Christ's troops on the ground all over this earth.  

Yes that awareness is also to be seen in the mirror and the call is either responded to  or ignored by each of us if and when we are called. Be the warriors God intended us to be is a hard slogan, but wow what fun once grasped onto. To enter the fray of spiritual warring where the victory is not so much in defeat of another person  but instead the freeing of them from their plight. Being used of the Holy Spirit wow awesome joy, even when it hurts one's own physical body and it's own "loves".

This has some resonance, bro - thanks!  You may be right . . . is may be the Anointing speaking something to me, and could be an opportunity for the good news to be presented there!

[Mr. M]

11 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I feel differently about it based on the imagery/occasion in question. I've always been on the morbid and gloomy side, even as a kid, and spent a lot of time admiring cemeteries and reading the inscriptions. In and of itself death related imagery doesn't really bother me. Remembering that we can and will die and that it's largely out of our own hands can be a good thing and a motivator, both spiritually and from a purely worldly perspective.

I'd personally not make much of this in and of itself. Fancy art does not an idol make. What people do with it does. What I think a lot of people do with the death related imagery isn't  anything idolatrous, but rather an attempt to look tough or edgy. Pretty much what you said in your post. I share the skepticism that they're not afraid to die, too. It's easy to say that when it's distant from you. But when it's close at hand and you realize what you're about to lose it's going to hit people hard emotionally more often than not.

I do see the demon related imagery as a separate matter entirely, along with some of the death related holidays. Some of the Asian holidays surrounding the dead very much fall under the heading of worship of or attempting to communicate with the dead. Obvious bad ideas there.

While I don't think the intent of the OP was to discuss cemeteries, and the social and cultural role they play, since the conversation has turned in that direction, I could add that being from New Orleans, cemeteries are prominent there. We moved from New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain to a town called Slidell as a child, but I can still remember that we lived across from one of the large cemeteries on S. Alexander St and the large statues and mausoleums, and the foot traffic they generated. Tourists take guided tours through them. When I was a teenager, for whatever odd reason, my father took me to see the movie Easy Rider. One of the things that stood out from the film was Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, and spending an acid trip in one of the cemeteries.

Since the notion of idols also came up, I could add that another attraction in New Orleans are a series of elaborate fountains along the Lakefront, with fancy lighting at night, and statues of pagan gods. The fountains are sponsored by the major Mardi Gras krewes, and each is dedicated to a pagan god! Isis, Bacchus, Orpheus, etc... If there is a culture of death and paganism, New Orleans is an epicenter.

[Vine Abider]

17 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

Death can only be of service to the spiritually minded.

"The giants will be food for us!" 

[Mr. M]

33 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

This has some resonance, bro - thanks!  You may be right . . . is may be the Anointing speaking something to me, and could be an opportunity for the good news to be presented there!

The Good News!

John 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 

25-29 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

John 8:51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.

[Mr. M]

47 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

"The giants will be food for us!" 

Here is a surprise (not), even this topic leads us back to Love.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life,

because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

[Vine Abider]

5 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Here is a surprise (not), even this topic leads us back to Love.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life,

because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

Yes, back to our High Priest whose name is Love! "He will be our guide even unto death." Psalm 48:14

[backontrack]

On 7/15/2023 at 1:02 PM, Vine Abider said:

As I drive around, it amazes me the number of symbolic death references we have in our society! Skulls and skull & crossbones appear on vehicles in prominent places and also on clothing, buildings, etc.  There's also many drawings of zombies or demons or dragons . . . it's all over the place!  Ever notice this?  

The images of the skulls and skeletons and other references to death can get quite stylized and fancy . . . dare I say almost like idols?  And in many cultures around the world, there are various holidays celebrating death, dead loved ones or dead spirits.  (Here in the US we have the ever-so-strange Halloween.)  

It's weird to see all these death and hell references around.  People, in the US at least, seem to think it's kinda cool.  I guess displaying these images shows that they have no fear and/or trying to convey that, "You'd better not mess with me, because I'm fearless and don't even fear death itself!" (yeah right!)

Of course, as Christians we know how sad this is, if this person is brought down to death without receiving the Savior, the One who overcame death.  They just don't know what they're doing, and need to be told about the One that loves them and can release them from the power of death! 

Does this upset anyone else? (and maybe "upset" is too strong a word . . . at the least it's an ongoing curiosity/bothering to me)

Hollywood has had all this in their movies for years and years are you living under a rock and did not notice this. 

Think how many are going to Hell every day what's a person to do shout from the roof tops Jesus saves.