I have been thinking about the phrase "A fate worse then death".

This, by nessecity is life, a fate worse then death. Since no one knows what death holds for us, (and no I don't buy your religious fervour as knowing, that is faith, different thing) and my guess is oblivion, then I could not agree more, life is a fate worse then death in a lot of cases.

When this phrase is used it is totally subjective, who can say what for one is a fate worse then death is for another individual, for some it is just life.