X-Message-Number: 8804
Date:  Tue, 18 Nov 97 16:34:59 
From: Mike Perry <>
Subject: 5th Reason

Thomas Donaldson, #8799:

>1. Skepticism about whether or not cryonics will work
>2. Fear of social isolation after revival
>3. Fear of social isolation before suspension ie. joining a cryonics
>society will make you look weird and lose you all your friends
>4. Unconscious desire for death due to strong dislike of life
>
>It would be generally interesting, I think, if someone can come up
>with a 5th reason distinct from the others.

So, here goes:

5. A religious objection. In the mind of a believer, God has provided 
the solution to the problem of death--to put our trust in Him. For us 
to try to solve the problem ourselves is both presumptuous and 
futile. It won't work (God won't let it!) and moreover, it 
demonstrates a lack of faith that will land us in mighty "hot water" 
if we don't mend our ways!

It's interesting that I had one close relative, a religious person 
(theist, I mean), who used to remind me of the above (the gist
anyway) whenever the subject of cryonics would come up. 
Then she died (not frozen of course) and her husband, an 
agnostic, remarried. Evidently this particular husband is,
despite his own religious skepticism, attracted to partners who are 
God-believers, as is his second wife. Not long ago at a family
gathering I was able to get someone to sign a "Declaration of Intent" to be 
cryonically suspended. But she happened to be present and lost no time 
reminding me that "Jesus has the answer to that"--i.e. once again, 
we must trust in the Almighty.

Back in the 60s they were saying "God is dead"--following 
Nietzsche--but it appears the old corpse-maker still has lots of life 
--something else we have to contend with.

Mike Perry

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