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