X-Message-Number: 26394
From: "Beth Bailey" <>
Subject: Cryonics and Religion 
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 12:30:41 -0400


I am reading James L. Halperin's book "The First Immortal" for the third time. 
(Thanks to Rudi Hoffman for sending it to me when I got my cryonics insurance 
policy.) The book has this great scene where the Pope and his Cardinals realize 
that they must allow the Catholic Church to approve of cryonics, or when the day
arrives that re-animation becomes possible, there won't be any Catholics.


While eternal life in heaven is purportedly awesome, (ie. wings, harp, halo, 
etc.), religions in the physical world need living, breathing, money 
contributing believers.


If those true believers are willing to die for their beliefs, while killing all 
non-believers, hey, that's just a bonus!


My family is full of religious people, all of whom who truly believe they are 
going to heaven, but the other guy "ain't." My born-again Christian family 
members know that only they are saved. My Catholic family members are positive 
they have the first-class entry tickets to the pearly gates. And my Jewish 
family members are waiting for the Messiah to come so they can get in on the 
heavenly action.


About your law suit, remember what happened to that guy who recently sued to 
have "Under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance? Although, many people 
might agree with his position, after the way he was portrayed in the media, I 
don't believe there is a lot of public sympathy for his cause. Terry Schiavo's 
hubby was sometimes shown in an unflattering manner for trying to let his wife 
die the way he believes she wanted to.


Cryonics has all the morbidly fascinating, potentially sensationalist vibes that
the media loves to feast on. All you need is one famous person, a disputed will
and some disgruntled relatives, and it's a circus of bad-press. Likewise, 
taking on the world's religions is a no-win situation. The institutions that 
gave us the Christian Broadcasting Network, The Eternal Word Television Network,
and Al Jazeera are powerful, wealthy, and God is definitely on their side... Do
not piss him off. 


The cryonics movement needs to educate the public about the benefits of 
biostasis. For example, if you are the parents of a dying child, wouldn't it be 
comforting to have the choice to freeze your child until a cure is found? 
Military recruitment might soar if you knew you could die as a Hero on the 
battlefield and then be frozen to possibly live again. How about the aerospace 
industry? If humans start living a very long time, we might need to colonize 
space.


The cryonics movement needs positive press; perhaps a game show where the prize 
is free cryonic preservation and a million dollar trust. They can call it "Who 
Want's to be a Future Millionaire?"


The cryonics movement needs to be "user friendly." Most people don't really want
to die, they don't know there is a possible alternative. People have trouble 
preparing wills or pre-planning their funeral. Who wants to go shopping for 
their own casket? Make cryonics information pamphlets available in Doctors' 
waiting rooms, emphasize that it's about preserving your life, and make it easy 
to sign up. 


Lastly, just like Jesus has Mel Gibson, Kabbalah has Maddona, and Scientology 
got Tom Cruise, the cryonics movement needs to become trendy, sexy, and hip with
t-shirts, bracelets, and a celebrity poster child. Since fame (like youth) is 
fickle and fleeting, there must be some smart celebrity out there who recognizes
that cryonics may be the perfect way to re-animate a dying career.

That's All Folks...

Beth Bailey

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