The question of death that has been the subject of human imagination throughout history, is still mostly unresolved. Despite our burning desire for eternity, death remains an inevitable fact of human life. Despite this, discussions regarding death are avoided. Our understanding of death changes as we mature, particularly the perception of death. The empirical part of the diploma thesis includes twelve interviews with young people. The results of my research show that initially the perception of death depends on mental capabilities and combination of several other factors, familial influence being a notable one. Young people perceive death as sad and morbid, at certain point, their conceptions diverge. Some view death as the end, others as a new beginning. Others still do not see the difference between ending and beginning and view death as a vicious circle of life and death. Nevertheless, fear of death and annihilation is present – fear of ceasing to exist. Furthermore, fears regarding death are mostly related to fear of losing loved ones and fear of potential suffering and pain preceding death. Most of young people believe in afterlife and the concept of soul immortality, with certain differences between individual conceptions.
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