X-Message-Number: 7801
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Re: CryoNet #7791 - #7798
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 23:13:17 -0800 (PST)

Hi again!

I've read Carlotta's message and would add that I see no conflict between the
broad ideas of Christianity and cryonics.

And someday she may be seen as one of the few in her parish who really did
seek and follow God's will.

HOWEVER, there is a problem with particular interpretations of religion (and
I include Christianity). If I understand theology (I'm WAY out of my fields
of expertise here!) there is no reason against cryonics in any standard
Christian theology, including that of Roman Catholics. But there are many 
people who see a conflict. I believe this is because they believe we are
freezing the "dead", among other reasons. If they don't turn off their minds
too quickly, we may be able to explain that we don't believe we are doing
that and have a much better scientifically founded definition of of "death".
(It still often happens that the minds close up and we can do nothing but
wave goodby).

Cryonics does open up a lot of doors everyone thought they had safely
closed --- and pulls curtains from windows, too. Unfortunately there are 
a lot of people who want those curtains tight shut. We see one more instance
of this with all the hand-wringing about cloning: various people arguing
that it should be made illegal, Mr Rifkin in fine form, etc etc. As Mr.
Lynch and others know, I don't believe it's such a big thing, but certainly
it's caused lots of hand-wringing and wondering. I will add that while I
think anyone who has himself or herself cloned will be badly disappointed
by the result (I'm talking about 1997 or nearby here --- other more 
elaborate things might be built on cloning, but are very much not the same)
I would be the last person to advocate that it become illegal.

Although the US has been immune from this particular technical diddle, 
right now in India and several other countries amniocentesis has been used
to find out the sex of an embryo and abort it if it is not male. Yes, 
the pollies have made this illegal, not that doing so did very much. I
look forward with great interest to the long term effect of allowing more
boys than girls to be born. It may be the best thing that ever happened
for feminism in India, especially if women play the game right. 

Are such reactions the result of religion, or the result of tradition?
If we can separate the two, I'd say it was tradition. And I'd add that
cryonics itself, done by whatever means, is far more in opposition to 
tradition than cloning ever was or will be.

And one more thing: well well, Mr. Clark and I agree on at least one thing.
I'm not impressed by those labelling themselves "ethicists" either  --- so
far, every time someone calls themselves an "ethicist" it is an excuse for
taking most ignorant and unthinking response to some new development.
And in the long run, we may find far more people to have been killed
directly or indirectly by people mouthing "ethics" than by those who directly
commit mayhem and murder. Ignorance becomes especially dangerous when it is
justified by morality.

			Long long life,


				Thomas Donaldson


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