X-Message-Number: 22996
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2003 17:42:59 -0500
From: RANDY WICKER <>
Subject: Cryonics as religion?

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Cryonics as religion was not for Charles Platt.  He wrote:

>Since a religious belief system is incompatible with the
>processes of science, I assume you are suggesting we don't
>try to pretend anymore that cryonics is based on
>science...right?

Well, I wouldn't say that.  At the old www.summum.org site they
said the IRS "considered anyone who provided burial services
to be a religious organization and tax exempt."

Perhaps, that has been changed.  Now this is what they say:


Summum is a 501(c)(3) and 170(b)(1)(A)(i) organization incorporated in the State
of Utah, USA in 1975. One of the by-laws and basic tenets of Summum s worship 
is the practice of Modern Mummification and Transference. On May 28, 1986, the 
Internal Revenue Service ruled that conducting and facilitating Mummification 
and Transference in accordance with the tenets of Summum s religious worship is 
exempt from federal taxation.


Summum first introduced the public to Modern Mummification in 1986 at the 
National Funeral Directors convention. Since that time, Summum has continued to 
research, develop, and refine the exoteric and esoteric art and science of 
Modern Mummification. Today, Summum is the only organization in the world to 
offer this remarkable and distinguished service.


This is obviously more of a moneymaking operation than it is a religion.  They 
try to sell you services for over $100,000 of which about $32,000 goes for the 
mummiform, a casket in your likeness a-la-Tut.



Randolfe H. Wicker
Founder, Clone Rights United Front www.clonerights.com 
Spokesperson, Reproductive Cloning Network, www.reproductivecloning.net 
Former CEO, Human Cloning Foundation, www.humancloning.org
201-656-3280 (Mornings)



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