By Dave Pizer

If you think cryonics performed properly can save your life. Then you want it performed as best possible. Having a medical examiner order an autopsy can prevent cryonics from being done properly.

I believe both Alcor and CI have paperwork and a wallet or purse type card that their members can carry that says that the member does not want autopsy because of the member's religious belief against it. The theme of religious belief may carry some legal weight to help people avoid autopsy in some cases.

But if the medical examiner were to go one step further and ask what religion this member belonged to that opposes autopsy, in the past there was no officially approved cryonics type religion (approved by the U.S. government) until about 15 years ago. At that time some of us cryonicists formed the Society for Venturism as a religion and got it approved by the government.

So in some cases belonging to the Society for Venturism may give some back up to the cards many cryonicists carry saying they do not want autopsy on religious grounds.

EXAMPLE: Medical Examiner says:

" I see he had a card asking for no autopsy on religion grounds. What religion did Alcor or CI member Joe belong to?"

Two possible answers:

1. "None, we just made it up to try to prevent an autopsy."

2. "He was a Venturist, a member of a religion approved by the U.S. Government."

Do Venturists profess a belief in God?

No, they do not address positive or negative feelings either way about the existence of a supreme being or force, or the possibility of an afterlife in some non material world. The only two things that a Venturist has to agree to, to become a member is that they have to agree 1) that trying to end death for living things (like humans or our pets) by technological means is a good thing, and they have to agree to 2) always try to do what is right.

So, in a nutshell the Venturist religion has a plan to avoid death and a moral code just as other religions do. That is why they are a religion just like any other approved religion.

Can people make a religion like this? We can make a religion out of any beliefs as long as they have two things: a plan to avoid death and a moral code. That is the definition of a religion when you strip away all the unnecessary words describing it. How can you become a Venturist?

If you are signed up and funded by Alcor or CI and you agree with our two principles (Try to end death with technology and try to do what is right), then send us a letter saying you want to be a Venturist, call yourself a Venturist, and you then are a Venturist. Anyone wishing to join and receive a card need merely contact Mike Perry (Mike@alcor.org) and tell him who they are signed up and funded with and ask to join and he can send them a card to carry.

David Pizer

The Society for Venturism

11255 State Route 69

Mayer

Arizona 86333