I like it a lot. It's a theory by Solomon, Greenberg and Pyszczynski, based on The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker. The authors of theory wrote a book about it too if you are interested.
https://www.amazon.com/Worm-Core-Role-Death-Life/dp/1400067472
Great book on the subject of how inevitable death affects life:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400067472/
>A transformative, fascinating theory—based on robust and groundbreaking experimental research—reveals how our unconscious fear of death powers almost everything we do, shining a light on the hidden motives that drive human behavior
> -There are worse things than death to fear, like certain states of existence, hence suicide
Yes, if those states are inescapable. If pain is inescapable, how is that different from death?
> -The terror management psychology has not advanced beyond Becker's initial claims
A number of studies have been done, and case studies have been discussed in a book published recently: https://www.amazon.com/Worm-Core-Role-Death-Life/dp/1400067472
Read this book: The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400067472/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i896xbZNQ5HB6 by the founders of terror management theory. It is a fascinating and accessible look into how the awareness of our own mortality affects our judgments, decision making, cognition, and behavior in a range of situations. It is also a good example of research psychology. So many people go into psychology thinking about counseling/therapy and don't even know about the vast academic side that has nothing to do with that.
You should check out terror management theory, codified in the book The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life. The theory is heavily based on Becker’s work.
If you can handle some existential anxiety, I highly recommend The Worm at the Core. It explains terror management theory, a scientific explanation for the apparent need for humans to believe in not just god but any sort of supernatural powers that can grant them immortality.
They are freaking out about death, it's just manifesting in indirect ways.
https://www.amazon.com/Worm-Core-Role-Death-Life/dp/1400067472
Living for eternity would rob life of all its gifts. It's death that literally gives life.. well life.
I took it a step further and read The Worm at the Core, which was a continuation of Becker’s theory
First off, let me commend you on keeping an open mind. I sincerely appreciate any theist that willingly makes attempts to understand the atheist point of view.
If you’re interested in philosophy and existential scientific theories, I would recommend The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life. It was my first heavy read as an atheist, and I have to admit it made a lot of sense looking back on my previous theist perspective.
To get your feet wet, I invite you to read up on Terror Management Theory. It does an excellent job explaining why most people are religious and why it’s so difficult for people to lose their faith.
Here a link to the book https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Sheldon-Solomon/dp/1400067472
We are hardwired to fear death. I don't think it is possible (or healthy) to overcome that fear. We can learn to cope with it, how to tolerate it. But we can't get rid of it. If you'd like to learn more about how our fear of death affects us, I'd highly recommend a book called The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life. You may also be interested in The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker.
if this is your youtube channel it's pretty badass
I think you might really dig this book. I've found it to be one of the most important things I've ever read
https://www.amazon.com/Worm-Core-Role-Death-Life/dp/1400067472/
for a general summary of the subject, here's a video of the author giving a good talk about it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tkkmInXfOE (video uselessly out of sync but audio is fine)
here's another newer video of him, much better audio and video