updated 1999-03-23.
See also
Transhumanism for Christians: Comparing and contrasting the transhuman world view with a fundamentalist Biblical world view.
This is little snippets of material that I hope to work into a polished essay someday.
Perhaps similar to the article ``Casting the Stone'' by G. Zeinelde Jordan http://www.theism.net/authors/zjordan/docs_files/stone_files/stone.htm which introduces Christians to ``Christian libertarianism''.
Unfortunately, ``One-Half of a Manifesto'' By Jaron Lanier. future_history.html#Jaron_Lanier is very close to changing my mind -- that description of the ``transhuman mindset'' looks incompatible with the ``Christian mindset''.
Transhumanism_for_Christians.html Transhumanism_for_Christians Transhumanism for Christians
This is not even a rough draft yet, just snippets of information and quotes I want to work into a rough draft.
>From: "John Fast" <jfast at fastindustries.com> >To: <christlib at swcp.com> >Subject: Re: Christlib: Film At Eleven >Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 15:51:17 -0400 ... >Turmadraug wrote: >>On Sat, 2 May 1998 13:08:53 -0400 "John Fast" <jfast at fastindustries.com> >writes: >>>Actually, a lot of physicists spend a lot of time >>>arguing about the different interpretations of >>>QM. >> >>Well, a very vocal minority, anyway. They do >>that for the same reason that other people >>argue about everything under the sun...they >>enjoy it. > >I don't know if I agree with that . . . why don't >we argue about it for a while? >> >>>I don't >>>see why the concept of a "field" and the concept >>>of a "disembodied spirit" can't be considered >>>different interpretations of the same data. >> >>They could be, I guess. > >Similarly, Aristotle's definition of "God" is a >legitimate philosophical theory. > >>>Peter Jennings mentioned yet another such >>>study on ABC's _World News Tonight_ this >>>past week. >> >>I didn't see that one...did they give a pointer to >>more info? > >No, but try the ABC News web site. >> >>>Of course, as George Bernard Shaw said, "The >>>fact that a believer is happier than an unbeliever >>>is no more connected to the truth of his beliefs >>>than the fact that a drunkard is happier than a >>>sober man." OTOH, the fact that believers live >>>longer than unbelievers, and the serene live >>>longer than the, ah, "irenically-challenged," >>>means that those who want to live longer, happier >>>lives should find something appealing and >>>optimistic to believe in. Since I consider >>>Christianity to be the most appealing and >>>optimistic belief-system around . . . >> >>So far, extropianism has filled that place >>for me, though I'll be able to test it within >>a quarter century or so. :) > >I don't see why Extropianism and Christianity >are considered mutually exclusive, by either >Extropians or Christians. Remember, unlike >Hinduism and Buddhism, Christianity is a >"life-affirming" and "world-affirming" religion. >Jews and Christians, unlike Hindus and Buddhists, >build hospitals and orphanages as well as >temples and monasteries; we recognize a >duty to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, >heal the sick, and comfort the suffering; and we >see personal identity/personality/subjectivity >as a Good Thing -- so good, in fact, that God >incarnated Himself in order to experience it >(and show us how to handle it properly). > ><sigjective>
>From: "John Fast" <jfast at fastindustries.com> >To: <christlib at swcp.com> >Subject: Re: Christlib: Film At Eleven >Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 20:12:56 -0400 >MIME-Version: 1.0 >X-Priority: 3 >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.71.1712.3 >Sender: owner-christlib@swcp.com >Precedence: bulk >Reply-To: christlib@swcp.com >Status: U > >Turmadraug wrote: >>On Sat, 2 May 1998 15:51:17 -0400 "John Fast" <jfast at fastindustries.com> >writes: >>>I don't see why Extropianism and Christianity >>>are considered mutually exclusive, by either >>>Extropians or Christians. Remember, unlike >>>Hinduism and Buddhism, Christianity is a >>>"life-affirming" and "world-affirming" religion. >> >>And that's why Christians are always trying to >>set themselves apart from "the world" and >>"worldly things", eh? The impression I get >>is that the world is substantial only because >>we happen to still be in this corporeal state, >>and it's all expected to pass away soon. > >Not unless you're a Millerite or some other >cultist. As C. S. Lewis said, the troubles of >the human race could be those of old age, >or of youth and adolescence. Either way, >though, the temporal existence of humanity >in the cosmos so far is just a flash in a bucket >compared to the total history of the universe >until now, and the total history to come. >> >>>Jews and Christians, unlike Hindus and Buddhists, >>>build hospitals and orphanages as well as >>>temples and monasteries; we recognize a >>>duty to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, >>>heal the sick, and comfort the suffering; and we >>>see personal identity/personality/subjectivity >>>as a Good Thing -- so good, in fact, that God >>>incarnated Himself in order to experience it >>>(and show us how to handle it properly). >> >>Usually, Extropians and Christians each >>believe the other is full of hubris, one for >>thinking that we will be vastly more >>powerful someday because of our own >>efforts, and one for thinking that the >>whole universe revolves around humans. > >And I'm big enough to agree with both sides' >criticisms -- and with their beliefs, as well. > >Yes, it's true that (at least if present trends >continue) someday soon we will be vastly >more powerful (although not necessarily >more enlightened). And it's also true that, >at least as far as we can tell, the whole >universe does revolve around intelligence/ >consciousness/self-awareness (although >not necessarily around humans). > >And it's also true that it's a dangerous mistake >to equate power with virtue, or luck with >intelligence, and to get overconfident. And >it's also true that we need to respect things >other than our base impulses, and show >some awe before the glory of creation. > >"My God! Look at all those stars! It's so >beautiful and incredible . . . and it was all >done so that we would evolve and have a >sandbox to play in, and a school to learn in, >and a museum to experience!" > ><sig awe-full>
>Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 15:31:32 +0100 (MET) >X-Sender: sky73747@mail.skynet.be >Mime-Version: 1.0 >To: transhuman@maniac.deathstar.org >From: Michel Bauwens <mbauwens at skynet.be> >Subject: >H Re: transhuman-digest V1 #309 >Sender: owner-transhuman@logrus.org >Reply-To: transhuman@logrus.org > >Transhuman Mailing List > >>From: H Baldwin <H.Baldwin at m.cc.utah.edu> >>Subject: Re: >H Human embryonic stem (and the christian right!?) >> >>Transhuman Mailing List >> >> >>Nope, you weren't the only one impressed. I was watching a christian right >>"news" show this morning and they seemed to be very interested in this and >>other developments in the biomed field. > >Can you tell me which program? The name of the preacher? Any concrete >reference? > >Orthodox Jews (Lubavicher) have a similar surprising view. Their >reasoningis as follows: Technologies are a mirror of divine miraculous >power, hence they prepare human consciousness to accept the reality of >divine power. THus, when all divine powers will be emulated by technology, >then the Messiah will come. As we now live in the seventh millenium, the >last one, the millenium of knowledge, this moment is fast approaching. This >is in a nutshell their position. > >I believe the Christian right is divided between pre-millenialists and >postmillenialists, meaning that Christ will either come and create the >Thousand Year Kingdom, or, that the Thousand Year Kingdom will precede the >coming of Christ. In that case, we need some kind of heavenly situation >here on earth, with lots of technological prowess to make it possible ... >Could it be that your preacher holds this position? > >Here's background on the theocratic theories of an important faction within >the Christian Right, which mentions the pre/post millenialism split: > > - Christian Reconstructionism, >http://www.publiceye.org/pra/magazine/chrisrec.html > >A general comment might also be that proselitising religions will always >use technology as a tool to further their aims, hence they are >pro-technology, at least large chunks of it, > >Michel Bauwens > >Michel Bauwens, Cyber-marketing (http://www.kyberco.com/); Tel/fax: >32+(0)2+534.37.59; GSM : 047-747.75.70 >Paris office: 9, rue des Cinq Diamants / 75013 Paris / France > >Read our articles at: http://www.kyberco.com/articles.htm
1 John 3:2
first put on web 1999-03-22
Original Author: David Cary.
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