Scientists develop a pill that extends your life span by 500+ years. Would you take it?

[didymus]

“Till death do us part.”
Well, such a pill would blow monogamy right out of the water. Women run out of ova at menopause while men keep producing sperm throughout their lifetime.

Also, since only the rich will be able to afford it there will be two castes, the Longs and the Shorts with the Longs who lose their fortunes suddenly plunged back down among the common folk.
See Larry Niven’s stories he postulates an expensive drug called boosterspice that keeps you young as long as you keep taking it. That sounds more likely than a one-time pill.

As a practical matter it’s likely I have thirty years left (given family history). That seems intimidating enough. How many changes can a person go thru? I had already voted in my first election before the first PC came on the market. By the time I collect Social Security (eternal optimist that I am) I may access Web 6.0 via a modem in my skull.
Imagine the temporal displacement of living five centuries.

 

[Julia_Mae]

Of course, the above scenario is hypothetical

I don’t suppose killing the scientist and blowing up his lab with all his notes in it is an option?

That would be “no.”

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

IMNAAHO, expecting people to turn down a lengthened life “because the planet may become overcrowded” is unrealistic.

I also think the scenario, “the planet will become overcrowded,” is more bark than bite. The solar system is full of resources and living space. IIRC, some estimates indicate the resources of the solar system could support trillions of people. We might be progressing at a snail’s pace when it comes to present day space travel and exploration but with proper incentive, we can advance rapidly throughout our system. A cure for aging would definitely provide that incentive.

“Till death do us part.”
Well, such a pill would blow monogamy right out of the water. Women run out of ova at menopause while men keep producing sperm throughout their lifetime.

I’ve heard this before but frankly, I see no reason why longer lifespans would end monogamy. The question isn’t how to be monogamous for five hundred years, it is how to be monogamous on a daily basis, whether we live 70 years or 500 years.

Also, since only the rich will be able to afford it there will be two castes, the Longs and the Shorts with the Longs who lose their fortunes suddenly plunged back down among the common folk.

We have no idea how expensive this treatment will be. If it is expensive enough that only a small number of people can afford it, I do expect a vigorously enforced ban. However, since we don’t know what the cure will actually be, we can not really assume anything either way.

I don’t suppose killing the scientist and blowing up his lab with all his notes in it is an option?

That would be “no.”

Why would one want to do such a thing?

 

[puzzleannie]

no my medicare and retirement savings won’t last that long’
now if you gotta pill that lets me pick an age and stay there, we might talk

 

[TimothyH]

I trust God too much to take a pill like that. Besides, I have something better.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. (John 6:47-48)

I don’t want 500 extra years on earth. I want eternity with Jesus. Besides, Jesus told us that he would raise us on the last day…

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him (on) the last day." (John 6:40)

…and then walked out of his grave to prove it.

Those who want that pill are making the same mistake Adam made - he didn’t trust God. And you are making the same mistake the disciples who walked away from Jesus made in the Synagogue in Capernaum, the ones who said, “This saying is hard.” You could take all the magic pills that make you live a million years, but unless you eat what Jesus gives you through the hands of his holy priests, you are already dead.

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. (John 6:53)

Don’t you guys trust God, or are you like Abram and Sari, who when God told them that they were to have a son who would be the father of a nation, they laughed and mocked God, and made a baby by the Egyptian maidservant? They didn’t trust God. I trust God too much to take a pill like that.

***The eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor has the ear enough of hearing. *(Ecclesiastes1:8)

What ya gonna look at? How many generations of children are you going to see? And they’re all gonna put you in nursing homes anyway. You could live forever on earth, and never see anything as glorious as what you will see in heaven and what you will experience when God gives you your glorified bodies and you get to rest your head on Jesus’ bosom like the disciple Jesus loved.

A pill like that sounds like a curse to me.

-Tim-

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

Those who want that pill are making the same mistake Adam made - he didn’t trust God.

Don’t you guys trust God,.

Whoa, this is totally inappropriate. To question someone’s commitment to God because they’d accept a longer lifespan is…unbelievable.

The Scriptures and Tradition make it clear we will be raised up on the last day (unless we are still alive) and reunited with the bodies we possess now. We will spend eternity with God not as disembodied spirits but as transfigured, embodied beings. Some will be alive when the last day comes and they are not disadvantaged for being so.

Saint Paul tells us this:

Philippians 1:21-25 - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

If you were to choose to reject anti-aging medicines, that is your choice. But please do not call into question the faith of those of us that would choose to remain in this life, doing God’s work here and now. Thank you.

 

[LilyM]

Equating the use of scientific tools to extend our earthly lives with a lack of trust in God is just plain wrong.

By that logic we shouldn’t have vaccines to protect ourselves or our children from illness, we shouldn’t go to a doctor when we are ill, and we certainly shouldn’t make any effort to eat healthily or exercise for the sake of our health. After all, God will look after is even if we don’t bother looking after ourselves.

In this last weekend’s Mass readings, St Paul talked about being torn between a desire to die and be with God and a realisation that he still had good he could do on Earth by remaining.

I’m sure since God gives us tools such as vaccines and medicines with which to extend our life spans, He surely means for the extra years not to go to waste for those who want to be about His work.

I trust God too much to take a pill like that. Besides, I have something better.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. (John 6:47-48)

I don’t want 500 extra years on earth. I want eternity with Jesus. Besides, Jesus told us that he would raise us on the last day…

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him (on) the last day." (John 6:40)

…and then walked out of his grave to prove it.

Those who want that pill are making the same mistake Adam made - he didn’t trust God. And you are making the same mistake the disciples who walked away from Jesus made in the Synagogue in Capernaum, the ones who said, “This saying is hard.” You could take all the magic pills that make you live a million years, but unless you eat what Jesus gives you through the hands of his holy priests, you are already dead.

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. (John 6:53)

Don’t you guys trust God, or are you like Abram and Sari, who when God told them that they were to have a son who would be the father of a nation, they laughed and mocked God, and made a baby by the Egyptian maidservant? They didn’t trust God. I trust God too much to take a pill like that.

***The eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor has the ear enough of hearing. ***(Ecclesiastes1:8)

What ya gonna look at? How many generations of children are you going to see? And they’re all gonna put you in nursing homes anyway. You could live forever on earth, and never see anything as glorious as what you will see in heaven and what you will experience when God gives you your glorified bodies and you get to rest your head on Jesus’ bosom like the disciple Jesus loved.

A pill like that sounds like a curse to me.

-Tim-

 

[ricmat]

Does anyone here think that if their lifespan were extended to 500 years, that they would spend most of it serving God, seeking God, WANTING God? Maybe the last 20 years or so of the 500. Just like today (for many / most) it’s the last 20 years (or less).

God created us to be with him. If we can’t learn to love him in 70-80 years, would it be better with 500 years to work with? *. Instead of outgrowing our teen years in our 50’s (as most people do these days), they wouldn’t outgrow teenagerism until in their 480’s. Oh joy.

Knowing that our lifespan is short is a powerful incentive to use those years wisely.*

 

[Julia_Mae]

I also think the scenario, “the planet will become overcrowded,” is more bark than bite. …

Why would one want to do such a thing?

Well, for one thing, because you are apparently not familiar with Malthusian mathematics. Unless all births stopped at the same time, this over crowding you think is “more bark than bite” would be the cause of massive starvation, disease and war within a single generation. The birth rate is twice the death rate as it is. You want to add about 56million people a year to the earth.

And, it would keep anyone from slipping one into my food or drink.

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

Does anyone here think that if their lifespan were extended to 500 years, that they would spend most of it serving God, seeking God, WANTING God? Maybe the last 20 years or so of the 500. Just like today (for many / most) it’s the last 20 years (or less).

God created us to be with him. If we can’t learn to love him in 70-80 years, would it be better with 500 years to work with? *. Instead of outgrowing our teen years in our 50’s (as most people do these days), they wouldn’t outgrow teenagerism until in their 480’s. Oh joy.

Knowing that our lifespan is short is a powerful incentive to use those years wisely.*

I have no doubt that I would continue to serve and love God. Once again, it is not a question of serving and loving God for 500 years, it is a question of serving and loving Him each day, remaining faithful each day. A longer lifespan won’t change that for me. My faith is in no dependent on something like that.
Julia Mae;8378070:

Well, for one thing, because you are apparently not familiar with Malthusian mathematics. Unless all births stopped at the same time, this over crowding you think is “more bark than bite” would be the cause of massive starvation, disease and war within a single generation. The birth rate is twice the death rate as it is. You want to add about 56million people a year to the earth.

And, it would keep anyone from slipping one into my food or drink.

I am very familiar with Malthus. Your argument is still more bark than bite. People make these kinds of predictions and, not surprisingly, turn out to be wrong. We’re not stuck with only the Earth and its resources. Our solar system is rich beyond our minds’ abilities to comprehend. Exploiting those resources and supporting trillions of people really isn’t that difficult. Plenty of scientists and engineers have written on the subject, so I suggest you read them before accusing someone else of ignorance about something like Malthusian doomsday predictions. I’d also suggest you not advocate the violent murder of a scientist, even as the hypothetical solution to a hypothetical question.

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

Just to clarify, the pill does not save you from injuries, assault, and so on and so forth. It is not an immortality pill. It extends your life expectancy by 500+ years under standard conditions, judged by the average life expectancy of those who have taken the pill.

The Church should consider possibilities like this because it may well become a reality in the future.

As a sidenote, an interesting thing I’ve wondered about this pill is how it would change the family structure. Would you retain a close relationship with your great-great-great-great-great grandchildren? Or do you believe there would be an emotional distance as your family tree widens, so much so you wouldn’t recognize your great-great-great-great-great grandchildren?

 

[Zooey]

Am the only person wondering why so many people are anxious to postpone Heaven? Really, it seems no end of odd…

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

Am the only person wondering why so many people are anxious to postpone Heaven? Really, it seems no end of odd…

Reminds me of the old joke: “Everyone wants to go to Heaven but no one wants to die” .

 

[LilyM]

Am the only person wondering why so many people are anxious to postpone Heaven? Really, it seems no end of odd…

Earthly existence is not just a waiting room where we sit and twiddle our thumbs idly whiling away the days til we get to heaven It is not just a relentless vale of tears either. It is of immense value and good in and of itself.

If it were otherwise, St Paul wouldn’t have said what he said about still having things to achieve on earth as has been quoted above. If it were otherwise, Christ certainly wouldn’t have bothered becoming human either.

 

[Julia_Mae]

I am very familiar with Malthus. Your argument is still more bark than bite. People make these kinds of predictions and, not surprisingly, turn out to be wrong. We’re not stuck with only the Earth and its resources. .

Yes, we are. The is idea that somehow in twenty years we’d develop some way of expanding out from the earth is a fantasy. I am not “wrong” and neither is Malthus. Stop death, and you’ll destroy humankind. However, as this will never happen, I’ll leave you to your surety.

 

[GEddie]

Yes, we are. The is idea that somehow in twenty years we’d develop some way of expanding out from the earth is a fantasy. I am not “wrong” and neither is Malthus. Stop death, and you’ll destroy humankind. However, as this will never happen, I’ll leave you to your surety.

No, not in twenty years, possibly not in 100, but space expansion will happen. So will deep ocean mining, etc, once the economic incentives are there.

Folks who think that death is somehow a “good thing” are fortunately in a minority. A means of successfully fighting natural death will be found, even if it takes 100 years. The desire is certainly there.

And the population issue will wash out. There would not be a prolongation of “youth” with it’s overcharged bodies and hormones, etc. The human body would not sustain that. It would more likely be a prolongation of the middle-aged years, post reproduction.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

And the population issue will wash out. There would not be a prolongation of “youth” with it’s overcharged bodies and hormones, etc. The human body would not sustain that. It would more likely be a prolongation of the middle-aged years, post reproduction.

ICXC NIKA.

That’s what I think as well

 

[Wardog]

Just to clarify, the pill does not save you from injuries, assault, and so on and so forth. It is not an immortality pill. It extends your life expectancy by 500+ years under standard conditions, judged by the average life expectancy of those who have taken the pill.

The Church should consider possibilities like this because it may well become a reality in the future.

As a sidenote, an interesting thing I’ve wondered about this pill is how it would change the family structure. Would you retain a close relationship with your great-great-great-great-great grandchildren? Or do you believe there would be an emotional distance as your family tree widens, so much so you wouldn’t recognize your great-great-great-great-great grandchildren?

It might also require a change in marriage, as “till death do us part” will take on a whole new meaning.

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

Am the only person wondering why so many people are anxious to postpone Heaven? Really, it seems no end of odd…

You’re probably not the only one to wonder that but I don’t get it. If by Heaven you mean the idea repeatedly implied throughout this thread (disembodied eternity in a faraway realm) I’d say I am more eager, and more impatient, for the the culmination of the New Creation and the resurrection of the dead, the transfiguration of our bodies, and life everlasting with God. I think NT Wright is correct when he refers to the Scriptures promising us “life after life after death.” Heaven as people keeping implying here is more of an interlude to the real eternity that awaits the faithful. In the meantime, I’ll remain a living, fruitful laborer on this Earth as long as the Lord has work He wishes me to do. That might end in 50 years or 500 years. All those years turn into ash in the presence of eternity.

Yes, we are. The is idea that somehow in twenty years we’d develop some way of expanding out from the earth is a fantasy. I am not “wrong” and neither is Malthus. Stop death, and you’ll destroy humankind. However, as this will never happen, I’ll leave you to your surety.

Tell yourself whatever you need to. The science and engineering behind space colonization and mining really isn’t that futuristic. If we made the decision right now, we could begin a slow but steady colonization of Mars in a few decades, using existing technologies. It is just that there is simply no incentive to do so. An excellent read on that subject is Mars Direct by Robert Zubrin. You might also check out Entering Space, by the same author. There isn’t much more that we need to invent or develop, besides some foresight and courage.

Folks who think that death is somehow a “good thing” are fortunately in a minority. A means of successfully fighting natural death will be found, even if it takes 100 years. The desire is certainly there.

The odd thing is, we are already fighting death. Vaccines, antibiotics, antivirals, chemotherapy, surgery, etc, are all part of a fight against natural death, to prolong our lives. I seriously doubt that a single critic here would reject a medical treatment that had a reasonable chance of preserving both their life and the quality of it. Introduce a potential cure for aging, and somehow we’ve crossed a line.

And the population issue will wash out. There would not be a prolongation of “youth” with it’s overcharged bodies and hormones, etc. The human body would not sustain that. It would more likely be a prolongation of the middle-aged years, post reproduction.

Indeed, I don’t want to be 25 years old for the rest of my existence. IMHO, middle-age, with its physical markers of my years and experience, adds quite a bit of dignity to a person’s appearance.

It might also require a change in marriage, as “till death do us part” will take on a whole new meaning.

I don’t think so. Those that want to be monogamous and committed, who work hard to do so each and every day, and who pray for God’s grace to be so, can maintain a monogamous, committed relationship. As I said before, it is not a matter of “how will I be faithful 100 years from now?” It is a question of being faithful today, right now. One step at a time, I suppose.

Of course, it would also surprise me quite a bit if we can win the war on aging but can’t advance in the slightest in developing permanent, committed relationships.

 

[odile53]

Oh, great. “Only” 850 more years of listening to my husband moan and groan every morning (instead of rising and shining,) along with hogging the remote, leaving the seat up, etc, etc. That plus the infernal checkout line of WalMart. Plus going to work and dealing with my effervescent coworkers with their scintillating conversation, coming home and dealing with the annoying neighbor who threatens to sue us every time we cut the lawn if any clippings come over on his lawn, and so forth and so on.

All I can say is this–if everyone had to take this longevity pill, the Tylenol company had better ramp up production to deal with the exponential increase in headaches that’s going to cause!

God must be laughing hysterically if there is any serious scientific work going on that could produce such a pill.

Reminds me of a joke (of no particular eschatologic accuracy An elderly couple is fatally injured in an accident on the interstate, caused largely by the elderly gentleman’s driving ineptitude. They get to the Pearly Gates, and are admitted. They’re shown to their heavenly quarters, which turns out to be a luxury condo. It overlooks a championship golf course. The old man asks their angelic escort, “How much is all this?” The angel says, “Nothing at all. This is part of your reward.”

“Well,” the old man gestures toward the beckoning golf course, “what about the greens fees?”

“Not a cent. It’s all part of your reward for your faithfulness in life,” the angelic escort replied. “By the way, the dinner banquet starts in half an hour. The banquet room is just off the lobby.”

The couple quickly change for dinner, and head to the banquet. They can’t believe the array of delicacies set in front of them. The old lady says that most of this isn’t on their diets. Again, an angel reassures them that they can eat all they want, of anything they want, for free, and their heavenly bodies won’t gain an ounce. “This is all just part of your reward.”

With that, the old man starts hitting his wife. She looks at him in shock and disbelief.

“You and your stupid health food diets! If it weren’t for them, we could have been here ten years ago!”