<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Finally speaks up again*
There are fates worse than death.
*Glances toward Vector for approval*

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Finally speaks up again*
There are fates worse than death.
*Glances toward Vector for approval*

<Snipped quote by Legend>

*I raise an eyebrow.*

Do elaborate.

<Snipped quote by Legend>

*Nods at you to continue*

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

If death was really the worst possible outcome, no one would, you know, kill themselves or something. Nobody would take any risks with their lives either. So for some people, there's clearly something better than how bad death is, or something worse. Part of what makes death powerful is that it's universal.

<Snipped quote by Extra>

Grombles live above ground, but they dig up and eat people's crops. And the worst part is that you can't even eat them back.

<Snipped quote by Galvanize>

Hard to say with the reverb in this place.

<Snipped quote by Webmaster>

With the scans I have access to, I can’t see anything.

<Snipped quote by Webmaster>

I... Don't think this is me.
*Whips my head up and to the side as a few more gunshots and an explosion can be clearly heard a few levels above us*

<Snipped quote by Memory>

Oh they are like squirrels then.

<Snipped quote by Extra>

*Shrugs*
Whatever they're like, they're pests. I'm sure the world you came from has plenty of those.

<Snipped quote by Memory>

We do. Though that also depends on you occupation or hobby.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

If death was really the worst possible outcome, no one would, you know, kill themselves or something. Nobody would take any risks with their lives either. So for some people, there's clearly something better than how bad death is, or something worse. Part of what makes death powerful is that it's universal.

<Snipped quote by Extra>

Huh? How does that work?
*Pulls up another lengthy vegetable*

<Snipped quote by Legend>

Suicide is a result of fear. It's fear so great it overcomes self-preservation; the animal destroys itself to avoid an overwhelming negative stimulus.

Death is merely the most convenient of the methods of compelling fear. It is, by no means, the most powerful.

<Snipped quote by Memory>

If you garden more or own a farm, you'd see these creatures as pests more than those who don't.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

Indeed! Thus if reality itself were to offer a universally feared consequence in which death itself a preferable alternative, it would be robbed of its power.

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

Hence the existence of Hell and other religious concepts of perdition and divine wrath. It is another side of the same coin; it invents a consequence that death is preferable to. I recently took a visit to an Earth in the midst of its own version of the early 21st century; one of the major societal problems of the day was religious radicalization, leading to the rise of terroristic groups that were more than willing to die to impose their doctrine upon the world. That is not possible for a state that deals solely in death threats.

There must be fear of death, and there must be fear of Hell. But Hell is meaningless without Heaven, so there must be promise of escape from suffering, if the man acts according to what is demanded of him.

<Snipped quote by Extra>

Oh, well yeah, of course.
*Stands up and grabs a cloth from my pocket before wrapping it around the vegetables as a makeshift basket*
Okay, where exactly do you want to visit?

<Snipped quote by Memory>

Maybe locations you like to visit here? I do not know the area.

<Snipped quote by Extra>

Adults like to drink, right? There's a place for that in town.

<Snipped quote by Memory>

I don't think I should be drinking in my state...

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

Perhaps so! But the true disadvantage of any afterlife promise is that it can't be seen, and the consequences are distant. So we need a different solution.