X-Message-Number: 10500
From: 
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 17:01:35 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Re: CryoNet #10493


In Message #10493 Scott Badger asked about the meaning of a portion of my 
earlier post:

>>We must overcome any anti-religious bias regarding the future
>>events which will come to cryonics from a world which is dominated
>>by deeply religious beliefs.  That's just the way it is.
>>Religion is something people do.  Until this moment, it has dominated the
>whole of human society
>>and history <snip>

>I'm still a little unclear about your meaning. Are
>you suggesting that religious organizations will
>condemn cryonics once it becomes more popular unless
>cryonics itself turns into a religion?
>

What I failed to clearly express was a question.  The question is what will we 
do if a religious 

movement suddenly decides that cryonics is the fulfillment of their religious 
prophesies?  What 

if the next "L. Ron Hubbard" DOES seize cryonics as an important part of a 
growing religious 
movement?  What is in our best policy?  


I would submit that it be total tolerance.  "You do your thing religiously.  If 
you want to use 

our services, fine.  We are open to all."  Perhaps that is already the way 
things are.  


Yet I wonder about this as there seems to be not a little judgement being 
rendered as to whether 

cryonic suspension should be offered if the participant sees it an article of 
faith, rather than 

a technological gamble.  If you feel that a person is choosing cryonics because 
he or she was 

"conned" by a religion into making that choice, are you going to say that person
will not be 

accepted into your program?  Again, will you allow someone to be "conned" to 
save their life?


This situation may never happen.  I hope it never does.  I am, however, 
surprised that it hasn't 

in view of the wide range of behaviors human beings pursue in the name of 
religion.  I strongly 

suspect that sooner or later this issue will be in our faces.  Perhaps a little 
forethought now 
is in order.

-George Smith
-The IRS want you to live forever.  Don't try and disappoint them.

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