To be kept on a near-starvation diet to live longer seems to me a heavy burden to carry and to really be prolonging more suffering rather than enjoying life to the fullest it can offer. So is there really any point in extending our earthly lives with that catch in mind? I would much rather live life to the full now and forever in eternity where there is no suffering, pain, hurt and sorrow.

Even if life is made possible to be extended a little longer isn’t this just delaying the inevitable? Do we really need a few more years to feel more fulfilled in life or is it because we want to take solace and gratification from the things of the world rather than the things of eternal significance?

Nick Foord

This may sound strange but to keep our hearts ticking and our limbs moving science is creating bionic or fake replicas of human anatomy. Will there be a point where this goes too far? As Jesse and Hannah have both pointed out, why would we bother extending life if we had no reason to.

The pure and simple fact is that we are no longer made to live to 500 years old, but we are improving living conditions which has brought the life expectancy of the general population in western culture up in recent years. But no amount of scientific advancement will change the fact that this life is temporary.

Like others have said before me, why do we want to extend our lives here on this earth when we are accepted through Christ into eternity.

Ben White, Victoria

If the answer to our question is, to get more from life, let’s think about making better use of our time. And if the desire for an extended life comes from the need to escape death, find salvation in Jesus and discover that life goes far beyond our time on earth.

Hannah Shand

Personally, I don’t want my life to be extended so I can cruise around the nursing home, throwing out cliche pick up lines to all the babes playing bingo at the age of 160. There has to be more to this earthly existence. Sure, if we are making a contribution to society for a longer period than we would the norm, fine, however if it is to simply stay here longer… then no thanks. If we are eternal beings then I am anxious for the next stage of our existence; eternity.

Jesse Chatelier

Though any medical breakthrough in the area of long life would be much welcomed by those worried about death, is at best a Band-Aid solution. For true life is not measured by age or success, but measured by a life that is transformed by a intimate relationship with Christ.

Chris Trodden

If we cultivate trust in God and respect his ‘new commandment: love one another’ (in today’s gospel) life beyond the grave is the only thing that really matters.

The benefit of a longer life could be the opportunity to make greater reparation for our sins.

Pat Healy

“They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches.
Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.
Redemption does not come so easily,
For no one can ever pay enough
to live forever and never see the grave.” (vv. 7-9)

“But as for me, God will redeem my life.
He will snatch me from the power of the grave.” (v. 15)

Luke Beattie

Ewan McDonald, Victoria

Life expectancy has fluctuated over the period of Biblical history, but in the last 2-3 centuries, it has certainly increased a lot mainly as a result of advances in medical science and knowledge of diseases and causes of various life-threatening conditions eg. bleeding & sepsis etc. Earlier than that may be harder to establish.

Meanwhile, the philosophical question of longevity was included as a side-plot in the Robot series – Robots of Dawn, Caves of Steel, Naked Sun – of Isaac Asimov (famous sci-fi writer, atheist and evolutionist).

John Angelico