X-Message-Number: 14082
From: "George Smith" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: the 80%+ who believe in an afterlife
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 09:55:57 -0700

Jeff Dee (in Message #14070) suggested that "there are real reasons to doubt
that many of the people in that 80%" (of the population who believe in some
form of life after death) "are potential customers" for cryonics since they
"also believe that when they die their soul goes to 'a better place'?"

Jeff, I agree that most folks believe that the after life will be better
than physical life (and near death experiences reinforce this belief with a
growing social impact), and that is precisely why cryonics should NOT
"compete" with these beliefs.  The cryonics "afterlife" is just ... life.
For the vast majority of people the afterlife is ... heaven!  Don't compete
with heaven!

If, instead, we emphasize that cryonics is strictly a life extension, life
saving procedure, then we CAN "sell" more people on it.  The vast majority
have already been sold on organ transplants.  Heart transplants are not
posed as alternatives to religious beliefs regarding life after death though
certainly I could see that they could be.  ("First we put you to sleep and
then we cut out your living beating heart.  Then we put the still cold heart
of a dead corpse into your chest.  Then you return from death to life!").
How Mayan!

As cryonics becomes better known, this attitude of non-competition with any
religious afterlife can simply mean that we attract more members.  More
members is good for everyone in cryonics.  I think we can all agree on this
fundamental.

I think it is important that we do not seek to alienate others by imposing a
materialist dogma as an additional hurtle to embracing the value of
cryonics.  Cryonics is just another means to make a more deeply serious
commitment to life and the earth.  We are not "spiritual tourists" who can't
wait to leave.  We simply feel that life is a good thing and the future
here, in this world, looks to be exciting and attractive.  We want to see
the next chapter in the book of life.

Eternity is always there.  The afterlife ("death" if you are a materialist)
is always there.  But life on earth requires effort and comittment.
Cryonics can be an important part of that commitment. Let's make it easier,
not harder, for more people to understand this and make that commitment for
themselves.

Or, in other words, "you can attract more bees with honey than with
vinegar".

George Smith

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