X-Message-Number: 10503
From: "Scott Badger" <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #10497 - #10501
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 07:49:42 -0500

In Message #10500 George Smith wrote:


>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.


Total tolerance for *all* may not be the best policy due to a variety of
legal concerns, but discrimination on the basis of religion would certainly
not be wise or ethical in my view.  I personally still have a hard time
imagining
exactly why any religion would embrace cryonics.  How might cryonics further
the cause of any religion's agenda?  I suppose a group seeking physical
immortality would find cryonics a potential portal to a future time when
aging had been eliminated, but how would a god-figure enter into the
equation?
I'm saying it's possible but doesn't sound very likely.  Again, if
immortalism is the
religious goal, then the holy grail for these folks will be the anti-aging
formula and
their main focus will be on some biotechnology firm.  Cryonics would only be
a
vehicle, not the destination.

>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?


I believe I can assume that it is the explicit policy of all cryonics firms
that they have
no religious affiliation.  It is also policy to fully inform prospective
members that
cryonics is a technological gamble.  Given that disclosure, prospective
members
can make an informed decision, and their choice is their own responsibility.
It is not our place to tell them that they are being "conned" or not by
someone else,
as long as we give them an accurate and realistic assessment of what
cryonics
is about from our perspective.

>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.


Getting the IRS to support the cryonics movement?  Now that's the best idea
you've had in a while, George. ;)  Let's offer the entire IRS staff a deep
discount if they
all agree to immediate crypopreservation!

Best regards and long life,

Scott Badger

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