There are a few major religious and spiritual traditions that contain the belief that the hour or timing of one’s death is predetermined:

• In Islam, it is believed Allah has fixed a decreed lifespan for each person and the exact timing of their death is known only to Allah. This is a mainstream Islamic theological concept.
• In Christianity, there are biblical verses (Psalm 139:16, Job 14:5, Hebrews 9:27) that discuss God appointing man’s days and establishing the time of his death. Not all denominations emphasize predestination to the same degree.
• In Hinduism, the concept of predetermined death is tied to karma and the cycle of reincarnation. The timing and circumstances of death are connected to how one lived their past lives.
• In Buddhism, the death process is said to be subject to complex causality and conditioned by one’s actions across lifetimes. Exact timing may vary but the inevitability of death is fixed.
• In some denominations of Judaism, mainly Orthodox Judaism, there is a belief God decides and predetermines the span of one’s life in advance.
• The Aztecs believed human lives lasted only so long due to preordained limits set by the gods at the beginning of creation.
• In Chinese folk religions, the Book of Life and Death concept involves one’s death date being decided in advance by the rulers of the underworld.

So in summary, major faith traditions incorporate predestination of life and death as part of divine providence and intricate cosmologies. This lends theological context for an individual’s hour of passing being set in advance.

Here are a few thoughts on how believing in a predetermined hour of death could impact how one lives:

• It may lead to a fatalistic outlook – if the time of death is fixed, some may feel their actions don’t matter. This could potentially lead to less motivation to make positive life changes.
• However, it could also lead to appreciating each day more, since any day could potentially be one’s last. This mindset may help focus on living life to the fullest.
• Knowing the time is predetermined could lead to less fear of death, and potentially more courage to take risks. If the day is set, one may feel more emboldened to follow their dreams.
• It may lead to placing trust in a higher power or fate, alleviating the human desire to control outcomes. This could bring more peace of mind.
• For some, it may result in taking better care of their health, wanting to live as long as possible up to their predetermined end. Others may feel less need to worry about their health.
• It could make one value their loved ones more deeply, wanting to appreciate every last moment together. Or, it could potentially lead to detachment, feeling the outcome is already decided.

Overall, believing in a fixed hour of death would likely have a significant psychological impact, shaping one’s perspective on life’s meaning and how to spend each day. With various possible reactions, the healthiest approach may be accepting the belief with equanimity rather than letting it dictate choices out of fear or fatalism. One’s actions can still have meaning in the present moment.

You raise a good point. Believing that the hour of one’s death is predetermined could potentially lead to having no fear of death at all. Here are a few reasons why this could be the case:

• If the time is fixed, there is no way to prevent it or delay it. The lack of control could lead one to accept death’s inevitability and stop worrying about trying to avoid it.
• Faith in a higher power or fate having set the appointed hour could override the instinctive human fear of the unknown. One may feel content knowing their death is in accord with a greater plan.
• A predetermined hour of death suggests one’s lifespan has purpose and meaning. Fulfilling one’s purpose could lead to facing death with courage and tranquility rather than fear.
• Letting go of fear could inspire one to live more deliberately, setting goals and mending relationships before time runs out. The acceptance could bring peace of mind.

However, it’s also possible predetermined death may heighten fear for some – wanting to accurately predict and delay the foretold hour. Overall, the philosophical outlook would significantly shape whether this belief calms fear or compounds it. An attitude of acceptance does seem more likely to result in no fear at all.

You’re absolutely right. None of us know the precise hour or moment of our death – it could happen at any time. Reflecting on the unpredictability and impermanence of life can be sobering, but also profoundly meaningful. Here are some thoughts on living without knowing when death might come:

• It reminds us not to take any day for granted. Seeing each moment as a gift leads to appreciating life more fully, living with gratitude and presence.
• It can motivate us to pursue our dreams and passions right now instead of delaying. Why put off bringing more purpose and joy? There may not be as much time as we think.
• Knowing death’s uncertainty teaches us the importance of being loving, forgiving and compassionate today. Petty conflicts and grudges fade in light of how suddenly life can end.
• It encourages us to reflect on our priorities and values, letting go of what doesn’t align. Death’s impermanence gives perspective on what truly matters most.
• An unforeseeable end inspires getting our affairs in order, from practical matters to mending relationships and righting wrongs. It brings motivation for closure.

While the awareness of life’s fragility can be challenging, it is also a great teacher. Staying mindful of how quickly death can come focuses us to live fully and purposefully right now. Each moment is an opportunity. With this perspective, we can find meaning regardless of when that last moment may arrive.