X-Message-Number: 11755
Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 01:20:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: "B. F. Shelton" <>
Subject: False Antitheses and True Believers

David Pascal's thoughtful post prompted my response to his following
remark which I believe attempted to compare cryonicists' respect for the
continued life of a deanimated person, with the assumed life of a
presumably yet- or maybe-already-animated person (if I am not mistaken, a
fetus):

"Why? It seems to me that there is an obvious compatibility between the     
position taken by this one particular Church (at the very least) and the   
views held by most of the people involved in cryonics.  So why isn't it    
mentioned, much less explored?"

I will try not to make this a long posting.  On the higher level of
religious business organizations, it is clear that it is not in their best
financial interest to encourage the continuance of "old people" who do not
have a lot of resources to continue to donate, and who, in fact, may
indeed elicit "reverse donations."  And, of course, they have yet to
observe very many "ageless" persons with enormous wealth who theoretically
(for whatever unknown reason) might donate to their church for decades on
end, and whose continued physical existence they should therefore
objectivally promote.

In regard to the "masses," as distinct from the "religious business
organizations" themselves, one has merely to read the various writings of
Eric Hoffer, some entitled with variations of "The True Believer," to
simply understand why most folks whose heads are wrapped up in narrow-
minded views of reality and the universe(s), are never likely to associate
in their minds any relationship between "dead" and "unborn" folks
(translate:  deanimated/suspended and preanimated/living, folks).

Without further comment regarding subsidiary issues to those mentioned, I
must simply state that I do not think there is likely to be any strong
public support for cryonics/suspended animation and such for a very long
time, and we are on our own, and we best get together as best we can.

B.F.

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