Not Yet Been Made Known: Transhumanism and the Search for Salvation

What stands out to me as imperative to this discussion is the need for our thinking about what technology is for to change in addition to the technology itself. Otherwise, technological advances may simply end up reinforcing the problems which already exist within our civilization. This is an area where I think the church can help. We need a theology of artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, spaceflight, etc., that leads us to use technology in a way that promotes human flourishing and the flourishing of all creation. For example, AIs could be designed to reflect Christ-like archetypes, such as the good shepherd. The current understanding of how we should use technology seems rather Nietzschean. We use technology to gain more power over nature so that we can do whatever we want. From a Christian perspective, we should use technology to love our neighbor, care for God’s world and renew creation. Christian Transhumanism is possible, but it needs a robust theology to guide it.