So-called Christian transhumanism, or the attempt to blend the transhumanist agenda with the precepts of Christian theology, has been around for some time. But there has been a recent resurgence of interest in the project. The book Religious Transhumanism and Its Critics, published in 2019, claims to offer first-hand testimony to the value of the transhumanist vision perceived by the religious mind. The volume includes contributions from a number of Christians. The Christian Transhumanist Association (CTA), formed in 2014, is actively dedicated to promoting transhumanism as a means of participating with God in the redemption, reconciliation, and renewal of the world.
The problem with these efforts is that the transhumanist worldview and the Christian faith are incompatible. One cannot be a Christian transhumanistany more than one can be a Christian Buddhist or Christian Muslim.
Transhumanism is a futuristic social movement. Its adherents believe that immortality is attainable in the corporeal world through the wonders of applied technology. The goal is to become H+, or more than human. Transhumanist proselytizers include academics like Oxfords Nick Bostrom, Big Tech gurus like Ray Kurzweil, and popularizers like 2016 presidential candidate Zoltan Istvan. They promise that the singularity is comingthe time when a crescendo of scientific advances will make the movement unstoppable and transhumanists will transform themselves into super-beings who can enjoy physical life without end.
That transhumanism became a phenomenon is not surprising. Western society is becoming increasingly secular, with an exponential growth of nones among the young. Such a societal shift has consequences. Removing God from the human equation engenders hopelessness and breeds nihilism. This is the crucial weakness of modern materialism, one that transhumanism seeks to remedy. By offering adherents the hope oftechnological rescuefrom the ultimate obliteration of death, transhumanism offers nonbelievers a postmodern twist on faiths promise of eternal life.I can live forever, the transhumanist believes fervently, if we just develop the technology soon enough.
But any attempt to merge transhumanism and Christianity is misguided, for the two are contradictory belief systems. Transhumanist dogma is entirely materialistic. Its focus is solipsistic, its purpose eugenic. Moreover, it rejects basic Christian tenets like sin, the need for divine forgiveness, the value of redemptive suffering, and eternal salvation. To obfuscate that truth, the CTA website assiduously avoids discussing the actual tenets of transhumanism. It offers jejune statements such as, We believe that Gods mission involves the transformation and renewal of creation, and We seek growth and progress along every dimension of our humanity. In this way, the CTA conflates the pursuit of technological advanceswhich Christians certainly can supportwith transhumanisms fixation on technology as savior.
Nor does the CTA website discuss the means that transhumanist advocates plan to use to attain this utopian visionnot to mention their ethical implications. For example, some transhumanists hope to repeatedly renew their bodies through breeding clones as sources of organ replacements. Others plan to have their heads cryogenically frozen to allow eventual surgical attachment on a different body or a cyborg. But transhumanists greatest passion is to eternally save their mindsas opposed to souls, which is not a transhumanist conceptvia uploading into computer programs, a concept known as digital immortality. This is hardly what St. Paul meant when he asked, Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?
Transhumanists not only believe that life is too short, but that human capacities are inadequate. Thus, the second great goal of transhumanism is morphological freedom, i.e., radical quality improvementnot through self-discipline, embracing the virtues, or focused efforts at character building, but via materialistic means such as gene editing, brain implants, and merging with AI technologies.
The ultimate purpose of this quest isnt spiritualnot theosis or sanctificationbut to become super-beings in a materialistic sense. As Istvan wrote in 2016 in the Huffington Post: We must force our evolution in the present day via our reasoning, inventiveness, and especially our scientific technology. In short, we must embrace transhumanismthe radical field of science that aims to turn humans into, for lack of a better word, gods. Its hard to see how any of that squares with the Christians call to humility.
Transhumanists dont just want to manipulate their own bodies, but also those of their children. They hope to do this through genetic engineering and unnatural means of family formation. According to the Transhumanist Bill of Rights, All sentient entities are entitled to reproductive freedom, including through novel means such as the creation of mind clones, monoparent children, or benevolent artificial general intelligence. And I havent even gotten into how, by granting rights to AI computers and proposing to upgrade animals into rational beings, the movement rejects Christianitys view of human uniqueness.
Readers wont find any of this on the CTA website. Rather, the CTA claims that by embracing transhumanism, Christians can grow into our identityas humans made in the image of God. But Christians embrace spiritual growth through prayer, fasting, and acts of asceticism, not superficial technological improvements in our physicality. Christians dont view the ill and disabled as somehow lesser. Moreover, the Christian faith calls us to show compassion toward others, rather than being obsessed with self. Christians are commanded to feed the hungry, invite the stranger in, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned, for by doing these acts of mercy to the least among us, we do them unto Christ.
First principles matter, and those of transhumanism and Christianity could not be more contradictory. Transhumanism is materialistic. Christianity is theistic. Transhumanism is utopian. Christianity sees the fallen world realistically. Transhumanism perceives immortality as something that can be achieved by men. Christianity identifies eternal salvation as the mercy of a loving God. Its eschatology focuses on Gods promises, not upon advanced scientific applications.
One can certainly be Christian, and as a secondary matter, a technophile. But one cannot be a Christian transhumanist. The two religionsbecause that is essentially what transhumanism has becomesimply cannot occupy the same space.
Wesley J. Smith is host of the podcast Humanize and chairman of the Discovery Institutes Center on Human Exceptionalism.
First Thingsdepends on its subscribers and supporters. Join the conversation and make a contribution today.
Clickhereto make a donation.
Clickhereto subscribe toFirst Things.
Read more:
The Impossibility of Christian Transhumanism | Wesley J. Smith - First Things
- Lucid Dreaming & Dreamwork / Sinister Technology & the Paranormal - Coast To Coast AM - January 29th, 2024 [January 29th, 2024]
- AI Up Mi Duck: An Interactive Fiction Game Exploring ... - LeftLion - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- Double bill: Vis Motrix & Atlas da Boca at Tipperary Dance ... - The Journal of Music - October 10th, 2023 [October 10th, 2023]
- Can Elon Musk make the human spirit immortal with a robot? - CNE.news - October 10th, 2023 [October 10th, 2023]
- Artists revved up by Creative Engine grants - Geelong Times - Geelong Times - October 10th, 2023 [October 10th, 2023]
- How to face the climate crisis with Spinoza and self-knowledge - Aeon - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- To be human is to be animal | Eric T. Olsen - IAI - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Transhumanism, AI, Singularity - How far is too far? - Fallbrook / Bonsall Villlage News - May 10th, 2023 [May 10th, 2023]
- How 'cyborg feminism' confuses technology with women's progress - Washington Examiner - May 10th, 2023 [May 10th, 2023]
- Reconnecting With Beans To Take The Power Back Over Our Food ... - ARC2020 - May 10th, 2023 [May 10th, 2023]
- The Great Nonsense of The Great Reset - LewRockwell - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- The US Government and Its Military Have Declared War on ... - LewRockwell - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- Tech for Me, but Not for Thee: Psalm 8 Meets Transhumanism - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- What is transhumanism? Can humans and technology meld together? - January 25th, 2023 [January 25th, 2023]
- Transhumanist politics - Wikipedia - January 25th, 2023 [January 25th, 2023]
- Should We Fear the Future? The Philosophy of Transhumanism - TheCollector - January 25th, 2023 [January 25th, 2023]
- Situation Update, Nov 1, 2022 - The transhumanism demonic AI takeover ... - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Dr. Tau Braun and the Health Ranger talk transhumanism, AI infiltration ... - December 18th, 2022 [December 18th, 2022]
- Ancient Wisdom in Medicine / AI & Transhumanism | Coast to Coast AM - December 18th, 2022 [December 18th, 2022]
- Fact check: False claim Biden's executive order limits human rights - November 25th, 2022 [November 25th, 2022]
- Transfection to Transhumanism - Part 1 - rumble.com - November 25th, 2022 [November 25th, 2022]
- After Being Canceled, She Pivoted to Journalism - Daily Signal - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Steve Bannon throws support behind Alex Jones: "They're trying to break you as a man and they're trying to break your incredible... - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- Elon Musk and a warning of dystopian future of AI: What is digital and biological computing? - DailyO - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- The Myth of the Modern Self | Carl R. Trueman - First Things - July 21st, 2022 [July 21st, 2022]
- Transhumanism: Evil Force Behind the NWO :: By Jonathan Brentner - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- The Myth of Bodily Autonomy | Gene Veith - Patheos - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Barbara Marx Hubbard: Godmother of Transhumanism and Synthetic Spirituality - July 4th, 2022 [July 4th, 2022]
- Simulacra in the Growing Armory of Thanatos - CounterPunch - July 4th, 2022 [July 4th, 2022]
- Transhumanism: The Evil Force Behind the New World Order Jonathan ... - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Future Humans: Four Ways We May, or May Not, Evolve - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- Crimes of the Future Explained: Transhumanism, Surgery as Sex, and Humanity's Frightening Evolution - Signal Horizon - June 11th, 2022 [June 11th, 2022]
- A Turning Point in History Stand with Us - The Desert Review - May 31st, 2022 [May 31st, 2022]
- Sex-bots and foil hats: reconfiguring what it means to be human - Sydney Morning Herald - May 20th, 2022 [May 20th, 2022]
- Global Artificial Intelligence in Big Data Analytics and IoT Markets, 2022-2027: Focus on Data Capture, Information and Decision Support Services -... - May 20th, 2022 [May 20th, 2022]
- What is transhumanism and how does it affect you? | World ... - April 29th, 2022 [April 29th, 2022]
- The Impossibility of Christian Transhumanism | Evolution News - April 29th, 2022 [April 29th, 2022]
- TV adaptation of The Wild airs brochure on March 16th - Vaughan Today - April 29th, 2022 [April 29th, 2022]
- Transhumanism: The Plot to Control Your Life! Jonathan ... - February 9th, 2022 [February 9th, 2022]
- What is Technocracy and why does it matter? Hint ... - February 9th, 2022 [February 9th, 2022]
- Transitions Film Festival 2022 Using The Power Of Film For Positive Future Change - scenestr - February 9th, 2022 [February 9th, 2022]
- Cyberpunk Noir Sports Fiction, Anyone? - The Crozet Gazette - February 5th, 2022 [February 5th, 2022]
- Replicas: on Rai 2 first tv the sci-fi with Keanu Reeves - D1SoftballNews.com - February 3rd, 2022 [February 3rd, 2022]
- Transhumanism: The Most Dangerous Idea? - Reason.com - January 21st, 2022 [January 21st, 2022]
- Transhumanism and Posthumanism in Twenty-First Century ... - January 21st, 2022 [January 21st, 2022]
- Canadian Government Openly Embraces Transhumanism | Truth11.com - January 21st, 2022 [January 21st, 2022]
- Global Transhumanism Markets Report 2021 - Transformational Growth in Biological, Health, and Wellness Augmentation will Enable the Rise of Human 2.0... - December 15th, 2021 [December 15th, 2021]
- The best video games of 2021, and what to buy - Sydney Morning Herald - December 15th, 2021 [December 15th, 2021]
- Gene-editing, Moderna, and transhumanism | Christina Lin ... - November 19th, 2021 [November 19th, 2021]
- Yuval Noah Harari Believes This Simple Story Can Save the Planet - The New York Times - November 9th, 2021 [November 9th, 2021]
- Authoritarianism and the Cybernetic Episteme, or the Progressive Disappearance of Everything on Earth - Journal #122 November 2021 - E-Flux - November 9th, 2021 [November 9th, 2021]
- Faith in -196C: pioneers of resurrection a photo essay - The Guardian - November 1st, 2021 [November 1st, 2021]
- WISekeys Founder and CEO Carlos Moreira was Interviewed by Steve Bannon on Warroom.org About The transHuman Code Bestseller Book and the Need to... - November 1st, 2021 [November 1st, 2021]
- Six books to read this winter - Maclean's - November 1st, 2021 [November 1st, 2021]
- Transhumanism - reddit - October 21st, 2021 [October 21st, 2021]
- COVID19, The Great Reset, and Transhumanism Thuletide - October 21st, 2021 [October 21st, 2021]
- Dr. Carrie Madej Covid Shots, DNA and Transhumanism ... - October 21st, 2021 [October 21st, 2021]
- Nikolai Fyodorovich Fyodorov - Wikipedia - October 21st, 2021 [October 21st, 2021]
- No, the Moderna and Pfizer RNA vaccines for COVID-19 will ... - October 21st, 2021 [October 21st, 2021]
- Transhumanists Gather In Spain To Plan Global Transformation - The Federalist - October 15th, 2021 [October 15th, 2021]
- Neurotechnology: The brain wired for healthcare - ITWeb - September 16th, 2021 [September 16th, 2021]
- The afterlife is having a moment. 'Beyond' will help Christians and nonbelievers alike discuss what lies beyond the grave. - America Magazine - September 14th, 2021 [September 14th, 2021]
- more and more humans are born with an extra artery in the arm CVBJ - Central Valley Business Journal - August 30th, 2021 [August 30th, 2021]
- "My concern is that companies are anticipating the metaverse" - Release - Tech News Inc - August 16th, 2021 [August 16th, 2021]
- Crypto leaders are obsessed with life extension. Here's why Cointelegraph Magazine - Cointelegraph - August 14th, 2021 [August 14th, 2021]
- 'Glitchpunk' Available On Steam Early Access - Trailer - WorthPlaying.com - August 11th, 2021 [August 11th, 2021]
- Technologies that change human nature must be treated with caution - Illinoisnewstoday.com - June 30th, 2021 [June 30th, 2021]
- Technology changing human nature must be treated with caution - Independent Australia - June 30th, 2021 [June 30th, 2021]
- Microdosing, And The Gentrification Of Psychedelic Culture. A Conversation With Sociologist Dimitrios Liokaftos - Forbes - June 30th, 2021 [June 30th, 2021]
- JG and the Robots Unveil AI-Driven Audiovisual for "Im Thomas Dolby" - EDM.com - June 30th, 2021 [June 30th, 2021]
- Neil Mackay's Big Read: The dawn of transhumanism - conversations with Dr David Eagleman, the scientist creating a world of real superhumans in his... - June 28th, 2021 [June 28th, 2021]
- A brief history of transhumanism, which imagines a future of perfection, immortality - Firstpost - May 20th, 2021 [May 20th, 2021]
- Into the Darkness Latest Trailer is All About the Double Barrel Shotgun - VRFocus - May 20th, 2021 [May 20th, 2021]
- Disinformation in a time of Covid-19: Weekly Trends in South Africa - Daily Maverick - May 20th, 2021 [May 20th, 2021]
- Elon Musk's Neuralink Has the Tech to Create Super Exotic Dinosaurs - Science Times - April 11th, 2021 [April 11th, 2021]
- Dr. Carrie Madej: COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are transhumanism ... - March 20th, 2021 [March 20th, 2021]
- Agenda 21 How Would You Like to be Forced into a Human ... - March 20th, 2021 [March 20th, 2021]
- In single-player, Disintegration feels like the real Halo 2 to me - Eurogamer.net - March 16th, 2021 [March 16th, 2021]
- Law professor's book examines legal actions impacting future generations | University of Hawaii System News - UH System Current News - February 25th, 2021 [February 25th, 2021]
- Entrepreneur Samuel Cardillo and the Story of Geospatial Intelligence Firm Shadowbreak Intl - Benzinga - February 25th, 2021 [February 25th, 2021]