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krillinhazuki

- 3 years ago

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What happens to religion when we live forever?

Recent technological advances combined with the exponential growth of synthetic capability have left us with the very real possibility of human immortality in the not-so-far-off future. By 2020 we'll be replacing our blood cells with nanomachines, our organs with plastic and we'll have backward engineered our brains. It's a short hop from that to 800yr old supermodels. What happens to religion in a world of little reproduction (due to population control) and little death?

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Good responses, everyone, thanks. I think it will happen and quite soon, for a couple reasons. First is the exponential growth of technology. If it were a linear development we'd be talking about this stuff in 100-500 years, but exponentials are vastly powerful, making these advances possible in the relatively near future. Here's a good talk on the subject from TED: http://tinyurl.com/lxxc9z" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/lxxc9z Second, it'll be an incremental change in life expectancy at first. It's at 80+ right now, then 100+, 120+, 150+ and probably about then it'll boom to incredible numbers. This effectively helps change people's mindsets. E.g, if by the time you're age 10 everyone in the world lives to be 800, that'll just be the norm and you won't have feelings of "this is unnatural" or whatever because that'll be what you know. The thought of people dying before 100 of illness, malnutrition or age would seem far more unnatural to you. @Sara I think it'd actually have the inverse reaction. For instance, when you live to be 50-60 and you're already 20-30, fighting in a war and giving your life seems like less of a commitment than fighting in a war at 20 when you can live to 800. Seems like your sacrificing a lot more, right? I believe people would value life MORE if this were true =)

I want to answer the question, but I can't stop staring at the cyborg Steve Buscemi. Weeeiiird.

Who wants to live forever? Does anyone actually want that? What is the value of life if it never ends? The same as the value of money if it grew on trees: nothing. I don't want to live a life that has no point.

Well, I see God as present in our lives instead of death. And one could say that the human development of immortality is salvation. Maybe we are meant to truly create heaven on earth. A real world in which no one dies, and there is peace and all that good stuff. Sounds kind of nice. The Bible always says that God is within everyone, so why arent we allowed to "play God"?

wouldnt be happy* sorry typo.

I would not want to participate in this. We will be like robots. That is the beauty of God, nothing we come up with has come close to His creation, in my eyes. This is a disgusting thing to think about for me. I would be happy living here for 800 years, I'm going back to the Father when I die. So let us live. And their will be millions and millions after us we must get over it. This world would be overpopulated, mutalated and mechanical. I don't like the idea.

I don't know about the prediction of us living forever, but suppose we do ... i still think religion will have its place on earth. I mean we human beings - with our innate fears, hopes, and struggles - will still need religion for emotional support and assurance. At least most people will still need a God to tell them what's the "correct" way of living forever.

I doubt your prediction is correct, even if it is these things will cost boat loads of money. ...and I won't be one waiting in line for them.

I'm not sure where you get your science news, but we are a long way from "replacing our blood cells with nanomachines." Certainly won't happen by 2020 (2120 maybe). Regardless, Griz hit the nail on the head. Christianity at least is much more about living correctly than what happens after death (though that is important too).

Watch "Bicentennial Man." The film has a society where immortality becomes a practical possibility, but it acknowledges that humanity has also reached a state where we have come to accept and even embrace the idea of our death. I'm also reminded of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," in which one minor character is accidentally made immortal. He's come to hate it, and decides his purpose in life is to personally insult everyone in the universe since they can all die and he can't.

When we take our bodies for granted, won't we still marvel at our thoughts and feelings?

It`s not going to happen. Nature has a way of returning things to balance. As we spiritually evolve as a species, our fear of death will diminish, and the pursuit of eternal material life here will dissipate. We will become more aware of how to live a good, useful and healthy life so that we may experience a good death. Also, the notion of beauty will drastically alter. It already is.

Here's a question: How many think the reason for seeking God in the first place is all about "how to die" vs. "how to live life more abundantly"? For me the fact that the afterlife is taken care of is more akin to a retirement plan out there on the horizon. The main reason I seek God is not just so I can retire, but so I can live today to it's absolute fullest potential.

I don't know--the future world you've painted doesn't sound all that appealing. I think I'll pass, thanks all the same. Life is all the sweeter because it doesn't last forever, IMHO.

@krillinhazuki Los Angeles, CA

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SoulPancake

krillinhazuki

What happens to religion when we live forever?

krillinhazuki

Hooflungpoo

I want to answer the question, but I can't stop staring at the cyborg Steve Buscemi. Weeeiiird.

Sara

Who wants to live forever? Does anyone actually want that? What is the value of life if it never ends? The same as the value of money if it grew on trees: nothing. I don't want to live a life that has no point.

MrTylerDavis

saralee09

wouldnt be happy* sorry typo.

saralee09

yalla

Cynic

I doubt your prediction is correct, even if it is these things will cost boat loads of money. ...and I won't be one waiting in line for them.

dpack

Brad

Jennifer

When we take our bodies for granted, won't we still marvel at our thoughts and feelings?

deepgreenmoss

Griz

BlueCrayon

I don't know--the future world you've painted doesn't sound all that appealing. I think I'll pass, thanks all the same. Life is all the sweeter because it doesn't last forever, IMHO.

What happens to religion when we live forever?

I want to answer the question, but I can't stop staring at the cyborg Steve Buscemi. Weeeiiird.

Who wants to live forever? Does anyone actually want that? What is the value of life if it never ends? The same as the value of money if it grew on trees: nothing. I don't want to live a life that has no point.

wouldnt be happy* sorry typo.

I doubt your prediction is correct, even if it is these things will cost boat loads of money. ...and I won't be one waiting in line for them.

When we take our bodies for granted, won't we still marvel at our thoughts and feelings?

I don't know--the future world you've painted doesn't sound all that appealing. I think I'll pass, thanks all the same. Life is all the sweeter because it doesn't last forever, IMHO.

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