We don’t like thinking about death. It’s uncomfortable, scary, and often seen as something to be avoided — or at least pushed far into the background of life. But Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher who wrote deeply about faith and despair, believed that remembering death (memento mori) isn’t morbid at all. In fact, it can be life-giving.
Instead of fuelling fear, the thought of death — when seen through the lens of Christian faith — can give our lives meaning, urgency, and peace.
Why We’re So Afraid of Death
Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t spend time reflecting on our mortality. We keep busy. We chase goals. We scroll. And when the topic does come up — maybe through illness or the loss of someone we love — it often catches us off guard.
Kierkegaard saw this avoidance as a kind of spiritual sleepwalking. When we pretend death doesn’t exist, we risk living shallowly — disconnected from what really matters, and from who we really are.
Memento Mori Isn’t About Being Morbid
When Kierkegaard talks about remembering death, he isn’t trying to depress anyone. Quite the opposite. He’s saying: Wake up. Life is precious. Don’t waste it.
In The Sickness Unto Death, he writes about the despair that comes when we live only on the surface — when we ignore the eternal part of ourselves, the part that’s made for more than just ticking boxes or pleasing others. Thinking about death helps us reconnect with that deeper self.
It invites us to ask better questions:
What am I living for? What really matters? Am I being honest with myself — and with God?
Death Can Clarify, Not Just Frighten
Rather than seeing death as a threat, Kierkegaard sees it as a mirror — something that strips away the noise and shows us what’s true. When we live with death in mind, we’re more likely to live on purpose. We forgive quicker. We love better. We hold people closer and stress less about things that, in the end, don’t matter.
It’s not about being gloomy. It’s about being real.
Through Faith, Death Doesn’t Have the Last Word
Of course, death still hurts. It’s a loss, a mystery, a letting go. But for Kierkegaard, Christian faith transforms how we face it. Death isn’t the end — it’s a doorway. It doesn’t erase meaning — it reveals it.
When we trust in something greater than ourselves — in God, in eternity — death stops being the enemy. It becomes part of the story, not the final chapter.
Learning to Live Lightly
Remembering death, strangely enough, can help us live with more joy. It frees us from pretending. It pushes us to show up, to be present, to say the things that matter. And it reminds us that time is a gift — one we can’t take for granted.
So no, memento mori doesn’t have to be dark. With Kierkegaard’s perspective, it can actually shine a light on how to live well, love deeply, and let go of what’s holding us back.
💡 If you’ve ever struggled with the fear of death — or wondered what it means to live with eternal purpose — Kierkegaard’s writing might be exactly what you need. Don’t forget to check out The Sickness Unto Death: A Modern Translation for the 21st Century