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2 comments on What’s the Longest Humans Can Live? 115 Years, New Study Says – NYTimes.com

What’s the Longest Humans Can Live? 115 Years, New Study Says – NYTimes.com

Do we as humans have a limit on our life spans?

The scriptures tell us:

“As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10)

I’ve written several posts on Human Longevity. Now, a recent article in the science journal, Nature, suggests we may have reached out limit.

<blockquote>The study, in Nature, suggests that humans “will never get older than 115.” But critics think we can grow much older.</blockquote><p>Source: What’s the Longest Humans Can Live?

What do you think?

Source: What’s the Longest Humans Can Live? 115 Years, New Study Says – NYTimes.com

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alexandermcmanus

2 responses to “What’s the Longest Humans Can Live? 115 Years, New Study Says – NYTimes.com”

  1. James Avatar
    James

    For me, this raises tons of questions, which I love thinking about!

    First, if science can figure out a way to stop or reverse the aging process in human DNA (Google “telomeres” for more info on how this works) we could see humans live much, much longer. (Here is an interesting article on a Harvard study where the aging process was reversed in mice; http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v469/n7328/full/nature09603.html)

    And that raises some interesting scenarios and questions;

    If humans can live for centuries we could get the benefit of cumulative wisdom and experience. On the flip side, what are the risks and consequences cumulative evil?

    An ethical dilemma in the future might be, do we deny murderers and violent criminals the benefit of longevity? If not, how does that impact society if the average life span of someone with a life sentence is in the hundreds of years?

    But then there is Genesis 6:3 which indicates that God may not want humans to live too long due to our penchant wickedness.

    And, what about the after life? (Whatever that is.) Does it lose it’s appeal or sting if humans can live for hundreds of years? Or be put off indefinitely? What impact does that have on belief systems where the promise of Heaven/Paradise, or the avoidance of eternal punishment, is the prime the motivator?

    Finally, could this all eventually lead to the resurrection of the dead? If so, what impact does that have on the Gospel and the uniqueness of Jesus?

    Reply
    1. alexandermcmanus Avatar
      alexandermcmanus

      James,
      Exactly.
      I’ve touched on many of those ideas
      in my posts on human longevity. Thanks
      for chiming in.

      Reply

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