X-Message-Number: 26564
From: "Beth Bailey" <>
Subject: More about religion and cryonics
Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2005 20:09:08 -0400

Re: The London Bombings


Here is the URL of an article that shows one aspect of religion influencing the 
world at large: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1072-1684970,00.html


Also, a follow-up response to David Pizer's recent reply to me:


PIZER SAID: I also fear what "their" reaction might be to a lawsuit.  But I also
think we should weigh the potential benefits that this might bring.  It makes 
me sad when we sit by helplessly doing very little.  I also feel we need to do 
something dramatic.  Sure, we will win out in the end, say, in a couple hundred 
years. But think of all the dead-forever people there will be in the
meantime that we might have helped.

Re:  It makes me sad when we sit by helplessly doing very little. 


My response: Because of the nature of the world we live in, the act of signing 
up for cryonics in and of itself is a HUGE statement of courage. The sheer force
of will, organization, and fortitude it takes to be a cryonicist is the 
antithesis of "helpless." Ask any potential suicide bomber, with sufficient 
motivation dying is easy. Staying alive takes brains, guts, and heart. I suppose
this whole cryonics vs. religion topic has really struck a chord with me 
because I have been trying to convince my very religious husband to sign up for 
cryonics.

Re: I also feel we need to do something dramatic.


My response: There are 7 basic dramatic plots: overcoming a monster, rags to 
riches, quests, voyage and return, comedy, tragedy, and rebirth. For the 
audience to care, the story has to connect with them on a gut level. In this 
case, the "audience" would be people not signed up for cryonics. The dramatic 
goal would be to make the audience identify with and actually root for cryonics 
to win. For example, Romeo and Juliette 2035 (with apologies to William 
Shakespeare); young couple, deeply in love, separated by misguided family 
members. Romeo takes a poison that simulates death. When he wakes up, Romeo 
finds that the distraught Juliette actually killed herself, and her parents have
placed her in cryonic suspension. What should Romeo do?


I would rather read a book or see a movie depicting a religion vs. cryonics 
scenario because you can present your case with as much drama as you see fit, 
manipulate the audience's emotions anyway you want them to go, and still write 
yourself a happy ending. Not something that real-life generally allows you to 
do.  


I would also like to propose the following alternative to a lawsuit in order to 
facilitate positive PR and drama:


Rags to riches: Find a financially disadvantaged church in your community and 
work with them to set up a scholarship fund for a deserving child to go to 
college, with the following stipulations: the scholarship recipient must study a
scientific field that can benefit cryonics, he or she must maintain a B average
or higher, and must also sign up for cryonic suspension. (If they let their 
cryonics membership lapse, they must pay back the scholarship money.)


Following the above guidelines, set up a scholarship fund for nursing, EMT and 
mortuary science students. If you give young people the opportunity to get an 
education, become financially stable, and participate in cryonics, I believe 
this would build positive relationships and make allies in the community.

Lastly, to David Stodolsky: 


David Stodolsky said: We periodically hear the refrain that cryonics will be 
accepted when the first reversible suspension is demonstrated. The conclusion 
from this assumption is that more cryo-biological research is the best  
investment for the future.


My response: I agree that research into the technologies that will make 
cryosuspension and reanimation successful are of the utmost importance.  


David Stodolsky said: On the other hand,  failure to heed the political and 
social aspects of cryonics has repeatedly caused serious problems and might  be 
seriously inhibiting  growth.


My response: Again, I agree with you, and I think that we have to devise 
positive ways to make cryonics socially acceptable to the general public. 
Corporate branding (which you mentioned in message #26557: Re: sales 
probabilities) could be one way to go.

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