[aynrandfreak]

I think that the main motivation that keeps people believing in religion is fear of death. Implicit to me in Objectivism is the end goal of using technology (the rate of which is sped up by capitalism) to cure the diseases of aging.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for sharing your view on Objectivist end goal of extending physical life!

[unspun]

Genesis 11
The Tower of Babel
¹ Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. ² As men moved eastward, ^[1] they found a plain in Shinar ^[2] and settled there.
³ They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. ⁴ Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

Alas, I digress without reading the article yet, but I find the above quote very analagous to your interesting observation about avoiding death. That may sound curious, but the reason is that this came after "the flood" in Biblical history -- and the people, from what commentary I've heard, found out that baking bricks made them relatively waterproof.... ;-)

The point is, that from a "Scripturalist" point of view, like the flood that came later, earthly death is a judgment from God, for man's sin. Naturally, man has the choice to turn to God in the discipline, or look for ways to avoid/postpone the judgment.

[betty boop]

I think that the main motivation that keeps people believing in religion is fear of death.

Gee, I thought it was the joy of Life. (One needs a way to express one's gratitude for unearned blessings. JMHO.) Do you really believe that technology is going to solve the death problem anytime soon, aynrandfreak?