X-Message-Number: 32993
From: 
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:10:27 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: borrowing from religion

This discussion has been repeated many times, but I guess reminders are  
needed.
 
Yes, we can benefit by borrowing ideas from religion, but the topic isn't  
simple.
 
To my knowledge, so far the only formal cryonics-related religion is  

Venturism, the Church of Venturism having been recognized by the IRS. But as far
as I know there has been little success in attracting members. Merely 
saying you  are a religion isn't enough, and in fact opponents have accused 

cryonics of  being a religion while not giving it the respect that most 
religions 
 receive.
 
What makes some religions succeed, and what movements or institutions have  
some features of religion and succeed? It's pretty clear that the explicit  
content of the doctrine doesn't have much to do with it. And of course some 
 recognized religions, such as Buddhism, do not even speak of any God, 

while some  ostensibly non-religious or even anti-religious movements succeed by
exploiting  common features of religion.
 
For example, Marxism/Leninism is basically a  religion. For God,  

substitute the State or Posterity. The worker willingly works himself to death  
for 
the sake of his ideal. In the West, humanism is somewhat similar--for God or  
for your ideal, substitute humanity or posterity. 
 
Currently, oddball notions such as Cosmism and Terasem attempt something  
similar, but we know that relatively few people would welcome radical change, 
 and I am pretty sure that these ideas can't go far. They will be seen not 
only  as pie in the sky, but a nasty flavor too.
 
On the other hand, many types of endeavor successfully copy some of the  
features of standard religion. Fraternal organizations use social networking 
and  do-good of one sort or another to provide inspiration and attract 
members.  Political parties assemble volunteers who derive some of their 

recompense by  interaction with others of like mind. A little praise or a plaque
now 
and then  can go a long way. 
 
To make the cryonics organizations provide more in the way of social  

support has been suggested many times and occasionally even tried a little, e.g.
with meetings at CI that Ben organized.  Lack of success can be  attributed 
to various things, including small numbers of local  members and a tendency 
of cryonicists to be loners.  
 
Past failures are cautionary, but not conclusive. New blood and new  
conditions could mean better results. 
 
One of the problems with implementation is the burnout effect, or giving up 
 when there is little or no apparent progress. I don't have any easy answer 
to  that, but as the fellow said, if you  give up in advance you have  
already lost.
 
Robert Ettinger
 

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