Would immortality destroy religion?

[chequita guevara]

Suppose through biotechnical engineering we were able to become technically immortal. Sure, we'd still die in accidents or as a result of murder or war, but disease and old age would be a thing for animal selves we leave behind.

Without the fear of death, the loss of self in the infinate oblivion, would people still have a need for a deity (or dieties)? If you're never going to recieve your eternal reward or damnation, why continue to follow the religion of the flesh? I'm not talking about a decent into chaos where there are no rules or ethics.

What would be the religious response? How would fundimentalist relgious types see this? Would they say that we are violating God's will, tasting from the Tree of Life and thus becoming like him (to paraphrase Genisis)?

[David Floyd]

Statistically, we'd know that an accident/war/terrorism would get us eventually

[Az]

an immortality treatment if only given to people in the developed world, will swiftly lead to it's collapse. Who would like to take part in wars, if you can get killed?

OTOH, that robot army sounds like a swell idea right now.

[Shi Huangdi]

I am not just a Catholic because I am expecting something from God in the afterlife, I hardly think I would be happier as an athiest.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Azazel
an immortality treatment if only given to people in the developed world, will swiftly lead to it's collapse. Who would like to take part in wars, if you can get killed?

Interesting . . . I bet we'd be a lot more willing to use overwhelming force. We won't go to war with you mortals, we'll just drop the neutron bomb on you. Why risk our immortal lives to kill vermin?

[The diplomat]

I think it would lead to a sort of superhumanism. Man would see himself as a god. You would probably see a new religious movement where Man would worship himself. After all, if you are immortal, then you have a divine-like characteristic, so it would not be a far stretch to start seeing yourself as your own god.

[SlowwHand]

Meaningless question.

Much like if a cat was a dog.

[pchang]

afterlife schmafterlife

Many religions believe in virtuous rewards in this life. Judaism is one of the more familiar ones. I think it is mostly Christians and Muslims that might have a problem with virtual immortality and then, only a fraction of them.

[Az]

You would probably see a new religious movement where Man would worship himself.

I think worshipping is a waste of time. But I think humans will be more certain of their ability to achieve whatever they wanted, and therefore, other 'dreams' will ensue.

Interesting . . . I bet we'd be a lot more willing to use overwhelming force. We won't go to war with you mortals, we'll just drop the neutron bomb on you. Why risk our immortal lives to kill vermin?

OTOH, this drug probably won't be THAT expensive. It will also dramatically emprove the economy EVERYWHERE.

[Elok]

Again, I say: ngh.

If you begin with the standard assumption that religion-is-a-tool-of-delusion-for-the-stupid-and-desperate, as seems to be the case here, the argument is irrelevant, as religion would be altogether unnecessary if there were no chance that it was true. If you believe that a religion might be true, the important question is which one. Either way, immortality drugs have no bearing.

As for whether people would be inclined to believe in God, of course that would drop like a stone in such circumstances, because we have a tendency to treat the present as eternity, and given security we turn fat and complacent as cattle. Religion would be more necessary in such cases, just as a way of jolting us off our fat rears.

[trickey]

There are more reason to follow a religion than just fear of damnation.

But, what the diplomat said would probably happen. People would begin worshiping themsleves. Think of the over population problems

[chequita guevara]

We already worship ourselves, just not overtly. And why not? We are pretty damned amazing after all.

[Az]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
We already worship ourselves, just not overtly. And why not? We are pretty damned amazing after all.

Worshipping is kinda lame, but we surely can be proud of ourselves.

[Sava]

I doubt it... perhaps death would become even more of a news interest because it would be more rare. Personally, I think immortality would destroy society. Eventually, we'd reach a point that overpopulation would place restrictions on the number of newborn humans. I can only imagine what such a world would be like. ::shivers::

[Sava]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
We already worship ourselves, just not overtly. And why not? We are pretty damned amazing after all.

I agree... man created God in his own image. Perhaps religion, faith, and worship is unconsciously some sort of self-praise.