Will mankind evolve into a perfect being? <\/p>\n
by Calvin Smith <\/p>\n
Illustration by Caleb Salisbury <\/p>\n
Transhumanists believe that humans can use technology to guide their own evolution to become post humans, with fantastic new abilities and the possibility of eternal life. <\/p>\n
Resistance is futile! Fans of the Star Trek science fiction franchise will recognize the classic phrase as a chilling warning delivered by humanitys arch nemesis; the Borg. <\/p>\n
The Borg were a group of beings that had been integrated together via technological implants that over-rode individuals consciousness to form one massive hivelike existence for its members. They despised individualism above all and prized technology as a tool to further their cause, conquering entire races by absorbing them into their collective by force (or destroying those that resisted) hence the threatening phrase above. Their cybernetic implants were their most sinister and recognizable hallmark. By taking the best of every race they subjugated, they were formidably powerful beings. But was this just science fiction? <\/p>\n
Those that relegate such ideas to fantasy or fiction might be jarred by modern headlines like the following; Professor to Surgically Implant Camera in His Head1. Many might consider such an act as bizarre, but the New York University photography professor is apparently attempting this as part of an art exhibit. The concept of surgical implants is becoming exceedingly more common in all levels of society. <\/p>\n
Whether for safety reasons (tracking devices\/chips), medical reasons (neural\/dental implants) or purely cosmetic reasons (breast, extraocular implants) many people seem more comfortable with a blending of technology and their bodies. <\/p>\n
The idea of using science to enhance our standard of living is of course a practical and biblical concept, as we now live in a sincursed world and so need to use whatever means we can to help us overcome threats such as crime, disease and disasters. But some have thought to use science for quite some time now in a more sinister and far reaching manner. <\/p>\n
During the Great Depression (early 1930s) a social movement called Technocracy became highly popular in the USA for a brief period. The Technocrats proposed dealing with the crisis of the Great Depression by replacing politicians with scientists and engineers who supposedly had the technical expertise to manage the economy. <\/p>\n
The Technocracy movement may be traced to the progressive engineers of the early twentieth century such as the writings of Frederick W. Taylor (who introduced the concept of scientific management). Although there were a variety of Technocratic groups and organisations in a number of countries, its most visible figurehead in the US was Howard Scott, who popularised the writings of Technocrats like Thorstein Veblen, a professor and published economist. <\/p>\n
And what was at the root of the concepts championed by Veblen? As Geoffrey M. Hodgson (Research Professor in Business Studies at the University of Hertfordshire) made clear in his article Thorstein Veblen and Darwinism: <\/p>\n
Using Darwinian principles to improve mankind is founded on the understanding that man has evolved over millions of years and that therefore we were less or sub human in the past. Then, logically we will evolve into something more\/better or post human in the future. The concept that we can assist our evolution through scientific means isnt new and is gaining widespread popularity. (For a pictorial depiction of this visit the Before & After Humans website on MSNBC released in 2005.3) <\/p>\n
Its an entirely logical premise if one thinks that man is the ultimate authority. After all, why not give evolution a hand if its headed onwards and upwards anyway. Such help could even be regarded as part of the evolutionary process itself. That is, until one realizes that this concept being applied to enhance societies has been tried before. <\/p>\n
The horrific consequences of social Darwinism has been thoroughly documented, Nazi Germany being the prime example of survival of the fittest ideas being applied to a society and the eugenics movement (the science developed by Darwins cousin, Francis Galton) frequently touted as the obvious result of the concept that some of us are more fit (evolved) and some less fit to survive\/procreate etc. The Nazi death camps were the final solution birthed by eugenic concepts like racial hygiene. <\/p>\n
Modern atheists like Richard Dawkins try to downplay the connection between Darwinism as science, and social Darwinism as a moral concept. Dawkins stated on The Science Show (ABC Radio, 22 January 2000); <\/p>\n
Dubbed Transhumanism it attempts to be all inclusive, embracing Darwinism, Intelligent Design, spirituality, science, belief in ET etc wrapped up in a self guided salvation message. <\/p>\n
But he has also said that although he doesnt agree with Hitler, certain ideas of eugenics may not be that bad after all. In a letter to the editor of the Sunday Herald (Scotland) he said if you can breed cattle for milk yield, horses for running speed, and dogs for herding skill, why on Earth should it be impossible to breed humans for mathematical, musical or athletic ability?4 So in at least one sense Dawkins does agree with Hitler! And as much as he tries to avoid the logical connection between someone believing Darwinism also believing in social Darwinism, they are there all the same. <\/p>\n
On the coattails of the postmodernist movement, ultra-modernism has birthed a new concept based on these (above) ideas resulting in a large global phenomenon that is gaining tremendous popularity with a broad base of supporters worldwide. Dubbed Transhumanism, one of the reasons it is popular is it attempts to be all inclusive, embracing Darwinism, Intelligent Design, spirituality, science, belief in ET etc wrapped up in a self guided salvation message. In short: <\/p>\n
How will this utopia come about specifically? Christian apologist Carl Teichrib (a Canadian-based researcher and writer on globalization) explains; <\/p>\n
The transhumanist group Technolifes website makes it clear; <\/p>\n
And in a video8 on their site we hear Humans have a natural desire for perfection. Who will settle for normal when you can be perfect? Today we have the technology to go beyond any limitation nanotechnology, biotechnology, neuroscience, informatics all of these knowledge fields will soon converge. Superior bodies and minds, bodies without pain, without limits now we can offer you to be happy, healthy, beautiful and forever young. <\/p>\n
Many might consider this a fringe movement except for the fact that this website represents a research project funded by European Union (The EU is an economic and political union of 27 member states located primarily in Europe including the UK, France, Germany, Sweden etc). <\/p>\n
And a quick overview of a 2003 report titled, Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology, and Cognitive Science reveals these ideas are indeed far reaching. This extensive 405 page document issued by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Commerce of the US explains its (indiscernibly transhumanisistic) goal isnt just better bodies and more effective minds but actually the preventing an inevitable societal catastrophe. <\/p>\n
In its introduction we read; <\/p>\n
This is more that overcoming illnesses, diseases and birth defects that have beset us since the Fall. According to this report the answer to humanitys ultimate problems is a kind of worldwide technology induced unity: <\/p>\n
Sounds like the Borg to me! <\/p>\n
Indeed, the transhumanist magazine H+ (Humanity +, the + signifying what humans will evolve into) revealed an article on November 16 2010 titled Problem Solved11 with the following tag line; In 2011, with your help, H+ Magazine will solve all the worlds problems!, listing everything from poverty, disease, discrimination, terrorism and even death as problems solvable by transhumanistic beliefs. While admitting tongue in cheek that they didnt believe a magazine could solve all the worlds problems, it reveals the faith that they hold, that this path of transhumanism will eventually be our savior. <\/p>\n
Transhumanist conferences are becoming popular, with Humanity+ holding one called Redefining Humanity in the Era of Radical Technological Change recently at the Beckman Institute at Caltech Los Angeles, California. <\/p>\n
Transhumanists use the term convergence interchangeably with the word singularity, defined as singularity represents a point in a future time when technological change takes place so fast it produces a qualitative shift in society: the birth of a super-intelligence, the merging of Man and Machine.12 Humanity will be so linked together and so able to communicate with itself that in a timeless moment of consciousness we will transcend into a higher plane of existence. In essence it would be what some transhumanists have described as the Techno Rapture. What would the result be? <\/p>\n
As it is on Earth, so it shall be in the heavens. The inevitable result of incredible improbability evolution is lipping us into the transhuman salvationattained by good works. <\/p>\n
Leading Transhumanist Mark Pesce (a co-inventor of 3-D interfacing for the worldwide web, and a judge on ABCs TV show The New Inventors) posits the following; Once the genome was transcribed, once we knew what had made us human, we hadin that momentpassed into the Transhuman. Knowing our codes, we can recreate them in our so-called synthetic rows of 1s and 0snow we will reach into the improbable, re-sequence ourselves into a new Being, de-bugging the natural state, translating ourselves into supernatural, incorruptible, eternal. There is no God but Man.13 <\/p>\n
Notice his use of biblical terminology within his worldview: <\/p>\n
Although most transhumanists emphasize only the seemingly beneficial aspects of their beliefs, the obvious ties to the eugenics movement have been brought before them and are seemingly summarily dismissed by most. It seems for many that an ends justifies the means approach is the norm. As human cloning researcher, Richard Seed said; We are going to become Gods. Period. If you dont like it, get off. You dont have to contribute; you dont have to participate. But if youre going to interfere with me becoming God, were going to have big trouble. Then well have warfare. <\/p>\n
To assist in educating those that may not be on board so to speak the Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance paper suggested; Unifying science and education. To meet the coming challenges, scientific education needs radical transformation (emphasis mine) from elementary school through postgraduate training. Convergence of previously separate scientific disciplines and fields of engineering cannot take place without the emergence of new kinds of people (emphasis mine) who understand multiple fields in depth and can intelligently work to integrate them. New curricula, new concepts to provide intellectual coherence, and new forms of educational institutions will be necessary.15 <\/p>\n
Because transhumanism combines so many attractive concepts it is seen by many to be a unifying force for good. Many Mormons have embraced it as it affirms the central point of Mormon theologytransfiguration or exaltationman becoming God. Hindus and Buddhists also share many transhumanist beliefs. <\/p>\n
Some UFOlogists have also endorsed it as belief in intelligent alien life fits in quite nicely. After all, if we were once lower on the evolutionary scale, have evolved to where we are today and know we will evolve in the future then naturally there must likely be post humans of some sort already running around the universe. Perhaps they are visiting us and want to help us evolve and transcend further up the evolutionary scale. <\/p>\n
Intelligent Design proponents and Darwinists can also work together. Perhaps aliens kicked off our evolution and even designed portions of life while evolution filled in the blanks? That way evolution is affirmed while explaining the complexity of some features that dont seem to be explainable by wholly naturalistic means (ATP Synthase, Kinesin etc). And complete atheists\/naturalists can maintain their worldview while giving a nod to some sort of spiritual notion as well. After all, its easier to believe in a god if you can become one yourself! <\/p>\n
Even those calling themselves Christians can enter in! James McLean Ledford (who runs the websites Technical-Jesus.com and Hyper-Evolution.com), a declared Christian Transhumanist recently spoke at the October 2010 Transhuman and Spirituality Conference at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City where he delivered a talk called Christian Transhumanism. The description of his talk contained the following; <\/p>\n
A future where all mankinds problems are solved (no tears, no pain, no struggle for existence, no conflict between each other), new, perfect bodies and minds, eternal life. Sounds great doesnt it!? The only problem is that transhumanism is based on a lie; evolution. All transhumanists hopes and dreams are built on a foundation believing molecules to man evolution being a real thing. <\/p>\n
Just like the Technocrat Thorstein Veblen, they have designed their theories around the positivist science of Darwinian evolution. (Positivism is the philosophy that the only authentic knowledge is knowledge that is based on actual sense experience. Since Darwinian evolution has not been observed (so isnt scientific in the sense of being repeatable) and that positivism itself is not derived from a sensory experience, these ideas are based on a completely false foundations to begin with. It is the same old deception from Satan saying you will be like God 16 back in the Garden of Eden. <\/p>\n
The concept of evolution is being constantly implanted into the consciousness of mankind. Similar to the victims of the Borg in Star Trek where the truth of who the victim was rewritten over the individuals true identity, once someone has been implanted with the concept of evolution, they can quickly get assimilated into an anti-God philosophy and be hard to lead back to truth. <\/p>\n
Mankinds greatest hopes and dreams can indeed be achieved, but not by himself. People can be free one day of all tears, pain, mourning and even death. They will have a new incorruptible body and will live in paradise, but not because of what we will have done, but because of what our Savior Jesus Christ has done. <\/p>\n
But this promise will not be given to everyone. It will only be extended to those that have repented of their sin and put their faith in Jesus Christ, the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer of the Universe. <\/p>\n
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