X-Message-Number: 31541
Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:45:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: rr ss <>
Subject: re: the immortalist Bible and cryonics


I have some more thoughts on Kennita's objections to tying cryonics to religion:


In my prior reply I addressed how cryonicists often undergo an quasi-religious 
epiphany upon becoming cryonicists. And like religious converts, new cryonicists
often become evangelists, cryo-evangelists who want to spread the good word. 
Just like those born again to religion.

Some cryonicists will go to great lengths to evangelize cryonics. Some even go 
to festivals a thousand miles away to sit alone in a booth and tell complete 
strangers about cryonics. Just like some christians are moved to go door to door
spreading the good word, or standing on street corner shouting out the word of 
god.


Of course, just like those who evangelize for their religion, the fervor of 
cryo-evangelists usually dims after a few years. Such is religion....


Cryonics already IS tied to religion. It IS a type of religion, one that depends
on science. We just need to admit that fact, and then we can move cryonics into
a new and prosperous realm of unprecedented growth.


But woe betide those cryo-evangelists who would dare advocate drastic changes or
new procedures for cryonics. Just as those who would advocate change in 
christianity, they face strident objections from those in the congregation who 
insist on purity and tradition. Why I remember one such diligent cryoevangelist 
who was roundly disparaged by the online cryo-congregation for wanting to 
evangelize cryonics at a festival for some frozen dead guy. "We don't want 
cryonics associated with some dead guy!" they shouted. Advocating changes in a 
religion threatens most of those who use that religion to keep their fear of 
death at bay. See "Terror management theory."


The fact is that cryonics needs to be a broad based movement, to have a big 
tent, to contain multitudes, to be "catholic" and not narrow. That is the path 
to more growth and the path to political power, the power that we need to 
survive the dangerous future ahead.



Now I know that I am not going to convince many or probably any of the online 
cryo-congregation here. Great, they can just go on their merry little way. Cuz 
the cryogospel is just not in their worldview. So is life.


But although I use the cryo congregation here as a sounding board, I am really 
mostly speaking to potential cryonewbies who will be exploring the cryonet 
archives in the future. And I say to them--consider become a preacher parttime 
and preaching a cryogospel in a church. Because that is a path to growth and 
immortality.


Well, now I am done with my cryoevangelizing and I have warmed the cockles of my
brain, or at least those associated with religion. Because I have done my 
cryo-evangelism for the day, and my homo sapiens ape brain religion circuits 
have been satisfied for today.

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