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Comment by tasty_freeze | Hacker News Reader

I wonder how many of the people cheerleading for indefinite lifespan technology also believe in heaven. I'm curious how they explain the desire to live a long time in this imperfect world when heaven awaits. Of course, if they think they are hell-bound, then there is nothing to explain.

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That can be easily answered - just look at the decline of Christianity (and other global religions) in the Western World [1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_of_Christianity_in_the...

The link says Christianity is on the decline in terms of the percentage of adherents, and in many geographies in absolute numbers.

My question was: of the group of people who believe in heaven and also want indefinite life on earth, how do they reconcile those two ideas? The article has no bearing on that. Even if there was one person who believed in heaven, if they also wanted unlimited life on earth, I'd be interested to hear why they believe both.

This would be a personal opinion so take it for what it's worth. I doubt that on a relative basis we have as many people left today who are as convinced in the concept of heaven as compared to a thousand years ago. Just think of all the instances where you would give someone a choice to denounce their religion or get burnt alive, and people chose the latter. Comparing that on a relative basis, I think fewer of those choices would be made today.

As to why, a thousand years ago you didn't really have a strong counterthesis to the Intelligent Design thesis. As the Evolutionary principles became better understood and more accepted, religions have had to shift their position a bit (initially the Earth was the center of the universe, etc).

Long story short, even if people do believe in heaven, they wouldn't mind having a small hedge, just in case.

Your chain of arguments seem to cling on that "a lot of people seeking long lifespan are also religious"

Seems to be quite a flex to reach a certain conclusion.

You are strawmanning by putting words in my mouth.

"I wonder how many of the people cheerleading for indefinite lifespan technology also believe in heaven."

How did that turn into "a lot of people"? Whether it is 1% or 90% doesn't enter into my hypothetical.

Second, I didn't "reach a conclusion." I asked a sincere question, and it would be great if someone who is in that intersection gave a sincere answer.

Finally, using loaded terms like "cling" and "quite a flex" is just unnecessary attitude.

Kinda like how many believers cry at funerals. Not to be dismissive, but why? (Yes I know not all cultures)

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