017: What about Transhumanism?

What happens when all of our technological predictions converge on the human person? Today we discuss the growing movement of transhumanism. What is it, what are it’s hopes, and can a Christian be a transhumanist?

Topics:

• Defining Transhumanism
• The history and rise of transhumanism
• Humanity Plus and their definition
  • https://humanityplus.org/philosophy/transhumanist-faq/
• Post-Humanity
• The inevitability of transhumanism
• Transhumanism in fiction
• Criticisms and objections
  • Transhumanism is unnatural
  • The importance of human limitations
  • Transhumanism’s secular edge
  • Zoltan Istvan and an atheist transhumanism: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/im-an-atheist-therefore-i_b_4388778
  • Christopher Benek’s response to Istvan: https://hplusmagazine.com/2014/03/25/religion-for-humanity/
  • Transhumanism as a “secular religion”
    • Wesley Smith’s “New Time Religion”: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2014/12/new-time-religion
• Christian Transhumanism: https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/about
• Chief human trait: intelligence or relationality
  • Bryan Johnson: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2109868-100-million-project-to-make-intelligence-boosting-brain-implant/
  • Wesley Smith’s response:  https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2017/06/whats-love-got-to-do-with-transhumanism
• Transhumanism and virtue
  • https://www.christopherbenek.com/2015/10/artificial-intelligence-will-one-day-lead-people-to-new-levels-of-holiness/
• Transhumanism: Neo-Gnostic or materialism?
  • Micah Redding, Executive Director of the Christian Transhumanist Association: http://christandpopculture.com/can-transhumanism-lead-us-back-to-orthodoxy/
• Balanced Rhetoric
  • https://www.christopherbenek.com/2015/06/the-singularity-christianitys-new-eschatological-hope/
• A technological hermeneutic: https://www.christopherbenek.com/2016/06/developing-a-new-hermeneutic-of-intelligence-and-reality/
• Looking Ahead: STEET and microsleep
  • http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2019/06/18/during-microsleep-youre-asleep-and-awake-at-the-same-time/#.XQm3-KZlDBI?utm_source=pocket-newtab&utm_source=pocket-newtab

Verses Referenced:

• 1 Corinthians 13:11-13
• Genesis 1:31
• Ephesians 1:17-18

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Intro and outro music: Cosmic Pluck from Vycroft. ( https://freesound.org/people/vykroft/ )

“For the Church Segment” transition music: Marketing from Skibka Music. ( https://freesound.org/people/SkibkaMusic/ )