Immortality and Religion

[Guy_Montag]

As we, as a society, move, slowly but inexorably towards immortality, what happens to religion when we get there. Assuming no major breakdowns in society, I see no reason why in one or two centuries if not sooner, medical science will not have reached the point that humans, if they have the money & the inclination, will not effectively become immortal barring accidents and acts of god.

So what happens then? Does a society that no longer faces death no longer have a need explain the rational irrationally? Or do people still have a drive to put meaning where there is none? I suppose if accidents and lack of healthcare keep enough people dying they will need an explanation, but lets assume we're at the point where no-one need die unless they choose to or are unlucky enough to be killed accidentally.

It's going to get pretty crowded anyway, so better crack on with that space elevator.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's going to get pretty crowded anyway, so better crack on with that space elevator.

We may be immortal in a few centuries, but will we be invulnerable as well? If not, then there are ways to solve population problems.

In another vein, the thought of spending eternity on one planet would be maddening.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

As we, as a society, move, slowly but inexorably towards immortality, what happens to religion when we get there. Assuming no major breakdowns in society, I see no reason why in one or two centuries if not sooner, medical science will not have reached the point that humans, if they have the money & the inclination, will not effectively become immortal barring accidents and acts of god.

So what happens then? Does a society that no longer faces death no longer have a need explain the rational irrationally? Or do people still have a drive to put meaning where there is none? I suppose if accidents and lack of healthcare keep enough people dying they will need an explanation, but lets assume we're at the point where no-one need die unless they choose to or are unlucky enough to be killed accidentally.

It's going to get pretty crowded anyway, so better crack on with that space elevator.

Acts of god?

You mean like jumping out at someone and not existing in their face?

[owtth]

An act of god is more like Ray from Ghostbusters, If someone asks if you are a god say yes.

[Clinton Huxley]

If the Vatican can opine that evolution is compatible with the tenets of the Catholic faith then anything is possible. The Digital Rapture will be part of God's mysterious plan. There will always be those who prefer a drearily stupid supernatural explanation even when a watertight natural explanation is right in front of their eyes.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If the Vatican can opine that evolution is compatible with the tenets of the Catholic faith then anything is possible. The Digital Rapture will be part of God's mysterious plan. There will always be those who prefer a drearily stupid supernatural explanation even when a watertight natural explanation is right in front of their eyes.

Well, they have to understand the explanation, don't they?

Imagine, if you will, a planet full of humans as they are now, but immortal.

[Clinton Huxley]

A planet of immortal C list celebrities and footballers? Such a planet is deserving of a very large asteroid.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

A planet of immortal C list celebrities and footballers? Such a planet is deserving of a very large asteroid.

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[Rum]

I suspect it is more likely there will be no humans at all or just the remnants picking up whatever pieces they can in couple of centuries, rather than a world of immortals.

[Animavore]

I thought it read Immorality and Religion.

Fancy that.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I suspect it is more likely there will be no humans at all or just the remnants picking up whatever pieces they can in couple of centuries, rather than a world of immortals.

Ah, the Einstein Scenario.

"Mr. Einstein, what weapons will World War Three be fought?"
"I don't know about World War Three, but World War Four will be fought with sticks and stones."

[Rum]

I suspect it is more likely there will be no humans at all or just the remnants picking up whatever pieces they can in couple of centuries, rather than a world of immortals.

Ah, the Einstein Scenario.

"Mr. Einstein, what weapons will World War Three be fought?"
"I don't know about World War Three, but World War Four will be fought with sticks and stones."

It doesn't even have to be a war, though I suspect we will have some sort of nuclear exchange in the next thirty years. The number of self inflicted ways we could terminate our viability seems to grow by the day. You name it - from climate change to overpopulation, to a pathogen escaping a lab - the odds of surviving the next couple of centuries look a little daunting to me.

Well serves us right is all I can say!

[Guy_Montag]

I suspect it is more likely there will be no humans at all or just the remnants picking up whatever pieces they can in couple of centuries, rather than a world of immortals.

Ah, the Einstein Scenario.

"Mr. Einstein, what weapons will World War Three be fought?"
"I don't know about World War Three, but World War Four will be fought with sticks and stones."

It doesn't even have to be a war, though I suspect we will have some sort of nuclear exchange in the next thirty years. The number of self inflicted ways we could terminate our viability seems to grow by the day. You name it - from climate change to overpopulation, to a pathogen escaping a lab - the odds of surviving the next couple of centuries look a little daunting to me.

Well serves us right is all I can say!

I tend to take a slightly less pessimistic view, though I tend to agree we can off ourselves in all sorts of ingenious ways.

What I do think is positive is that the Chinese & Indians are churning out so many educated people these days the opportunities for new developments in power, life expectancy & materials alleviate some of our problems before we manage to kill ourselves.

[Trolldor]

Unforutunately they are also churning out a lot of other people - overpopulation here we come!

[Rum]

I suspect it is more likely there will be no humans at all or just the remnants picking up whatever pieces they can in couple of centuries, rather than a world of immortals.

Ah, the Einstein Scenario.

"Mr. Einstein, what weapons will World War Three be fought?"
"I don't know about World War Three, but World War Four will be fought with sticks and stones."

It doesn't even have to be a war, though I suspect we will have some sort of nuclear exchange in the next thirty years. The number of self inflicted ways we could terminate our viability seems to grow by the day. You name it - from climate change to overpopulation, to a pathogen escaping a lab - the odds of surviving the next couple of centuries look a little daunting to me.

Well serves us right is all I can say!

I tend to take a slightly less pessimistic view, though I tend to agree we can off ourselves in all sorts of ingenious ways.

What I do think is positive is that the Chinese & Indians are churning out so many educated people these days the opportunities for new developments in power, life expectancy & materials alleviate some of our problems before we manage to kill ourselves.

These are also the new middle classes of the old third world, many of whom will want access to the sorts of goodies we in the developed world are beginning to realise are actually very much part of the problem.

Having said that, they are aware of the struggle they face, in China at least. They have the largest per capita 'alternative energy' programme strategy in the world I was slightly surprised to read recently.