Among people of faith, who wants to live the longest? Black Protestants and Hispanic Catholics are the most likely to say living to age 120 or more could be a good thing, according to a new Pew Research Center study. From Religion News Service:
Noah’s grandfather Methuselah lived to the ripe old age of 969 and Moses reached 120, but most Americans would be happy to make it into their 90s, according to a new study.
Black Protestants and Hispanic Catholics are the most likely religious groups to say “radical life extension” — living to age 120 or more — would be good for society, according to a new Pew Research Center study, “Living to 120 and Beyond,” released Tuesday (Aug. 6). …
Researchers found that four in 10 Americans, including 54 percent of black Protestants and 44 percent of Hispanic Catholics, say radical life extension would be “good for society.” Among religious groups, white Catholics showed the least support, at 31 percent.
Read more here. What do you think? Do you personally want to delay seeing God face to face up to or beyond the earthly age of 120?
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Could be the same rationale as the young Jane Eyre:
"No sight so sad as that of a naughty child," he began, "especially a
naughty little girl. Do you know where the wicked go after death?"
"They go to hell," was my ready and orthodox answer.
"And what is hell? Can you tell me that?"
"A pit full of fire."
"And should you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there for
ever?"
"No, sir."
"What must you do to avoid it?"
I deliberated a moment; my answer, when it did come, was objectionable:
"I must keep in good health, and not die."
I would be very interested in knowing the actual questions in the survey. For one thing, I'm guessing that an assumption was made about being able and active as we age - something that for many will not be so. If that question wasn't part of the survey, I wonder what difference it would make. I think it would make a big one. Let's remember the myth of Tithonos. His lover, the Titan Eos, asked Zeus to make him immortal, but forgot to ask also for eternal youth.
Marshall Scott