Science, Medicine, and the Cure for Death
80Are humans ready to enter the realm Eternal?
Elrond
An Ageless world
Imagine a world where old-age is non-existent and humans did not succum to the trials of time. In such a world, everyone would stay young and healthy for all of their lives -- however long they may be. An article in discover magazine stated that in this scenario the average lifespan of a human would be 600 years with many people living to be over 1,000 years old. Eventually everyone would die of accidents but it would mean you would be able to see many more tommorrows. To some people, especially the ones who think that humans live too long already, this is not a great thought. For many, 100 years is already too long. That may be because living to a very old age where you are completely senile is not very appealing to some people. However, in this world without age, you would never age physically, and would be eternally youthful.
To some others(especially those of the faithful), death is not such a scary thing. Death is but a passageway into another life. For Christians, death is the path out of the earthly world and into the heavenly one. However, the thought of leaving your loved ones behind is hard both for the dying and for the ones left behind.
The answer to all this is of course to create a cure not for disease or chronic illnesses, but to conquer aging and death itself.
This may seem very far-fetched and is something you may think we, as humans could never achieve by advances in science or medicine. However, if you just look at the fact that the average human lifespan has increased in the last century from 45 years to over 75 years, it may not be all that much of a stretch.
Scientists have already discovered that a vital part of the aging process resides at the end of linear chromosomes in a region called Telomeres . These structures contain genetic material with vital information for cell function. However, each time cells divide, some of this genetic material is lost and eventuall through many cycles of division, cells become less and less functional due to this loss in genetic material. If Telomeres could be prevented from losing genetic material through each division, a large part of the aging process could be slowed or even halted.
Of course there are problems with this plan. The first being how would we invade a body's cells to extend of telomeres without disrupting the body itself and killing the person. I don't think we could just conjure up some magic potion to do this. This would require an enormous leap in the technology of genetic engineering and we will probably not see if in this lifetime(which means I won't be becoming immortal anytime soon).
The other problem is doing such genetic engineering may result in the starting of a serious disease we all know as cancer. Preventing cells from losing this genetic material and dividing into eternity may result in the rapid spread of cancerous cells. Not only do we have to keep the telomeres from losing vital genetic material but we must make sure that once this is accomplished, that the cells do not spread without control.
Besides these problems there are other complications such as brain cells and other cells that do not divide very often and have other ways of aging.
However, human advances in technology and medicine has been able to do some wonderous things and the pace of advancement is not linear but exponential. Perhaps one day our descendants will discover the secret to Eternal life. Like the elves in Tolkiens world, humans may someday live through many ages of the world.
However, if we do achieve this step in technology and medicine, it will bring us many philosophical questions. The greatest of which will be "are we as humans ready to step into the realm eternal?". Like the elves of Tolkiens world that do not age and are not plagued by sickness, many succum to grief or die in battle.Suicide rates may go up for those who have lived many centuries and have seen too many loved ones die or are just tired of life and are ready to move on. Overpopulation would also be a problem as new humans are born into the world without the old ones leaving it. How would humans handle eternal life? Would be bring forth a new and glorius age or would we destroy the world with this newfound power?
Perhaps it is best that we never discover the secrets to eternal life for as Vorlon Ambassador Kosh said in Babylon 5 to the younger races(including humans), "You are not ready for immortality".
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It could get a little crowded here on earth with all those 600 year olds wandering around dontcha think? There are 9 billion of us now--the mind boggles. Well, anyway I really believe it's not how long you live, but how that matters:-)
There's actually only 6 billion of us and I don't think it'd be that much acceleration fo population. The Birth rate is far greater than the death rate world-wide.
as arnold said in 'conan the barbarian', do you want to live forever?
I know I don't.
I plan to life forever or die trying. :)
i also plan to live forever or die trying.....i believe even in my lifetime and im 19 that we will learn to concure death....like i said il try to myself
OH really? You plan on trying yourself Claire? Well I wish you get on the ball because i want to live forever!!!!!!
Every human has a deep urge to live forever. Why? Becase God made us for eturnal purposes...Think about it, The bible is the record of the begining and what is to come, then the end. Your family will be on the other side as log as you all come to the full knowllage of all speritual wisdom and understanding, able to walk uprightly before the Lord bering fruit in all good works seeking His face day and night, that you rely not on your strangth but on the steangth of His glorious might, joyfully giving thanks to the Father though the Lord Jesus Christ who has qualified you to run the corse that He sets before you untill He comes to recive you into His etunal Kingdom and Yes! you will live forever. Check out http://www.operationawaken.org for more info.
Oh cut the god nonsense! God was only used in prehistoric times up until the renaissance as a solution to things that were (at the time) unexplainable. And in prehistoric times people worshipped animals not "gods in the clouds". What do you think happened in that time (prehistoric = before writing therefore little/no evidence for us) that made them suddenly look in the sky for a god? Seems possible that we were visited by life from another planet. Scientists have proof to their theories but religous people believe in a book written thousands of years ago, most definately altered through history and manipulated by powerful societies (even the church itself) to keep their power.
I'm not saying religion is useless though, the only benefit is the unity it brings between people.
1.1 Corinthians 1:27
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
1 Corinthians 1:26-28 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 1
2.1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:13-15 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 2
You see this seems foolish but it is not, I want to spaek in love to you the truth and the word of God is the tuth, Untill you accept that you are a sinner....(We all are sinners) and ask Jesus by faith to come into your heart and save you on the single fact that He died in your place at the cross, and that by faith you believe that He rose again on the 3rd day. Then and only then if you truly are seeking God and the truth about Him with you whole heart, then you will be saved and your eyes will be opened. This is real. Dont be affraid to do it eather. You will get a peace in your heart and a counsolor (the Holy Spirt) And your life will be change for the better and if you do all this and your heart does not change I invite you to Never belive in God. But I pray that you will be wise enough to accept what has been said.
PS. I am a sinner we all are.....I have just crossed over to the other side where I get to live forever. Come and see for yourself! You have Questions? We have answers. http://www.operationawaken.org
any one who is looking at is like you dont want to live to 150 or more is looking at life completely wrong. i feel as though right now lifes purpose is to expand the population and colonize the galaxy and eventually the hole universe. i feel that is the human purpose and the hole reason we even began inventing and thinking. we are the only species that we know of that has the ability to become immortal, and with that immortality comes great opportunity. we will be able to go places and see things far beyond what we could comprehend now. could you imagine finding another earth and colonating it and after sevral hundered years after the planet is colonated moving onto a new one. you would be able to witness all sorts of marvoules things. i just think that if your ready ever ready for death you are truly giving up the most amazing opportunity of all, to control and shape things for a greater good.
I like your zeal to want to be able to see all sorts of marvelous things. Where do you think that intense desire comes from? I am a believer in Jesus Christ, a Christian, I believe that not only does the bible contain everything humans can even dream up, but also contain all the answers to our deepest questions for example: Teleporting....Wow this sounds like somthing out of star trek right. Take into consideration this verse written over 2,000 years ago..Acts 8:34-40 34The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?"
35Then Philip (AT)opened his mouth, and (AU)beginning from this Scripture he (AV)preached Jesus to him.
36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! (AW)What prevents me from being baptized?"
37[[a]And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]
38And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39When they came up out of the water, (AX)the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.
40But Philip found himself at (AY)Azotus, and as he passed through he (AZ)kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to (BA)Caesarea.
Did you catch verse 39-40 Teleportation.. We can think of all sorts of marvelous things ourselves or we can have the wisdom of Almighty God teach us all things in a greater detail that what our finite minds could even begin to handle. That brings me to my next point How could we handle what God who is Jesus Christ could show us.
We shall be changed...That's right changed! take this verse into consideration:
The Mystery of Resurrection
50Now I say this, brethren, that (A)flesh and blood cannot (B)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit (C)the imperishable.
51Behold, I tell you a (D)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be (E)changed,
52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for (F)the trumpet will sound, and (G)the dead will be raised imperishable, and (H)we will be changed.
Where it talks about we will not all sleep that is referring to death. I want to make known to you all the mystery of the Gospel clear to understand. All Christians in this era of Globalization know that at any moment this Change will happen, We will turn from mortal to immortal in the twinkling of an eye. That is why when we disappear Millions and millions of people disappear, we wont worry about dieing or even after 150 years dieing, we will be eternally safe and sound in the Kingdom of God Heaven. This message is true it will change your life if you let it. When you have come to the end of yourself as I have come to the end of myself already, you will find Him (Jesus Christ) to be all you need.
If you have not yet received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior the take a moment and pray this prayer; Jesus, I know I am a sinner, I believe that you died for me on the cross for my sins and took my place, I believe that you rose on the 3rd day in victory over death and the grave and I ask by faith that you would come into my heart and save me. I put my trust in you. In Jesus' name amen.
jesus did not die on a cross! he died on a strait wooden cilinder!
It would be nice if they invent a pill labelled 'Add 40 years onto your life!' but I wouldn't like to live forever because my mum died on 12th November 2008 and I would like to see her again in heaven! :) And my dad when he dies aswell, he's awesome.
Think about the limitations that are present with our current lifespan. Even 60 years of productive, dedicated living is not enough to provide the full synthesis and understanding of a good deal of fields of human knowledge. Extending that amount of time to 600, or even 2000 or more years lets us cultivate capability in all members of the species, improving quality of life and technology beyond all imaginable bounds. Imagine living to 200, with the body and mind of a 30 year old, and a miracle procedure for heightened neural activity and brain function is created that gives everyone eidetic memory and dramatically increased reasoning: would you want to miss that, or any number of possible outcomes for an even greater way of life down the road?
What if, with a cure for death and development of science, we are able to see beyond death from the physical realm, and truly delve into the nature of spirits and beings long past? What if we are then able to reanimate these dormant spirits, or if they reside in a world of consciousness and vibrancy themselves, bridge the gap between them, reuniting all lost loved ones and cherished relationships that were in one fell swoop? With all the possibilities that are out there, would you abandon them for the misguided desire to only live the lifespan that was "naturally" allotted to you?
Then there is the fact of fear over what increased lifespans will do for the current dilemma of overpopulation. However, there is a simple solution: so long as you partake in the operations that prolong lifespan to this dramatic degree, you are lawfully bound, for the sake of society, from having children. The ability is not taken away from you, but the need to choose is exercised. This, coupled with death rates that arise from every accidental circumstance, which will invariably decline but never entirely stop, lends credence to this solution as a viable and compatible one for the purposes.
People approach increased lifespan as if it is not natural. We often forget just how natural we, and all of our actions, themselves are. In fact, there is nothing we cannot do that is not intimately bound with and a direct offshoot of nature itself. Attempt to see nothing human-made as unnatural, and you will be looking toward the truth. Whether good or bad, all of our actions can be evaluated solely on their rightfulness, not on their lack of being destined without our purposes.
Cant we discuss life and death without discussing religion......if yer scared, um, i understand...but stop trying to push yer religion, go be scared somewhere else...hey like, church.
William F. Torpey Level 2 Commenter 4 years ago
Interesting concept, but I don't think the human lifespan will ever exceed 150 -- and I'm not sure I'd want it to go any higher.