X-Message-Number: 6329 From: Peter Merel <> Subject: Cryonics and Christianity Date: Sat, 8 Jun 1996 20:43:30 +1000 (EST) Sam Galvagno writes, >What exactly do you mean by "chiliastic?" Thomas's meaning was quite clear - he is worried that cryonicists, by placing their faith in the general exponential progress of science, will succumb to an apathy that will abnegate their chances of future resuscitation. Nor is his choice of analogies difficult to understand - he refers of course to sects like the Jehovah's Witnesses who have a habit of predicting an imminent chiliasm, and then revising their dates when this chiliasm does not eventuate. The JWs have done this several times in the last 200 years as I recall. But I can't see anything in the paragraph you quote or in his other writings on cryonet to indicate that he maintains the facile belief that all christian sects are given to this habit. >Clearly, you have misinterpreted some of the >basic tenets of Christianity (which I would be glad to explain in the >future) Please, don't explain them on cryonet. There's not a reader of cryonet who does not have ready access to a bible, and the ability to decipher it for themselves. I can assure you, from reading Thomas's writing here for a period of years, that he is knowledgeable of the pertinent details of both christianity and cryonics. It would be better, I think, if you respected the subject of this forum and intelligence of the other participants here, and next time trembled your lid a little bit before flipping it. >As Christians, we should not be inclined to reject cryogenic >technology; however, rest assured that as responsible citizens, we >will not support technology that is used disparingly. Christians >should not be afraid to bring cryogenic technology closer, but it had >better work before we allow the general population to use it. Happily, cryonics works extremely well. It's resuscitation that has not yet been accomplished. Since frozen bodies will keep for thousands of years without spoilage, cryonicists are signing up to be frozen on the chance that a future technology will resuscitate them. So cryonicists require neither the approval of christians nor the existence of a working resuscitation technology in order to obtain this chance (slim though it may be) of surviving what 20th century medicine cannot treat. It is important that any christian with an interest in cryonics recognise that such resuscitation is not equivalent to anything holy or mystical, but, if it works, represents nothing more than a medical technology analogous to, though vastly more complex than, CPR. Once this recognition is made, then I certainly agree with you that there is nothing that should suggest to a christian that cryonics is an unacceptable practice within the context of mainstream beliefs. -- | mailto: | Accept Everything | | http://www.zip.com.au/~pete/ | Reject Nothing | Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6329