X-Message-Number: 26472 From: Kennita Watson <> Subject: Cryonics and mainstream religion Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2005 12:30:22 -0700 Maybe some people don't consider cryonics because they consider their (generally monotheistic) religion a guarantee of eternal life. I find more often that people have never really heard about cryonics, and that they tend to respond positively when I point out that if one believes that only God/Heaven/Hell are eternal, then no matter how long cryonics, etc. allows us to live, there's eternity to go after that, and since the world will always have God's work to be done, it is good to stay here to do it as long as possible. If cryonics doesn't work, it seems we'd get credit for trying, like the firefighter who dies trying to save people from a burning building. And because you enjoy living doesn't make it bad, either: the sweaters you knit for the poor are no less appreciated if you enjoy knitting. On another front: the decision of whether or not to file a lawsuit should consider the gains and losses to be had. A lawsuit against any one of the world's major religions could easily cost many millions of dollars (if not in pursuing the suit, then in defending against the inevitable countersuits), and is more likely (IMHO) to garner negative feelings and publicity than positive -- when you attack people, they often counterattack. At this point I'll take a few words from the playbook of those whom some consider our enemies. From Proverbs 15:1: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.". And from Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." (ref. http://onlineparallelbible.com/ , WEB (World English Bible) translation -- worth perusing, if only to get a look at how many translations are available and ). There's also the Rational Emotive Therapy angle. To file a lawsuit may be an example of emotional reasoning: "I feel angry, so I must fight.". The people you're fighting may not even know they have any argument with you, in which case your task is not to punish them but to help them understand. Enough for now. Live long and prosper, Kennita -- Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds. -- Bob Marley, "Redemption Song" Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=26472