X-Message-Number: 31436 From: Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 16:52:38 EST Subject: Re: CryoNet #31430 - #31432 Hi, Religion and science are obviously antagonistic as are hedonism and religion. It appears quite likely that at some time in the future science and hedonism will dominate even to a greater degree than we see today. If the influence of religion on human behavior continues to decline, today's religious people who are irrevocably dead will be unable to contribute to the further course of mankind. Those who are revived may be able to make some contribution to the importance of religion for future generations. They may also be able to exert greater influence directly on those they love the most. E g their own descendents. An excellent case can be made that those who feel an obligation to help further religion or religious behavior have a duty to make an attempt to be there where they are likely to be needed, and may be greatly needed. The logic of this argument might influence some. Make that a few. Well a very few, but one might be great leader. Sheep are ubiquitous in the religious community. Thomas In a message dated 3/4/2009 5:00:57 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, writes: CryoNet - Wed 4 Mar 2009 #31430: Re: A Robert Ettinger quote for our times. [2Arcturus] 2 message(s) removed from digest due to low reputation. Rate This Digest: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=31430%2D31432 Administrivia To subscribe to CryoNet, send email to: with the subject line (not message _body_): subscribe To unsubscribe, use the subject line: unsubscribe Message #31430 References: <> Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 06:56:31 -0800 (PST) From: 2Arcturus <> Subject: Re: A Robert Ettinger quote for our times. --0-308533677-1236092191=:55252 > But "religion" acts as a catch-all term for a lot of disparate > beliefs in different cultures. Many religions lack beliefs > considered essential in the Abrahamic traditions, including an > eternal afterlife or even eternal gods. Religion in a broader anthropological, and humanist, context includes one's overarching world view, one's highest values in life, one's way of understanding the world, and one's way of life in the context of one's perceived sense of purpose. It seems clear to me that in this sense religion obviously can play a role in people's perception of such an important act as signing up for cryopreservation. But one danger is oversimplification, oversimplifying how 'religion' in this broad sense can affect any particular person's perception of cryonics. There are as many personal appropriations of religion as there are religious people, and 'atheists' usually practice a religion in the broader sense, e.g., having an overarching world view, even if they don't articulate it. When we are talking about life and death, about the possibility of living into an amazing future world, about the possibility of immortality, etc., we are talking about things that fall within the scope of what most people consider religious issues. At the very least, they may fall within the broader sense of 'religion', because making such big decisions usually fall within the scope of someone's world view. Signing up for cryonics for most people wouldn't be as casual as buying some wallpaper or a tube of toothpaste, and it probably shouldn't be. Robert Ettinger has been right, I believe, in placing cryonics in the context of what is generally called "transhumanism", with its broader sense of the future and its possibilities, which is the backstory and context in which cryonics make the most sense. If the future were to be miserable, or repetitious, or fixed by supernatural interventions, etc., then cryonics would make no sense. "Man Into Superman" or something like it is the good news, not cryonics itself. --0-308533677-1236092191=:55252 [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=31430 End of CryoNet Digest ********************* **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219957551x1201325337/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62) Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=31436