A theist or deist who doesn’t believe in an afterlife shouldn’t have a problem with cryonics. I’ve discussed cryonics with people from religions that do believe in it and they generally have negative viewpoints although I’ve met at least one Orthodox Rabbi who after the discussing the issue with me thought that cryonics was acceptable under halacha (Orthodox Jewish law). He disagreed with an argument I’ve been throwing around for a while that under halachah cryonics is either forbidden or mandatory (I can expand on the logic for that position and why he disagreed if anyone cares). Among Jews who believe in an afterlife at least there seems to be a larger fraction than among Christians who believe in an afterlife who are ok with cryonics. This is likely centered around how Judaism has been historically more focused on this world than Christianity.
Now, regarding her specific case, if there is an afterlife that is all very nice and good then does she believe that successful cryonic revival will remove her from that afterlife? If not, she has nothing to worry about since the cryonic revival will then only work if there isn’t such an afterlife. Similarly, if she thinks that the afterlife is really nice and pleasant, to the point where given the option of cryonic revival and the afterlife she would rather be in the afterlife, why isn’t she killing herself now? That sounds offensive, but it is a legitimate issue.
The truth is that for this sort of thing the most likely thing to do work is an emotional appeal. You will take comfort in your parents preservation even if it takes centuries for the process to work. Even if it doesn’t end up working, you will get more comfort now. Moreover, if cryonics does work, how much will it stink to go through centuries now without them? Do they want to burden you with that?
Similarly, if she thinks that the afterlife is really nice and pleasant, to the point where given the option of cryonic revival and the afterlife she would rather be in the afterlife, why isn’t she killing herself now?
Successful afterlife memes are almost always packaged with a “but if you commit suicide you don’t get to go, or go to hell, or won’t get into the super VIP section of heaven.”
Successful afterlife memes are almost always packaged with a “but if you commit suicide you don’t get to go, or go to hell, or won’t get into the super VIP section of heaven.”
In the case of Christianity, the reason that suicide is a mortal sin is that a Christian in this life is as a soldier on sentry duty, who may not despair, abandon his post, and betray his comrades. Buddhism has a similar concept of the bodhisattva, who chooses to remain in this life to help those who still suffer. For that matter, in war situations, sleeping on guard can get you shot out of hand.
First some general remarks and then other issues:
A theist or deist who doesn’t believe in an afterlife shouldn’t have a problem with cryonics. I’ve discussed cryonics with people from religions that do believe in it and they generally have negative viewpoints although I’ve met at least one Orthodox Rabbi who after the discussing the issue with me thought that cryonics was acceptable under halacha (Orthodox Jewish law). He disagreed with an argument I’ve been throwing around for a while that under halachah cryonics is either forbidden or mandatory (I can expand on the logic for that position and why he disagreed if anyone cares). Among Jews who believe in an afterlife at least there seems to be a larger fraction than among Christians who believe in an afterlife who are ok with cryonics. This is likely centered around how Judaism has been historically more focused on this world than Christianity.
Now, regarding her specific case, if there is an afterlife that is all very nice and good then does she believe that successful cryonic revival will remove her from that afterlife? If not, she has nothing to worry about since the cryonic revival will then only work if there isn’t such an afterlife. Similarly, if she thinks that the afterlife is really nice and pleasant, to the point where given the option of cryonic revival and the afterlife she would rather be in the afterlife, why isn’t she killing herself now? That sounds offensive, but it is a legitimate issue.
The truth is that for this sort of thing the most likely thing to do work is an emotional appeal. You will take comfort in your parents preservation even if it takes centuries for the process to work. Even if it doesn’t end up working, you will get more comfort now. Moreover, if cryonics does work, how much will it stink to go through centuries now without them? Do they want to burden you with that?
Successful afterlife memes are almost always packaged with a “but if you commit suicide you don’t get to go, or go to hell, or won’t get into the super VIP section of heaven.”
In the case of Christianity, the reason that suicide is a mortal sin is that a Christian in this life is as a soldier on sentry duty, who may not despair, abandon his post, and betray his comrades. Buddhism has a similar concept of the bodhisattva, who chooses to remain in this life to help those who still suffer. For that matter, in war situations, sleeping on guard can get you shot out of hand.
...in which case, it’s clearly your sacred moral duty to sign up for cryonics.