My girlfriend/SO's grandfather died last night, running on a treadmill when his heart gave out.
He wasn't signed up for cryonics, of course. She tried to convince him, and I tried myself a little the one time I met her grandparents.
"This didn't have to happen. Fucking religion."
That's what my girlfriend said.
I asked her if I could share that with you, and she said yes.
Just so that we're clear that all the wonderful emotional benefits of self-delusion come with a price, and the price isn't just to you.
I imagine so. What I deny is that religion is the main factor preventing the adoption of cryonics. My family isn't proof of this but it's certainly evidence.
If the ratio of atheists who sign up for cryonics as opposed to not is higher than for theists, and if that ratio remained constant as the entire world gave up religion... there still wouldn't be that many people signed up for cryonics.
That seems at least plausible, but it doesn't refute the harm done by religion (and of course discounts any indirect damage done to atheists' thinking by widespread theism). To counter one anecdote with another: The fact is that most atheists don't know how accessible cryonics is. By mentioning that fact alone (very truly alone, along the lines of "cryonics is actually pretty accessible, google it"), I've peaked the interest of at least two atheists I know.
So in terms of cryonics awareness, I suppose you could make the argument that it's not so m... (read more)