Full Idea
Belief in immortality is harmful because it is not in our power to conceive of the soul as really incorporeal. So this belief is in fact a belief in the prolongation of life, and it robs death of its purpose.
Gist of Idea
We just see immortality as prolongation of life, making death meaningless
Source
Simone Weil (Gravity and Grace [1942], 'Decreation')
Book Reference
Weil,Simone: 'Gravity and Grace', ed/tr. Crawford/De Ruhr [Routledge 1952], p.37
A Reaction
I can possibly see a cosmic purpose in death, but hardly matters to individuals. Interesting that a mystic can't shake off the need for the body.
Related Idea
Idea 23747 What is sacred is not a person, but the whole physical human being [Weil]