Transhuman and Immortal: Be Like God?

A former Google engineer has made a stark realization that humans will achieve immortality in eight years – and 86 percent of his 147 predictions have been correct.

Ray Kurzweil spoke with the YouTube channel Adagio, discussing the expansion in genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics, which he believes will lead to age-reversing ‘nanobots.’

These tiny robots will repair damaged cells and tissues that deteriorate as the body ages and make us immune to diseases like cancer.

The predictions that such a feat is achievable by 2030 have been met with excitement and skepticism, as curing all deadly diseases seems far out of reach.

Kurzweil was hired by Google in 2012 to ‘work on new projects involving machine learning and language processing,’ but he was making predictions in technological advances long before.

In 1990, he predicted the world’s best chess player would lose to a computer by 2000, and it happened in 1997 when Deep Blue beat Gary Kasparov.

Kurzweil made another startling prediction in 1999: he said that by 2023 a $1,000 laptop would have a human brain’s computing power and storage capacity.

Now the former Google engineer believes technology is set to become so powerful it will help humans live forever, in what is known as the singularity.

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8 predictions for the world in 2030 World Economic Forum, Nov 12, 2016

As Brexit and Donald Trump’s victory show, predicting even the immediate future is no easy feat. When it comes to what our world will look like in the medium-term – how we will organise our cities, where we will get our power from, what we will eat, what it will mean to be a refugee – it gets even trickier. But imagining the societies of tomorrow can give us a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities of today.

We asked experts from our Global Future Councils for their take on the world in 2030, and these are the results, from the death of shopping to the resurgence of the nation state.

4. Farewell hospital, hello home-spital. Technology will have further disrupted disease, writes Melanie Walker, a medical doctor and World Bank advisor. The hospital as we know it will be on its way out, with fewer accidents thanks to self-driving cars and great strides in preventive and personalised medicine. Scalpels and organ donors are out, tiny robotic tubes and bio-printed organs are in.

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Super-intelligence and eternal life: transhumanism’s faithful follow it blindly into a future for the elite The Conversation, July 31, 2017

The rapid development of so-called NBIC technologies – nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science – are giving rise to possibilities that have long been the domain of science fiction. Disease, ageing and even death are all human realities that these technologies seek to end.

They may enable us to enjoy greater “morphological freedom” – we could take on new forms through prosthetics or genetic engineering. Or advance our cognitive capacities. We could use brain-computer interfaces to link us to advanced artificial intelligence (AI).

Nanobots could roam our bloodstream to monitor our health and enhance our emotional propensities for joy, love or other emotions. Advances in one area often raise new possibilities in others, and this “convergence” may bring about radical changes to our world in the near-future.

“Transhumanism” is the idea that humans should transcend their current natural state and limitations through the use of technology – that we should embrace self-directed human evolution. If the history of technological progress can be seen as humankind’s attempt to tame nature to better serve its needs, transhumanism is the logical continuation: the revision of humankind’s nature to better serve its fantasies.

But there is a darker side to the naive faith that Pearce and other proponents have in transhumanism – one that is decidedly dystopian.

There is unlikely to be a clear moment when we emerge as transhuman. Rather technologies will become more intrusive and integrate seamlessly with the human body. Technology has long been thought of as an extension of the self. Many aspects of our social world, not least our financial systems, are already largely machine-based. There is much to learn from these evolving human/machine hybrid systems.

Yet the often Utopian language and expectations that surround and shape our understanding of these developments have been under-interrogated. The profound changes that lie ahead are often talked about in abstract ways, because evolutionary “advancements” are deemed so radical that they ignore the reality of current social conditions.

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Transhumanism – Our Future?

Transhumanism, the belief in the use of science and technology to enhance human capabilities and transcend the limitations of the human condition, is a topic of great interest and controversy. The idea of immortality, in particular, has captured the imagination of many and has been a subject of scientific and philosophical inquiry for centuries. As Christians, we must approach this topic with caution and discernment, considering the implications of such advancements on our faith and values.

The temptation of mankind to be like God is not a new concept. In fact, it dates back to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, in order to become like God (Genesis 3:5). This temptation continues to manifest itself in various forms, including the pursuit of immortality and the singularity.

As Christians, we believe that immortality is a gift from God and can only be achieved through Christ and the resurrection from the dead. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26). This means that our hope for eternal life is not dependent on our own efforts or technological advancements, but on our faith in Christ.

The pursuit of immortality through the use of technology raises ethical and moral concerns about the impact of this technology on society. The Bible warns us against the dangers of pride and self-centeredness, which can lead to a separation from God. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” If we become too focused on our own achievements and capabilities, we may lose sight of our dependence on God and our need for His grace and salvation.

The idea of the singularity, where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence and becomes self-aware, also raises questions about the role of humans in the world. The Bible teaches us that humans were created in the image of God and given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). If we create machines that surpass our intelligence, what does that say about our place in the world? Will we become obsolete and irrelevant?

Furthermore, the pursuit of immortality and the singularity may lead to a self-centered and prideful existence that is contrary to Christian beliefs. Instead of seeking to serve others and live a life of humility, we may become obsessed with our own survival and advancement. This is not the kind of life that God calls us to live.

The Bible also warns us about the dangers of placing too much trust in our own abilities and achievements. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” If we rely solely on our own intelligence and technology, we may miss out on the wisdom and guidance that only God can provide.

In light of these concerns, we must approach the topic of transhumanism with caution and discernment. While there may be benefits to using technology to enhance human capabilities, we must not lose sight of our dependence on God and our need for His grace and salvation. We must also consider the impact of this technology on society and ensure that it aligns with our Christian values and principles.

As Christians, we must resist the temptation to be like God and achieve immortality through our own efforts. Instead, we must trust in God’s promises of eternal life and focus on living a life of service and humility. We must also pray for wisdom and discernment as we navigate this complex and rapidly changing world.

Transhumanism and the pursuit of immortality and the singularity raises important ethical and moral concerns for Christians. We must approach this topic with caution and discernment, considering the implications of such advancements on our faith and values. We must resist the temptation to be like God and achieve immortality through our own efforts, instead trusting in God’s promises of eternal life. We must also pray for wisdom and discernment as we navigate this rapidly changing world.

The Bible is full of passages that emphasize the importance of recognizing our limitations as human beings and relying on God for our salvation. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 says, “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.‘”

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“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”

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Current events are aligning with Biblical prophecy