X-Message-Number: 4082 Date: Fri, 24 Mar 1995 21:39:53 -0500 (EST) From: Robin Helweg-Larsen <> Subject: Religion I can't resist it! "A 'religion' seems to be characterized mainly by _dedication_ and _fellowship_, with a divinity and formal worship not essential." - Also Spracht Ettinger, in 'Man Into Superman', page 164 in my edition. Therefore the dedication of cryonicists, so long as not countered by a lack of fellowship, :-) , makes a religion of our intellectual interest and emotional orientation. Less noble (i.e. less crazy) than Communists or humanists, because we hope for personal reward from our sacrifices - which in that sense are investments, not sacrifices. But if the concept of personal sacrifice is not necessary (and most people were not sacrificing for religion, they were investing in immortality too), then perhaps cryonics counts as a secular religion? (Don't take this seriously, I'm just feeling sociable and mischievous.) Always optimistically, Robin HL Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=4082