X-Message-Number: 6076
From:  (Brian Wowk)
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
Subject: Re: Fear of the "unnatural"
Date: 15 Apr 96 22:07:03 GMT
Message-ID: <>
References: <>


In <> John de Rivaz <> 
writes:

>> It may be that in NH we have a large majority of *very religous* 
>> people.

>Jesus cured the sick and raised the dead, and told his followers to do 
>likewise.

>Where is the problem?

	The problem is that raising the dead (whether done by Christ
himself or his followers) can only be done by the intercession of
the Holy Spirit, not by atheists drunk with vanity and technological
hubris!

	Seriously, NEVER, ever suggest that the dead might be raised
by future technology.  NEVER, ever characterize cryonics as the
freezing of dead people.  It is the freezing of *terminally ill*
people for possible future recovery.

	In the same vein, NEVER ever talk about immortality through
technology.  Again, immortality is the province of God not man.
Cryonics at best is a way to overcome terminal illness, not a
path to immortality!

	Also, if you must talk about neuropreservation, define it
as the preservation of the brain, not the freezing of the head!

	Telling someone that you are going to have your head
cut off and frozen after you die so that future technology
can resurrect you to an immortal existence is the surest way
to ruin relations with friends and family.  Don't do it!

	Cryonics is a speculative treatment for terminal illness.
No more.  No less.  It is in keeping with the highest traditions
of medicine *and* religious faith.  It is a noble endevour driven
by the most basic aspirations that make us human.  It is not
arrogant, selfish, blasphemous or any of the other dispersions
frequently cast upon it.  It is simply something you do to
protect your health and life.  

	Stick to this highroad, and you will not go wrong.
If someone clearly doesn't want to hear about cryonics, don't
beat them over the head with it.  If you must discuss cryonics
with a loved one, do so in the most positive terms you can,
tying it in as much as possible to *their* values, not your
values.  (i.e. Don't tell them that you want to be frozen so
you can be revived as 100 copies of a nanotech superman sex
machine commanding your own fleet of spaceships, etc.  Instead
perhaps tell them how much their great grandchildren would
enjoy meeting them.)

	Of the women I have had prolonged personal contact
with in my life (N=3), all respected my interest in cryonics.
Moreover, typically within two years of being introduced to
cryonics, they *all* decided to sign up.  This despite the
fact that two were church-going Catholics.  *Properly presented*,
they saw no conflict between cryonics and religion.

	You do not have to be an Extropian to appreciate
cryonics.  Depending on your audience, in many cases it's
best to leave Extropianism out of it completely.  Cryonics
is a powerful medical idea (perhaps the most powerful
medical idea of all time) and it certainly stands on its
own merits.  Quoting Eric Drexler from Engines of Creation:

	"If terminal illness without biostasis is a nightmare
	 today, consider surgery without anesthesia in the
	 days of our ancestors: (gory amputation description)
	 Many people feared the pain of surgery more than
	 death itself.  Perhaps the time has come to awaken
         from the final medical nightmare."

 ***************************************************************************
 Brian Wowk          CryoCare Foundation               1-800-TOP-CARE
 President           Human Cryopreservation Services   
    http://www.cryocare.org/cryocare/
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