In a Wondrium lecture on genetics and evolution, this question was also discussed. A compelling (but unproven) explanation for our “age limit” is that any genetic trait that improves your chances before reproduction at the cost of your chances after reproduction (and raising your offspring) will benefit your genes and thus will “win” in the long run. If this is an important effect, it will be very hard to defeat.
Does the human lifespan have a limit?
51–60 of 227 posts
Re: Does the human lifespan have a limit?
#52Whenever this topic comes up, I’m always reminded of the fact that the bible knew of this long before any statistician. 'My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for he is flesh; his days shall be a hundred and twenty years' (Gen. 6:3). As a non Christian this always baffles me.
How many numbers are in the Bible, and how many of them are wrong (which we conveniently gloss over). The world was made in 6 days?
My favorite is of Pi being 3.0:
1 Kings 7:23
And he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and the height thereof was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
Re: Does the human lifespan have a limit?
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
So if we get a single human who, without dispute as the oldest woman has some controversy as to the validity of her age, lives past the age of 120 will that be proof the bible is untrue and all it’s writings are false? Because I have a funny feeling now that people are much more documented we will pass the 120 year mark any time.
Figure this: If I come up with a theory that people can grow older than 120 years because of a golden teacup whizzing about somewhere in the Oort cloud, and we find a person older than 120 years, does that mean the golden teacup exists?
You've convinced me. Where can I learn more about this golden teacup of eternal youth? Does it answer prayers maybe?
Re: Does the human lifespan have a limit?
#54Whenever this topic comes up, I’m always reminded of the fact that the bible knew of this long before any statistician. 'My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for he is flesh; his days shall be a hundred and twenty years' (Gen. 6:3). As a non Christian this always baffles me.
Consider another translation: “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3, KJV). This verse is not specifying a maximum human lifespan, but the period of probation in which God's spirit would strive or plead with mankind before their judgment by the Flood. This is the period during which “the longsuffering…
Doesn't the Bible also state that Enoch and Elijah never died?
If you're a Christian, doesn't this mean that you believe that they are both still alive and are world's oldest humans
Re: Does the human lifespan have a limit?
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
How many numbers are in the Bible, and how many of them are wrong (which we conveniently gloss over). The world was made in 6 days?
Maybe that 6 days is a metaphor. Metaphors taken literally. Literality taken metaphorically. Esoterica interpreted conventionally. Guiding the hand of the translator. Mistranslation compounding over the iterations. Any useful knowledge must get lost like dust in the wind.
> Maybe that 6 days is a metaphor.
right, so if a biblical number is wrong we find some reason to excuse it.
Re: Does the human lifespan have a limit?
#56Whenever this topic comes up, I’m always reminded of the fact that the bible knew of this long before any statistician. 'My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for he is flesh; his days shall be a hundred and twenty years' (Gen. 6:3). As a non Christian this always baffles me.
Gilgamesh did it first. On immortality, my thing is actually psychologically framing it were it to become a reality; it's entirely inconsistent with everything we have ever known. I think mortality has a purpose within the context of life. And there's literally limitless implications it would have. To me it seems like the most inhumane pursuit conceivable.
Where as to me, not pursuing it is condemning people to countless years of not existing. Which seems far more cruel than choosing to have a limited life span.
What is the difference between not investing in life extension research and just putting a pillow over the face of a million people?
Re: Does the human lifespan have a limit?
#57No post body was provided.
Re: Does the human lifespan have a limit?
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
Consider another translation: “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3, KJV). This verse is not specifying a maximum human lifespan, but the period of probation in which God's spirit would strive or plead with mankind before their judgment by the Flood. This is the period during which “the longsuffering…
Doesn't the Bible also state that Enoch and Elijah never died? If you're a Christian, doesn't this mean that you believe that they are both still alive and are world's oldest humans
Yes, and Moses as well who was resurrected. But they are in heaven where the Tree of Life is. We cannot live forever without eating from that tree (see Gen. 3:22-24).
Re: Does the human lifespan have a limit?
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe that 6 days is a metaphor. Metaphors taken literally. Literality taken metaphorically. Esoterica interpreted conventionally. Guiding the hand of the translator. Mistranslation compounding over the iterations. Any useful knowledge must get lost like dust in the wind.
> Maybe that 6 days is a metaphor. right, so if a biblical number is wrong we find some reason to excuse it.
If it's a metaphor then it might not be wrong.
Re: Does the human lifespan have a limit?
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
why assume that they meant earth days? if they're creating earth, then how could it be that they're using earth days? (allegedely, earth is just getting created) also, what if a day is a rotation around a body's axis, then what about a solar day (the sun spins around itself once)? what about a galactic day?
>if they're creating earth, then how could it be that they're using earth days? (allegedely, earth is just getting created) Because this is a myth from thousands of years ago, and "scientific" accuracy wasn't relevant, much less possible. Read any ancient creation myth, or most ancient myth at all, it's closer to dream logic than anything remotely realistic. They meant earth days because those were the only kind of d…
logically plausible and "scientific" and/or "realistic" are different things.
Things can be complete fantasy yet logically consistent.
> there's no reason to believe they made the story more complex than that.
you seem to be working under the assumption that because they lived long ago it must follow that they are simpler or in some sense "dumber". (i.e. I claim you believe that "in the past every man was a simpleton compared to a modern man")
alternatively, if in the past they were using dream logic (which you also seem to belive ought to be expediently discarded) couldn't they also dream about other varieties of days? or do they need to have a modern scientific outlook in order to even be able to consider days of different durations?