Science confirms the Bible?

[Esquilax]

I think that there's a practical side to it that can make it worthwhile. I also think that most such choices are driven by emotion, which isn't always rational. In that case, what is worthwhile is entirely up to the individual.

The person who gives up his life in order to do something that saves many other lives would consider it a worthwhile sacrifice, and it's difficult to argue otherwise. The person who does so for an ideal may feel the same way, but whether we agree depends on what he did and what the ideal was. The soldiers on opposite sides of a battle may believe strongly in their cause and be ready to die for their country, but without context we would hesitate to claim that they both fight (and possibly die) for something worthwhile.

This is a good point; I'd probably feel differently if I knew my death would give some demonstrable benefit to others that outweighs the good I would do alive. If I knew my death would, say, save others, that's a different story.

What I wouldn't do, is die rather than recant my beliefs. There's no use to that death beyond salvaging my own pride. The ideals themselves aren't injured by a temporary surrender.