Christian Transhumanism Vs. Satanist Transhumanism

[white gardenia]

It is an attempt to prevent death by organ failure and that is a rejection of God.

So is a pacemaker (designed to prevent heart failure) a rejection of God?

Edit: I think I see the distinction that you are drawing between life saving technology and superficial/ cosmetic improvements as a way to "transcend" the human condition. I agree that there is a major difference.

 

[white gardenia]

Look whose jumping on the band wagon of conspiracy theories. You know the one that promotes transhumanism as something good for humanity! Let me know in the future how that's working out for you!

We already see that technologically driven organ replacement is good for humanity (pacemakers, hearing aids, prosthetic legs, iron lungs, cochlear implants etc etc) The question is - Does God approve of improving health through technology? I would say yes (but I agree that there needs to checks and balances...)

 

[white gardenia]

Exactly! Transhumanism is trying to play God, thinking they are more capable than God to create humans far better than He already has.

I think here is the main problem....the main reason that I disagree with your assessment: While God did create us in His image, things got screwed up by Adam's sin. We are all in a Fallen state. That is why we need hearing aids and cochlear implants and pacemakers and prosthetic legs etc...because we live in a fallen world filled with horror and death. Children are born with congenital defects, people get in car wrecks, people have accidents....we are not trying to improve on the Garden of Eden (the way God intended things to be)... we are trying to improve on Man's Fallen State. The way the way the world currently is is not the way God wanted it to be.

Heres another question along those same lines. One of the greatest horrors that comes along with our fallen state is the 2nd law of Thermodynamics. If scientists developed a machine that could reverse the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (and thereby reverse the twin curses of entropy and death) would you be in favor of such a machine? If they could just push a button that would reverse universal entropy would you be in favor of pushing that button?

 

[white gardenia]

Except transhumanism is far more than replacing damaged or malfunctioning organs/limbs etc, it is also about replacing fully functioning limbs/organs etc with a better mechanical/electronic limb/organ.

It is an attempt to prevent death by organ failure and that is a rejection of God.

Okay, Ive re-read you're question and i think i see the distinction that you are trying to draw....You are fine with replacing organs to stave off death or illness...but you are drawing a line when it comes to replacing organs to "transcend" the human condition (ie "superhuman" scenarios).

Im just speaking for myself, but I have no desire to become a Marvel comics superhero (I despise those movies lol)....I am only interested in transhumanism as way to prevent death for my friends and loved ones.

 

[rwb]

We already see that technologically driven organ replacement is good for humanity (pacemakers, hearing aids, prosthetic legs, iron lungs, cochlear implants etc etc) The question is - Does God approve of improving health through technology? I would say yes (but I agree that there needs to checks and balances...)

What you're describing does NOT define transhumanism! You should do more research, because transgender surgeries, where doctors remove healthy body parts and organs to allow humans to choose what gender they desire to be is the first step in transhumanism.

Transgender surgery is a way of transitioning into transhumanism. What is achieved when you remove a young girls' healthy breasts and female organs to help her transition into a boy? She never becomes a boy, because her DNA defines her as a girl. So she is no longer identified as a girl, but neither is she identified as a boy! She cannot be a sister, but neither a brother, she cannot be a mother, but neither can she be a father. And she can never be a wife, or husband no matter how many times we're told she can be. This human being has lost their God given identity. Which is exactly what transhumanists pushing transgender desires to accomplish.

Now the transhumanist can be the savior for this person without identity by promising a way of returning identity to them by tinkering with their God given DNA. A person having no identity, feeling desperate to belong can be sold just about anything.

DNA is given by God and is uniquely designed without duplication. Transhumanists have no idea how humans might be affected by combining their DNA with technology. Yet they gleefully proclaim they can make man better. Because they don't believe in God, nor that man was created in the likeness and image of God. So why not experiment on humankind? Perhaps, so they think, they can so improve humankind that through transhumanism man can finally attain immortal life without Christ.

 

[rwb]

I think here is the main problem....the main reason that I disagree with your assessment: While God did create us in His image, things got screwed up by Adam's sin. We are all in a Fallen state. That is why we need hearing aids and cochlear implants and pacemakers and prosthetic legs etc...because we live in a fallen world filled with horror and death. Children are born with congenital defects, people get in car wrecks, people have accidents....we are not trying to improve on the Garden of Eden (the way God intended things to be)... we are trying to improve on Man's Fallen State. The way the way the world currently is is not the way God wanted it to be.

God has provided mankind with a remedy for sin and death that entered into creation when Adam and Eve sinned. His name is Christ Jesus our Lord, the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. We have fallen, destined to die physical bodies but we are NOT in a fallen state in Christ. Do you not remember the Scripture that tells us whosoever lives and believes in Christ HAS eternal life. Not will have but HAS eternal life through Him the moment we believe.

John 11:26 (KJV) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Here's the rub - death of believer's physical body is not death for our living spirit (soul). For to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord in heaven. Transhumanists deny God, so anther lofty goal for them is to convince men there is no God. Much like the serpent in the garden when he told the woman they would not die, but would become like god.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Mankind has no ability within themselves to improve on man's fallen physical condition. God gave a command and man disobeyed God and listened to the voice of the serpent. God promised man that when they disobeyed Him, they would surely die. Since man's intellectual abilities come from God, there is no harm in using the gifts God has given man to try to alleviate human suffering. Though transhumanists will tell us their only desire is to alleviate human suffering, their goals are far loftier than that, and far more devious. They, like the serpent in the garden want to convince man that if we will only listen to them, we can become our own god, and through them obtain immortality.

Heres another question along those same lines. One of the greatest horrors that comes along with our fallen state is the 2nd law of Thermodynamics. If scientists developed a machine that could reverse the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (and thereby reverse the twin curses of entropy and death) would you be in favor of such a machine? If they could just push a button that would reverse universal entropy would you be in favor of pushing that button?

Your question asks would I be in favor of so-called scientists developing a machine that would give man immortal life? That is a denial of God, for He alone is the giver of immortality and incorruption. Any human thinking, they can be as god are of their father the devil just as Adam and Eve discovered when they heeded the voice of the serpent and were deceived into believing that immortality can be obtained through our own efforts, instead of relying on God alone by grace through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

[rwb]

Okay, Ive re-read you're question and i think i see the distinction that you are trying to draw....You are fine with replacing organs to stave off death or illness...but you are drawing a line when it comes to replacing organs to "transcend" the human condition (ie "superhuman" scenarios).

Im just speaking for myself, but I have no desire to become a Marvel comics superhero (I despise those movies lol)....I am only interested in transhumanism as way to prevent death for my friends and loved ones.

If you really care for your friends and loved ones then tell them about the true giver of life, Christ Jesus, our Lord. Give them the Gospel and pray that by grace God will through the Gospel and power of the Holy Spirit open their eyes to see, and their ears to hear, knowing that through Christ, though our physical body will die, we shall never die.

Science and transhumanism cannot prevent death for your friends and loved ones, only Christ can, and does IF they believe.

 

[white gardenia]

What you're describing does NOT define transhumanism! You should do more research, because transgender surgeries, where doctors remove healthy body parts and organs to allow humans to choose what gender they desire to be is the first step in transhumanism.

Transgender surgery is a way of transitioning into transhumanism. What is achieved when you remove a young girls' healthy breasts and female organs to help her transition into a boy? She never becomes a boy, because her DNA defines her as a girl. So she is no longer identified as a girl, but neither is she identified as a boy! She cannot be a sister, but neither a brother, she cannot be a mother, but neither can she be a father. And she can never be a wife, or husband no matter how many times we're told she can be. This human being has lost their God given identity. Which is exactly what transhumanists pushing transgender desires to accomplish.

If you think Im interested in the transgender movement...or transgender surgery....youve got me all wrong my friend. Those movements focus on vanity and sexuality ...two completely irrelevant things (and that applies whether we are talking about homosexual immorality or straight immorality). My biggest problem with this Christian Church right now is that they think that lifestyle- (the Trump lifestyle) of sleeping with women and bragging about is somehow alluring or glamorous. I voted for Trump (and Ill vote for him again if he's the Republican nominee) but Im alarmed that he has been set up as our role model.

Conversely, Transhumanism (like Christianity) focuses on real things.... life and death....not sex and/or other worldly pleasures.....but how can we fight death. Life and death are the two things that the Bible focuses on incessantly....and there is a reason for that.

 

[white gardenia]

What you're describing does NOT define transhumanism! You should do more research, because transgender surgeries, where doctors remove healthy body parts and organs to allow humans to choose what gender they desire to be is the first step in transhumanism.

Transgender surgery is a way of transitioning into transhumanism. What is achieved when you remove a young girls' healthy breasts and female organs to help her transition into a boy? She never becomes a boy, because her DNA defines her as a girl. So she is no longer identified as a girl, but neither is she identified as a boy! She cannot be a sister, but neither a brother, she cannot be a mother, but neither can she be a father. And she can never be a wife, or husband no matter how many times we're told she can be. This human being has lost their God given identity. Which is exactly what transhumanists pushing transgender desires to accomplish.

Now the transhumanist can be the savior for this person without identity by promising a way of returning identity to them by tinkering with their God given DNA. A person having no identity, feeling desperate to belong can be sold just about anything.

DNA is given by God and is uniquely designed without duplication. Transhumanists have no idea how humans might be affected by combining their DNA with technology. Yet they gleefully proclaim they can make man better. Because they don't believe in God, nor that man was created in the likeness and image of God. So why not experiment on humankind? Perhaps, so they think, they can so improve humankind that through transhumanism man can finally attain immortal life without Christ.

So I think this is the heart of our disagreement- I think that we should be fighting death HERE on the physical plane. Christians should be fighting against physical death. We should be fighting against abortion, we should be fighting for people like Terri Schiavo (who lived more years than she naturally would have because she was hooked up to a machine), we should be fighting to keep the elderly alive...we should be fighting death because it is the great enemy.

Here is an important question- Is it worthwhile to keep a 99 year old alive on a life support machine?

Because there is a big problem if we start saying "well babies would be better off if they are aborted...they can just go right to Heaven" or if we say "well a 99 year old man has lived a good life, we should just unplug him from the machine and let him go to Heaven" That is not fulfilling what Christ commanded- which is to heal the sick and raise the dead PHYSICALLY...here on the physical plane.

If we start saying that people would be better off dead, then how are we different from the people who want to depopulate the world- the Bill Gates and the other people who dont value life....and dont value the sick or elderly. I think that you would agree that those who advocate for depopulation have bought into the Culture of Death. We should be doing the exact opposite. Christians should be firmly embracing the Culture of Life...and yes that includes extreme measures like keeping the elderly alive via life support machines...replacing faulty organs etc etc...

 

[white gardenia]

What you're describing does NOT define transhumanism! You should do more research, because transgender surgeries, where doctors remove healthy body parts and organs to allow humans to choose what gender they desire to be is the first step in transhumanism.

Transgender surgery is a way of transitioning into transhumanism. What is achieved when you remove a young girls' healthy breasts and female organs to help her transition into a boy? She never becomes a boy, because her DNA defines her as a girl. So she is no longer identified as a girl, but neither is she identified as a boy! She cannot be a sister, but neither a brother, she cannot be a mother, but neither can she be a father. And she can never be a wife, or husband no matter how many times we're told she can be. This human being has lost their God given identity. Which is exactly what transhumanists pushing transgender desires to accomplish.

Now the transhumanist can be the savior for this person without identity by promising a way of returning identity to them by tinkering with their God given DNA. A person having no identity, feeling desperate to belong can be sold just about anything.

DNA is given by God and is uniquely designed without duplication. Transhumanists have no idea how humans might be affected by combining their DNA with technology. Yet they gleefully proclaim they can make man better. Because they don't believe in God, nor that man was created in the likeness and image of God. So why not experiment on humankind? Perhaps, so they think, they can so improve humankind that through transhumanism man can finally attain immortal life without Christ.

Sorry for all the lengthy responses, but I wanted to add one more quick postscript. The Bible makes it very clear that we need to fight death here in the physical realm. Matthew 10: 8 is an example of that. But it also should be noted that we are not only supposed to fight physical death- the Bible assures us that we are going to win this fight ....

Quick example - Here is a prediction from Isaiah 65:20 "Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach [1] a hundred will be considered accursed."

So Isaiah 65:20 tells us that people will begin living longer HERE in the physical plane. It is not a perfect world because people are still dying, but they are still living much longer. And then later we see countless verses talking about death being defeated completely and even the long departed resurrected on the physical plane (we are already resurrected spiritually at the moment of death...as we see in Luke 23:42) but the Bible also clearly talks about another resurrection taking place in the far future. This is detailed in Corinthians 15:51, 1st Thessalonians 4:13, Isaiah 26:19 and countless other verses....

It's a dual track...Death needs to be defeated both in the spiritual plane and the physical plane.

 

[rwb]

It's a dual track...Death needs to be defeated both in the spiritual plane and the physical plane.

This is where transhumanists err! Christ has already defeated both spiritual and physical death through His life, crucifixion, and resurrection from the dead. All one need do to overcome death, both spiritual and physical is to believe IN HIM. It is only through Christ that death of both body and spirit has been defeated already.

Again, there is nothing wrong with trying to alleviate human suffering from physical pain. But when man begins to think of themselves, as transhumanists do, they can remake man better and immortal he/she is not of God, but of their father, the Devil.

I'm quoting more verses from Scripture, but so far you have shown no desire to hear from the Word of God because you have basically ignored the verses I've quoted already. But since this is a Bible Forum, I will continue to argue based on what I read from the Bible. I don't understand how a Christian could affirm transhumanism since transhumanists don't believe in God and try very hard to twist the Word of God to support their ungodly deeds!

John 12:25 (KJV) He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

[Jipsah]

What you're describing does NOT define transhumanism! You should do more research, because transgender surgeries, where doctors remove healthy body parts and organs to allow humans to choose what gender they desire to be is the first step in transhumanism.

That isn't "transhuman", it's simply mutilation.

What is achieved when you remove a young girls' healthy breasts and female organs to help her transition into a boy?

A mutilated girl.

 

[rwb]

That isn't "transhuman", it's simply mutilation.

A mutilated girl.

But this is what is being used, along with LGBTQ etc., by transhumanists. Transhumanists must remove every obstacle that gives humans identity to successfully accomplish changing male/female from human to human 2.0. Or human combined with technology they envision Roboman/woman. No longer human, but neither fully Robotic. This is how they plan to achieve immortality and servitude for themselves without the Creator of man; God.

 

[white gardenia]

This is where transhumanists err! Christ has already defeated both spiritual and physical death through His life, crucifixion, and resurrection from the dead. All one need do to overcome death, both spiritual and physical is to believe IN HIM. It is only through Christ that death of both body and spirit has been defeated already.

Again, there is nothing wrong with trying to alleviate human suffering from physical pain. But when man begins to think of themselves, as transhumanists do, they can remake man better and immortal he/she is not of God, but of their father, the Devil.

I'm quoting more verses from Scripture, but so far you have shown no desire to hear from the Word of God because you have basically ignored the verses I've quoted already. But since this is a Bible Forum, I will continue to argue based on what I read from the Bible. I don't understand how a Christian could affirm transhumanism since transhumanists don't believe in God and try very hard to twist the Word of God to support their ungodly deeds!

John 12:25 (KJV) He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I have no problems with any of the verses that you have cited. They are all important verses and none of them contradict this point-- We should we be trying to preserve life here in the physical world. Christ raised the dead physically....He raised Lazarus from the dead physically (instead of letting Lazarus go onto his eternal reward) ....There is some reason that we need to preserve life here in the physical plane.
Christ not only raised the dead PHYSICALLY ...he commanded us to raise the dead as well. Christ commanded us to heal the sick (instead of letting people die and go onto their eternal reward).
I have cited several Bible verses that emphasize of preserving life in the physical plane ( Matthew 10:8 , Isaiah 65:20, Luke 23:42, Corinthians 15:51, 1st Thessalonians 4:13, Isaiah 26:19 ...but of course I could cite at least a hundred more...the Bible is all about defeating death...defeating death in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm...and yes, Christ's Death has allowed us to overcome death, but we still have more work to do, which is why Christ commands us to continue the war against sickness and death in Matthew 10:8....and he commands us to continue the war in the spiritual realm AND in the physical realm ("on earth as it is in Heaven" as Matthew 6:10 notes)
I am pro-life in the most extreme sense of the word. There is no middle ground in my ideology. I am completely on the side of Life and completely opposed to Death.
And that brings me back too that important question (I believe this question may be the focal point of the argument-

Is it God's will to keep a 99 year old alive on a life support machine?

 

[white gardenia]

But this is what is being used, along with LGBTQ etc., by transhumanists. Transhumanists must remove every obstacle that gives humans identity to successfully accomplish changing male/female from human to human 2.0. Or human combined with technology they envision Roboman/woman. No longer human, but neither fully Robotic. This is how they plan to achieve immortality and servitude for themselves without the Creator of man; God.

But the problem with this statement is that there is zero connection between Transhumanism and Transgenderism. They both use the prefix of Trans...that is the only connection.

IF you dig deep enough, Im sure you can find Transhumanists who support Transgender rights...just like if you dig deep enough into the GOP you can find Republicans who support Transgenderism (most notably Donald Trump who famously said that Bruce Jenner could use whichever bathroom he wanted in Trump Tower-

...more evidence that Republicans invited Wokeism when they had a chance to stand up against it)

The Transhumanists I look up to have nothing to do with this topic. They have got much more important things to worry about...... Frank Tipler, Freeman Dyson, N.T. Wright (to name just a few) These people are trying to defeat death...they are not interested in trivial culture wars (In fact NT Wright is widely hated by the homosexual community because he took disciplinary action against Anglican clergy registering civil partnerships...this was back in 2005 and he is still getting attacked by the gay community)

Transhumanism is about defeating death and sickness ...period. Even the idea of alleviating pain is secondary. Pain is going to be part of the bargain if we want to keep the human race going. So Im not worried about eradicating pain. The most important thing is eradicating death...that is one of the central tenants of the Bible...healing the sick and preserving life, and that will always be more important than trivial social culture war issues.

 

[rwb]

I have no problems with any of the verses that you have cited. They are all important verses and none of them contradict this point-- We should we be trying to preserve life here in the physical world. Christ raised the dead physically....He raised Lazarus from the dead physically (instead of letting Lazarus go onto his eternal reward) ....There is some reason that we need to preserve life here in the physical plane.
Christ not only raised the dead PHYSICALLY ...he commanded us to raise the dead as well. Christ commanded us to heal the sick (instead of letting people die and go onto their eternal reward).

Christ did NOT tell His disciples to raise the physically dead. His apostles had been given that ability at the beginning of the church age to be a witness to the Sovereignty of Christ alone. The supernatural miracles proved the message of Christ the Apostles brought was true.

Acts 2:43 (KJV) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Acts 5:12 (KJV) And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

Believers are instructed to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Why? Because whosoever hears and believes the Gospel of Christ by grace through faith have been taken from the dead to the living in Christ. Mankind has the ability to alleviate suffering, but man has no ability to keep man from their appointment with physical death. Every human is appointed a time to be born and a time to die, and God alone is the giver and taker of life. God alone has the ability to extend or shorten life. The best man can do through science is to help to alleviate physical and even mental or emotional suffering in this age.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (KJV) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

Yes, as far as the ability to preserve life rather than take life. Especially for unbelievers, but as believers we should not fear physical death. When believers physically die our spirit leaves our body and goes to be with the Lord in heaven. So, death for believers is not the end, but the beginning of life with Christ eternally.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (KJV) Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

[rwb]

And that brings me back too that important question (I believe this question may be the focal point of the argument-

Is it God's will to keep a 99 year old alive on a life support machine?

Let me throw the question back to you before I answer. If the 99 year old is a believer would you support keeping him artificially alive, or would you unplug the machine that appears to be keeping him alive, but in reality, is only keeping his heart beating so that blood continues to flow to vital organs, which is preventing His spirit from leaving his physical body to be present with the Lord?

How about this, have faith, unplug the machine, and if he begins to breathe on his own then it is not his appointed time to die. But if his heart ceases to beat and he physically dies, we can be sad because our loved one is no longer with us, and we will miss him, but at the same time we should rejoice for he has gone to his eternal home where he will be forever with the Lord.

 

[rwb]

But the problem with this statement is that there is zero connection between Transhumanism and Transgenderism. They both use the prefix of Trans...that is the only connection.

How do you know this? Have you read the words of transhumanists themselves? Have you thoroughly researched the writings of Klaus Schwab, and the World Economic Forum? Because they make the link through their own words with transgenderism.

The Transhumanists I look up to have nothing to do with this topic. They have got much more important things to worry about...... Frank Tipler, Freeman Dyson, N.T. Wright (to name just a few) These people are trying to defeat death...they are not interested in trivial culture wars (In fact NT Wright is widely hated by the homosexual community because he took disciplinary action against Anglican clergy registering civil partnerships...this was back in 2005 and he is still getting attacked by the gay community)

Unless you learn from globalists transhumanists you, as well as those you look up to, will continue to be under a fog of deception.

Transhumanism is about defeating death and sickness ...period. Even the idea of alleviating pain is secondary. Pain is going to be part of the bargain if we want to keep the human race going. So Im not worried about eradicating pain. The most important thing is eradicating death...that is one of the central tenants of the Bible...healing the sick and preserving life, and that will always be more important than trivial social culture war issues.

Man was not put on this earth to defeat death! Christ alone has already defeated death, and that's what Christians supporting transhumanists seem to forget. Man through knowledge of science can alleviate human pain and suffering, even transhumanists will appear to have this goal. But their real motive and goal you already know and have said, is to defeat death. They believe they have the ability to bring immortality to humankind. The question is as they tweak man's God given DNA what will this immortal man be like?

 

[white gardenia]

How do you know this? Have you read the words of transhumanists themselves? Have you thoroughly researched the writings of Klaus Schwab, and the World Economic Forum? Because they make the link through their own words with transgenderism.

Unless you learn from globalists transhumanists you, as well as those you look up to, will continue to be under a fog of deception.

?

My Transhumanist heroes are:
Nikolai Fyodorovich Fyodorov....Frank Tipler....Freeman Dyson....N.T. Wright (to name just a few) They want to use technology to fight death. But like all technology, there is the possibility that it can be used for bad purposes....and so we need to have the necessary checks and balances to prevent tech from being misused.
Example: The internet can be used for bad purposes (like looking up porn) ...or it can be used for good purposes (like looking up ChristianForums.com)...Millions of American men use the internet to look up porn....Does that mean we should get rid of the internet? No probably not...because the technology itself is not evil...It is just a tool

 

[white gardenia]

Mankind has the ability to alleviate suffering, but man has no ability to keep man from their appointment with physical death. Every human is appointed a time to be born and a time to die, and God alone is the giver and taker of life. God alone has the ability to extend or shorten life. The best man can do through science is to help to alleviate physical and even mental or emotional suffering in this age.

.

You raise a really interesting point here. God is the giver of life....so when an elderly man is hooked up to a life support machine, his life is extended....and that is God's will that his life be extended (God is working through the machine to fulfill His Will). And in the future, if a life support machine allows a man to live to past 120 that will also be God's will.

In fact we know that it is God's Will, because in Isaiah it gives us a glimpse of the future and it tells us, in no uncertain terms, that it is in God Will that people live longer HERE in the physical realm.

Isaiah 65:20
“Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.