Would you rather die peacefully among friends at age 50, or painfully and alone at age 80? Assume that most of the last 30 years would be good ones.
Ugh… never assume. And if I choose to die peacefully among friends at 50, I’m more than halfway into those last 30 years. Not that I’m complaining. I’d say that I’ve led a good life in the adult years. I’m sure mistakes have been made and there have been days that weren’t the best. But that doesn’t mean that the whole of the past 16 years has been in any way negative. Why would I possibly choose to die painfully just to get an extra 30 years of life?
I wonder if this question is meant for someone who hasn’t reached 20 yet. Any teenagers out there want to tackle this one?
*The Question of the Week can be found in The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Ph.D.
The Confusing Middle 
Welp, I’m not under 20, but oh well. From a purely secular view and not “well that means I can see Jesus sooner!” standpoint: I guess I just feel like… If I were to die peacefully with friends, then that’s more people to be sad? 50 is so young! I’d probably have kids who were just about to get married or have kids of their own or graduate from college. I feel like this sounds so selfish, but I’d want for my children to be able to experience those things with me as their mom! I’d be so devastated to lose my parents right now (52 years old) because I want my daddy to walk me down the aisle and my mom to me a grandmother. If a painful and lonely death meant joyful life experiences for my loved ones in the past? Then maybe that’s what I’d want. I don’t know.
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That’s a good point. I lost my dad when he was 53 and I’d give anything for him to have had more years.
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Oy. Hard question indeed.
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