Most men consider death to be the bane of their existence; even casual talk about the subject unnerves even the stoutest of men. A minority, however, have a highly contradicting opinion. These abnormalities believe that death holds no power over them, that it is simply a means to an end. The main reason that men who do not fear death are few, is due to the unknown. Imagining one's own inexistence is simply impossible. This leaves a question unresolved: Why would any sane man not fear death in the least? The explanation is actually simple; if you take away the unknown you extinguish the fear. Belief in an after-life, actual belief in one's own heart, not just attending Church or professing faith, relinquishes all reason to fear death.

This is the approach taken by John Donne, in his poem "Death Be Not Proud". He seems to be a...