Quote Post: Julia Scheeres

Julia Scheeres on survivng religion:
 
'I can no longer have blind faith in creeds, because I am no longer blind.'
 
— Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres

Quote Post: “People don’t become Christians because it’s true”

"People don't become Christians because it's true, but because they have been brainwashed, indoctrinated, and groomed since childhood."

— u/RandomNPC1984

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/FunnyAtheistMemes/comments/13784z6/people_dont_become_christians_because_its_true/

It’s Google AI’s turn to answer the question ‘What is the best relief from death anxiety?’

Bard is Google’s AI you can chat with. So like before, I asked it what the best relief from death anxiety is.

Some notes:

  • Unlike Bing AI, Bard doesn’t give a list of some of its sources.
  • At the moment Bard gives you a few “drafts” to choose from. I imagine if you are using it to create something, this makes it feel like more of a collaborator rather than a omniscient supercomputer. I chose draft three because I thought it was the best of the three: it was longer than draft one which was mostly a bullet point list, and it had a better summarising paragraph than draft two.
  • Interestingly, unlike Bing AI, Bard directly recommends reading about death, which is something ChatGPT did too. I think this is an important inclusion.
  • I feel like Bard’s summary paragraph almost understands the topic better. The summary paragraph in Bing AI’s answer made me feel like death anxiety was more of wellness issue, rather than acknowledging it as part of the human condition.
  • Three drafts is a bit of a cheat. Essentially Bard gets three attempts to get it most right.
  • Bard is a clever bit of marketing. A lot less clunky than “chat mode for Bing”.

Here is Bard’s response in full:

(View the image full-size)

What is the best relief from death anxiety
View other drafts
Draft 1
There are many ways to relieve death anxiety. Some people find comfort in talking to a therapist or counselor, while others prefer to meditate or pray. Some people also find relief in reading about death and dying, or in talking to people who have lost loved ones. Ultimately, the best way to relieve death anxiety is to find what works for you and to be patient with yourself.

Here are some specific tips for relieving death anxiety:

Talk to someone you trust. Talking about your fears can help you feel more in control and less alone.
Seek professional help. If your death anxiety is severe, it may be helpful to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor.
Practice relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, can help you calm your mind and body.
Spend time in nature. Spending time in nature can help you feel more connected to the world around you and can give you a sense of peace.
Read about death and dying. Reading about death and dying can help you understand the process and can make it seem less scary.
Talk to people who have lost loved ones. Talking to people who have lost loved ones can help you feel less alone and can give you a sense of hope.
It is important to remember that death is a natural part of life and that it is something that we will all experience at some point. If you are struggling with death anxiety, there are many resources available to help you.

Draft 2
Death anxiety is a common fear that can affect people of all ages. It is the fear of one's own death or the death of a loved one. There are many things that can cause death anxiety, including:

Personal experiences with death. If you have lost a loved one or been through a traumatic experience involving death, you may be more likely to experience death anxiety.
Religious or cultural beliefs. Some religions and cultures have strong beliefs about death that can lead to death anxiety.
Fear of the unknown. Death is a mystery that we do not fully understand. This can lead to fear and anxiety.
Fear of pain and suffering. Many people fear the pain and suffering that may come with death.
If you are struggling with death anxiety, there are many things you can do to find relief. Some helpful tips include:

Talk to someone you trust. Talking about your fears can help you to feel less alone and more in control.
Seek professional help. A therapist can help you to understand and manage your death anxiety.
Practice relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, can help you to reduce stress and anxiety.
Join a support group. There are many support groups available for people who are struggling with death anxiety.
Read books and articles about death. Learning more about death can help you to understand it better and feel less afraid.
It is important to remember that death anxiety is a normal fear. There is no right or wrong way to feel about death. If you are struggling with death anxiety, there are many things you can do to find relief.

Draft 3
Death anxiety is a common fear that can affect people of all ages. It is the fear of death, dying, and the unknown. There are many things that can cause death anxiety, including:

Personal experiences with death, such as the death of a loved one
The media's portrayal of death
Religious beliefs about death
The fear of the unknown
Death anxiety can have a significant impact on a person's life. It can cause them to avoid talking about death, to have nightmares about death, and to feel anxious and depressed. If you are struggling with death anxiety, there are many things you can do to help yourself.

Talk to someone you trust about your fears. This could be a friend, family member, therapist, or religious leader. Talking about your fears can help you to feel less alone and to get support from others.
Learn more about death and dying. This could include reading books or articles about death, watching documentaries, or talking to people who have experienced the death of a loved one. Learning more about death can help you to feel less afraid and to understand what is happening.
Practice relaxation techniques. This could include deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Relaxation techniques can help you to calm your mind and body and to feel more in control.
Seek professional help if you are struggling to cope with death anxiety. A therapist can help you to understand your fears and to develop coping mechanisms.
Death is a natural part of life, and it is something that everyone will experience eventually. However, death anxiety can make it difficult to live a full and happy life. If you are struggling with death anxiety, there are many things you can do to help yourself. Talk to someone you trust, learn more about death and dying, practice relaxation techniques, and seek professional help if necessary.


Death anxiety is a common fear that can affect people of all ages. It is the fear of one's own death or the death of a loved one. There are many things that can cause death anxiety, including:

Personal experiences with death. If you have lost a loved one or been through a traumatic experience involving death, you may be more likely to experience death anxiety.
Religious or cultural beliefs. Some religions and cultures have strong beliefs about death that can lead to death anxiety.
Fear of the unknown. Death is a mystery that we do not fully understand. This can lead to fear and anxiety.
Fear of pain and suffering. Many people fear the pain and suffering that may come with death.
If you are struggling with death anxiety, there are many things you can do to find relief. Some helpful tips include:

Talk to someone you trust. Talking about your fears can help you to feel less alone and more in control.
Seek professional help. A therapist can help you to understand and manage your death anxiety.
Practice relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, can help you to reduce stress and anxiety.
Join a support group. There are many support groups available for people who are struggling with death anxiety.
Read books and articles about death. Learning more about death can help you to understand it better and feel less afraid.
It is important to remember that death anxiety is a normal fear. There is no right or wrong way to feel about death. If you are struggling with death anxiety, there are many things you can do to find relief.

(View the image full-size)

Asking Bing AI: “What is the best relief from death anxiety?”

Following on from ChatGPT being made available to the public in 2022, the same technology is now being offered commercially by Microsoft as Bing AI, or as it prefers to call itself:”chat mode for Bing”.

There are some differences to how this version answers the same question I asked previously: “What is the best relief from death anxiety?”. The first obvious difference is that this version communicates in the first person including using emojis. Microsoft are still trying different versions of the service including how personal or impersonal Bing AI should be. Possibly the first person approach works better in this context given a lot of people may be in a vulnerable place when searching for death anxiety answers.

I personally liked how Bing AI didn’t include religion in its answer. But it also didn’t include spirituality and maybe that’s an oversight? I suppose a risk for a commercial venture is they don’t want to end up recommending people do things on the risky end of the spirituality spectrum which might make them legally responsible?

I appreciated how Bing AI encouraged me to ‘meditate on death or practice mindfulness to accept the reality of death’. But I felt its answer was actually weaker for not including ChatGPT’s point of ‘educating oneself about death and the natural process of dying, in order to alleviate some of the fear and uncertainty associated with it’. Here, and this may be the legal side of things again influencing the answer, Bing AI directs people towards professionals as opposed to self-education.

It’s interesting to anticipate the near-future where a certain level of response or medical health advice will be handled by chat bots. I think I’m ok with it as long as the public & private sectors are mandated by law to let you know you’re chatting with a program as opposed to a real person.


Here’s Bing AI’s answer in full…

Question: What is the best relief from death anxiety?

Answer:

Some possible ways to overcome your fear of death are¹⁴⁶:

  • Exercise regularly to reduce stress and improve your physical and mental health.
  • Meditate on death or practice mindfulness to accept the reality of death and appreciate the present moment.
  • Talk to a therapist, a counselor, a friend or a support group about your feelings and thoughts about death.
  • Change your habits that may trigger your anxiety, such as watching too much news, avoiding social interactions or dwelling on negative thoughts.
  • Learn to spot when you are getting anxious and use relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation or visualization.
  • Try exposure therapy with the help of a professional, where you gradually face your fears in a safe and controlled environment.
  • Seek professional support if your anxiety interferes with your daily functioning or causes you significant distress.

I hope this helps. Remember that you are not alone in this and there is always hope for healing.🙏

Source: Conversation with Bing, 28/02/2023(1) Death Anxiety: 9 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Death | hims. https://www.forhims.com/blog/death-anxiety Accessed 28/02/2023.
(2) Thanatophobia (death anxiety): Symptoms and overcoming it. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321939 Accessed 28/02/2023.
(3) 17 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Death and Death Anxiety – Nick Wignall. https://nickwignall.com/fear-of-death-and-death-anxiety/ Accessed 28/02/2023.
(4) How to Cope with Anxiety About Death: 11 Steps (with Pictures) – wikiHow. https://www.wikihow.com/Cope-with-Anxiety-About-Death Accessed 28/02/2023.
(5) Death Anxiety: 9 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Death | hims. https://www.forhims.com/blog/death-anxiety Accessed 28/02/2023.
(6) 8 Healthy Coping Skills for Death Anxiety | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/202008/8-healthy-coping-skills-death-anxiety Accessed 28/02/2023.

Source: Bing AI, 2023

Quote Post: June Nelson

"During my lifetime the world's seabirds have declined by 70%. So this is a desperate situation. Habitat destruction, destructive fishing methods, and now of course climate change."

― June Nelson

Source: 'Life On The Rocks', https://vimeo.com/376345749

Source: ‘Life On The Rocks’ by George Pretty, https://vimeo.com/376345749

Quote Post: @lazenby

'[T]he thicket of mind and flesh, the one on fire with the awareness of death, of your grave-bound life. [A]nd above all, the awareness of the crumbling, meaningless insubstantiality of life lived only by your own lights. [T]hat burden is what … relationship[s] [can help relieve]'

― @lazenby on Tumblr

Source: https://www.tumblr.com/lazenby/693408280158093312/how-do-i-stop-being-so-horny-for-him-when-weve

Quote Post: Irvin D. Yalom

'A sense of fulfillment, a feeling that life has been well lived, mitigates against the terror of death.'

― Irvin D. Yalom

Quote Post: Ernest Becker

'What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one is food for worms.'

― Ernest Becker

Quote Post: Irvin D. Yalom

'If there are no rules, no grand designs, nothing we must do, then we are free to do as we choose … But we are unprepared; it is too much to bear, anxiety clamours for release, and, at both individual and social levels, we engage in a frenetic search to shield ourselves from freedom.'

― Irvin D. Yalom

Quote Post: Ernest Becker

'The irony of man's condition is that the deepest need is to be free of the anxiety of death and annihilation; but it is life itself which awakens it and so we must shrink from being fully alive.'

― Ernest Becker

Quote Post: Isaac Asimov

'There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. This strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge".'

― Isaac Asimov

Quote Post: Irvin D. Yalom

'Death acts as a catalyst that can move one from one state of being to a higher one: from a state of wondering about how things are to a state of wonderment that they are. An awareness of death shifts one away from trivial preoccupations and provides life with depth and poignancy and entirely different perspective.'

― Irvin D. Yalom

Quote Post: George Orwell

'The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth.'

― 1984 by George Orwell

Quote Post: Andrew Guess, Jonathan Nagler, and Joshua Tucker

'On average, users over 65 [in the U.S. on Facebook] shared nearly seven times as many articles from fake news domains as the youngest age group.'

(During the U.S. 2016 Presidential campaign)
 
Source: Guess, Nagler, and Tucker, ‘Less than you think: Prevalence and predictors of fake news dissemination on Facebook’, ScienceAdvances, Volume 5, January 2019, https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aau4586

Quote Post: Chrissy Stroop

'You are not a traitor to your family for:

- abandoning their religion
- not conforming re: gender and sexuality
- making your own political, lifestyle, and ethical choices

If your parents coerced you in the above matters, *they* betrayed *you*.'

― Chrissy Stroop

Quote Post: Office for National Statistics (UK)

Source: Office for National Statistics (UK) https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/incomeandwealth/datasets/totalwealthwealthingreatbritain

Quote Post: @srnairn

'Business wants older workers to retire because of cognitive and physical decline but are all for them running the systems that supposedly check and balance'

― twitter.com/srnairn

Source: https://twitter.com/srnairn/status/1454962358082752513

Terror Management Theory criticism

A list of academic criticism of Terror Management Theory (TMT), and also efforts to replicate original studies

(ordered chronologically by date first published)

1997. David M. Buss – ‘Human Social Motivation in Evolutionary Perspective: Grounding Terror Management Theory’, Psychological Enquiry, January 1997. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/246399872_Human_Social_Motivation_in_Evolutionary_Perspective_Grounding_Terror_Management_Theory.

2002. Mark R. Leary and Lisa S. Schreindorfer – ‘Unresolved Issues With Terror Management Theory’, EBSCO Publishing, 2002. http://plaza.ufl.edu/phallman/terror%20management%20theory/7390252.pdf.

2005. Carlos David Navarrete and Daniel M.T. Fessler – ‘Normative Bias and Adaptive Challenges: A Relational Approach to Coalitional Psychology and a Critique of Terror Management Theory’, Evolutionary Psychology, 2005. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/147470490500300121.

2006. Lee A. Kirkpatrick & Carlos David Navarrette – ‘Reports of My Death Anxiety Have Been Greatly Exaggerated: A Critique of Terror Management Theory from an Evolutionary Perspective’, Psychological Enquiry, 2006. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10478400701366969.

2008. Wissink et al. – ‘Replication of “Terror management and adults’ attachment to their parents: The safe haven remains” by CR Cox, J Arndt, T Pyszczynski, J Greenberg, A Abdollahi, S Solomon’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2008. https://osf.io/5tbxf/.

2011. Zachary P. Hohman, Michael A. Hogg – ‘Fear and uncertainty in the face of death: The role of life after death in group identification’, European Journal of Social Psychology, June 2011. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejsp.818.

2014. Lambert et al. – ‘Toward a greater understanding of the emotional dynamics of the mortality salience manipulation: revisiting the “affect-free” claim of terror management research’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, May 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24749817/.

2019. Bjørn Sætrevik & Hallgeir Sjåstad – ‘Mortality salience effects fail to replicate in traditional and novel measures’, May 2019. https://psyarxiv.com/dkg53.

2019. Javier Rodríguez-Ferreiro et al. – ‘Are we truly special and unique? A replication of Goldenberg et al. (2001)’, Royal Society Open Science, November 2019. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.191114.

2019. Klein et al. – ‘Many Labs 4: Failure to Replicate Mortality Salience Effect With and Without Original Author Involvement’, December 2019. https://psyarxiv.com/vef2c.

BONUS

And just for completeness really, here are a couple of the early foundational TMT studies:

1986. Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, and Sheldon Solomon – ‘The causes and consequences of a need for self-esteem: a terror management theory’, Springer Series in Social Psychology, January 1986. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313613028_The_causes_and_consequences_of_a_need_for_self-esteem_a_terror_management_theory.

1994. Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, Sheldon Solomon, Linda Simon, and Michael Breus – ‘Role of Consciousness and Accessibility of Death-Related Thoughts in Mortality Salience Effects’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, November 1994. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15232849_Role_of_Consciousness_and_Accessibility_of_Death-Related_Thoughts_in_Mortality_Salience_Effects.


If I’ve missed any obvious academic criticism up to 2022, or any obvious foundational TMT studies, please let me know, and I will make sure to add them.

Great Watching: Life On The Rocks

‘At the mouth of the Firth of Forth sits an ancient volcanic island, home to the world’s largest colony of Gannets; The Bass Rock. For three years from 1960, June Nelson and her late husband Bryan called it their home, intimately studying the birds and their behaviours. June reflects on their time together and the catastrophic loss of global seabird populations in the years since‘:

Watch the short documentary on vimeo.com >>

Great Reads: Ready to Leave QAnon? Shannon Martinez Will Show You the Way

A former white supremacist on how disappointed Q followers can regain agency in their lives — but only if they’re willing‘:

For followers of QAnon, Inauguration Day was never supposed to happen. There was going to be an uprising, assassinations, and Donald Trump was supposed to remain in office, victorious. On January 20, as Joe Biden was being sworn in as the 46th president, Shannon Foley Martinez sat down to make a video that spoke directly to followers of Q as the transfer of power peacefully occurred. “Many of you are grappling with a sense of confusion, betrayal, shame, embarrassment, and anger. That you’ve been led astray and lied to,” she says in a calm, patient voice. “I want to urge you to stay alive.”

Martinez is a former white supremacist who helps empower individuals to leave violence-​based lifestyles and ideologies. Over the past year, QAnon has become one of the most powerful conspiracy theories in the county, fueled by people trapped at home, scared and uncertain, with a troll-​in-​chief fanning the flames of disinformation.

Seyward Darby, author of Sisters in Hate: American Women on the Front Lines of White Nationalism, recently spoke with Martinez about what can be done in this disorienting, transitional moment to reach out to followers of QAnon and begin the long, tenuous process of drawing loved ones away from conspiracy theories.

Read the full article on medium.com >>