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Transhumanism: Christian Destiny Or Distraction? David C Article Transhumanism: Christian Destiny or Distraction? David C. Winyard Sr. David C. Winyard Sr. Transhumanism offers a secular vision of unlimited progress. It anticipates a revo­ lutionary convergence of several fields of science and technology later this century. Transhumanist faith in this vision is comparable to religious faith, ranging from secu­ lar to overtly religious, but its view of God, human existence, and salvation is markedly different from biblical perspectives. Seeking to overthrow all limits, transhumanism would overturn the boundaries God has established for his creatures, both moral and physical. Transhumanism seems inconsistent with both orthodox Christianity and mainstream science, yet Christian transhumanists have emerged, even forming a Christian Trans­ humanist Association. Its “Christian Transhumanist Affirmation” sacrifices theological commitments for a vague desire to “become more human” through technology. Blind acceptance or rejection of transhumanism is inadequate. Christian theological insights into the opportunities and challenges of futuristic science and technology are needed. here has been much discussion of Word. On that foundation, and trusting human origins, but this article’s in the Holy Spirit for guidance, Christians Tfocus is human destiny. Specifi- can chart a reasonable course toward the cally, it (1) introduces a secular vision future. Further, as circumstances change, of unlimited technoscientific progress, course corrections can be made in confi- (2) considers how some Christians blend dence knowing God and his character.2 this vision with their faith, and (3) ques- tions whether blending technoscience and Others—people who view God differ- faith is consistent with either orthodox ently, or those denying God’s existence Christianity or mainstream science, the altogether—will see things in different foundational commitments of the Ameri- ways. Their sense of what it means to can Scientific Affiliation (ASA).1 be a human being, though influenced to some degree by Christianity, will lead There are historical, theological, philo- to different approaches to the future. In sophical, and social dimensions to many cases, the results will be contrary to consider. Different ontological com- God’s revealed will. And so, once again, mitments lead to epistemological and Christians face “The Enduring Problem” political differences to be resolved of how to be “in the world, but not of the through social processes. For Christians world,” to paraphrase Jesus’s pastoral to participate effectively in these pro- prayer in John 17.3 cesses, they must seriously consider their So clearly, much is at stake, for both commitments and work out how they believers and all human society. My might shape the church and the broader society, always looking to love and faith- David C. Winyard Sr. worked as an engineer for the U.S. Navy and fully serve both God and their neighbors. Defense Logistics Agency. Since retiring, he has helped build new engineering programs at Mount Vernon Nazarene University and To begin, Christians through history have Grace College. His 2016 PhD dissertation analyzed connections between esteemed the Bible as God’s authoritative Christianity and transhumanism. Volume 72, Number 2, June 2020 67 Article Transhumanism: Christian Destiny or Distraction? hope is that ASA members will join me in seeking potential enhancements and a notional development sound biblical and scientific responses to the poten- timeline.) tial benefits and risks of science and technology in tomorrow’s world. In some ways, transhumanism is nothing new; throughout the ages, many people have dreamed of ways to address the problems of life. Beyond Transhumanism: Roots and Fruits dreaming, people have worked toward solutions, Human Enhancement: Goals and Milestones developing fire, clothes, the wheel, and many other things to ease life’s burdens. Scientific and industrial At issue is transhumanism, the social and philo- revolutions accelerated this work, and continued sophical movement that seeks fundamental progress seems likely. “enhancements” of life by futuristic science and tech- nology. Transhumanists pursue improvements in Transhumanists believe pursuit of progress is basic the human condition, even overcoming life’s basic to human nature, so it is only natural to seek scien- limitations. Transhumanism is both diverse and dif- tific solutions to the deepest problems of life, such fuse; with members all around the world, it depends as death. Most people seem resigned to these prob- on the Internet to spread its ideas and build com- lems, believing that they are, like taxes, inevitable. munity among its advocates. Today’s technology is Solutions might be fancied in myth, religion, sci- insufficient for their purposes, but transhumanists ence fiction, and futurism, but transhumanists reject have deep faith in science, believing that it will soon fanciful solutions. They believe their pursuits are open the door to human enhancements that exist reasonable, scientific, and achievable. What accounts today only in science fiction. (See Table 1 for a list of for this belief? 68 Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith David C. Winyard Sr. Technoscience Convergence Transhumanism’s Path Forward The popular image of science and technology is one Today, research into technosciences that might con- of continual progress. Against this image, studies verge in transhumanism are largely independent: show that progress is often nonlinear and erratic, in computer scientists study hardware and software, accord with Thomas Kuhn’s well-known concepts while neuroscientists study brains. However, work of “paradigm shifts” and “scientific revolutions.”4 in one area could affect another, rapidly bringing In technology, a less-familiar concept suggests a about surprising results. parallel concept—convergence—that is especially important to our subject. The transhumanist vision begins with the pres- ent reality of the medical arts and the knowledge Breakthroughs in technology often brought together that dysfunctions in the molecules of life account advances in disparate fields, sometimes with sur- for all manner of illnesses. Today’s drugs deal with prising results. For example, Henry Ford’s assembly many illnesses, but they can also improve human line production of the Model T brought together capabilities. For example, the use of performance advances in manufacturing, materials, and inter- enhancing drugs by athletes can boost their physical nal-combustion engines; the Model T was mass performance. “Moral enhancement” drugs have been 5 produced, and the world was changed forever. proposed, and their ethical dimensions are being 10 Likewise, digital computers arose amidst converging explored. They could be available soon, reaching developments in mathematics, electronics, and world Step 1 on the enhancement table. affairs such as World War II.6 More broadly, today’s accelerating progress in science and technology can Our growing ability to manipulate or modify life’s be understood as a convergence of the production molecules—using CRISPR-Cas9 methods today, and application of knowledge, which I will refer to with well-funded research programs established collectively as “technoscience.” to achieve nanotechnology’s full promise tomor- row—opens the door to both medical therapeutics (i.e., correcting physical problems, such as sickle-cell A major milestone in transhumanism’s move- anemia) and enhanced capabilities (beyond natural ment from futurism run amok to legitimacy is a capabilities) by redesigning the molecules of life: 2002 National Science Foundation (NSF) report: Steps 2 and 3. Converging Technologies for Improving Human Per­ formance: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Progress in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and Technology and Cognitive Science.7 Known as the NBIC cognitive science requires computers. The human Report, it boils down to one confident prediction, a genome is incomprehensible without automated data far-reaching technoscience convergence summarized processing; how much more are computers necessary in four lines: to comprehend and redesign biological molecules If the Cognitive Scientists can think it and systems? Because of their across-the-board the Nano people can build it importance, computers and information technology the Bio people can implement it, and are critical to transhumanism, preeminent among its the IT people can monitor and control it.8 converging technosciences. Although it does not officially embrace transhu- Today’s computers are insufficient for transhuman- manism, the NSF recognizes the importance of ist purposes, so progress in computer science is convergent technosciences in shaping the future. necessary. This need underscores neuroscience’s The NSF has sponsored and funded many follow-on importance in transhumanism. To overcome the lim- 9 studies, and other federal agencies have too. So, as its of conventional, serial-process computers, it seems far as convergence has been legitimized by history necessary to reverse-engineer the brain’s massively and government prognosticators, transhumanists parallel architecture. If this can be done, transhu- regard their pursuits as scientific and realistic. In manists argue, then all thinking could be enhanced, fact, their faith in progress, powered by technosci- in computers or human brains. In this view, compu- ence, seems unlimited. How might the technoscience tational “minds” could be developed and regarded convergence of transhumanism
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