Catholic Transhumanism Conference

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Dear Friends:

I am interested in any official links between the Catholic Church and transhumanism. Specifically, I would like to know the nature of a 2009 “Catholic conference on ‘The idea of earthly immortality: a new challenge for theology,’ organized by the Diocese of Pistoia.”

Max More, an atheist philosopher of transhumanism, refers to such a conference in a post on his web site (maxmore.com/), including an essay based on a conference presentation entitled “Why Catholics Should Support the Transhumanist Goal of Extended Life.”

Searching on the Internet, I found the following link, which appears to be the Italian-language conference web site: campedel.it/schlibro/218446.HTM. Was the conference organized by church officials? Transhumanists posing as church members?

Thank you in advance for any light you can shed on this question.

DCW
 
GSV4008 said:
Dear Friends:

I am interested in any official links between the Catholic Church and transhumanism. Specifically, I would like to know the nature of a 2009 “Catholic conference on ‘The idea of earthly immortality: a new challenge for theology,’ organized by the Diocese of Pistoia.”

Max More, an atheist philosopher of transhumanism, refers to such a conference in a post on his web site (maxmore.com/), including an essay based on a conference presentation entitled “Why Catholics Should Support the Transhumanist Goal of Extended Life.”

Searching on the Internet, I found the following link, which appears to be the Italian-language conference web site: campedel.it/schlibro/218446.HTM. Was the conference organized by church officials? Transhumanists posing as church members?

Thank you in advance for any light you can shed on this question.

DCW
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Re: “Was the conference organized by church officials? Transhumanists posing as church members?”

Within the Catholic Church all, including clergy, are free to offer their own opinions on a variety of issues. Those seeking answers to serious questions about human nature and life need to compare individual opinions with the firm teaching of the Catholic Church. In my humble observation, at times, the subject matter of a particular conference is what is most important. In other words, I have no clue as to how to answer your questions.

Personally, instead of searching for additional official Catholic Church links to topics, I use the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition and its footnotes. Fortunately, others are more skillful with this thingamajig called the internet so I follow their offered links and then do my own analytical comparison to what I know about human nature per se.

Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the philosophical position of Transhumanism; but I am aware of the concept of extending human life far beyond today’s expectations.

Unfortunately, time only allowed a brief scan of your link to the essay. My first impression is that there is common sense regarding human’s physical life. But for the Catholic Church, common sense regarding physical life is not the only issue affecting human nature. The Catholic Church emphasizes the truth that human nature is an unique unification of both the physical/material world and the eternal spiritual world. In other words, there is more to human nature than its decomposing anatomy.

Blessings,
granny

The human person is worthy of profound respect.
 
As far as I know, the Church has no official position on Transhumanism, so it is possible that the conference was indeed started by Catholic clergy and not by impostors.

This article, published in late 2009, by Eric Pavlat discusses the issue you are concerned about: can Catholics support Transhumanism. His basic answer is: yes, to an extent. The biggest issue is ‘where should the line be drawn’ that separates human from artificial machine.
 
Alberti_Devoveo said:
As far as I know, the Church has no official position on Transhumanism, so it is possible that the conference was indeed started by Catholic clergy and not by impostors.

This article, published in late 2009, by Eric Pavlat discusses the issue you are concerned about: can Catholics support Transhumanism. His basic answer is: yes, to an extent. The biggest issue is ‘where should the line be drawn’ that separates human from artificial machine.
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Gad Zooks! Sounds like " Lord of the World " stuff to me. Could the end be far off?
Of course the Church has to keep on top of this type of thing.

:bigyikes::bigyikes::bigyikes:
 
Linusthe2nd said:
Gad Zooks! Sounds like " Lord of the World " stuff to me. Could the end be far off?
Of course the Church has to keep on top of this type of thing.

:bigyikes::bigyikes::bigyikes:
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Never heard of Lord of the World, had to Google/Wiki it and then add to my “to read” list.

There probably are some merits to transhumanism (such as healthier lives), but I think that the means are evil and depraved. Longer lives also seems like a bad idea in the Christian viewpoint because a longer life means more chances to sin and lose Heaven! Though, at the same point, it means longer to worship God and get into Heaven!
 
Alberti_Devoveo said:
Never heard of Lord of the World, had to Google/Wiki it and then add to my “to read” list.

There probably are some merits to transhumanism (such as healthier lives), but I think that the means are evil and depraved. Longer lives also seems like a bad idea in the Christian viewpoint because a longer life means more chances to sin and lose Heaven! Though, at the same point, it means longer to worship God and get into Heaven!
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It’s a must read. In most libraries and is on line for free.

Actually, it is more like " That Hedious Strength " by C.S. Lewis. 👍
 
Sounds as if no one is really current on what “transhumanism” is, what it’s principles and dogmas are, or who the major players involved are. In short, transhumanism is totally incompatible with the Catholic faith because of its dogmas and its agendas. I am both a scientist and a philosopher, taught both in university for 12 years, and have been following transhumanism for a while now. For those who are interested in finding out more about transhumanism (I assure you, our students already know!), please see my recent article posted on LifeIssues.net: “Foundations of Transhumanism and Futurism; Short List of Website URLs” (Sept. 28, 2012), at: lifeissues.net/writers/irv/irv_203transhumanism.html. Read them for yourself and see what they stand for. I hope this short article will help.

Dr. Dianne N. Irving, M.A., Ph.D.
 
DNIrving said:
Sounds as if no one is really current on what “transhumanism” is, what it’s principles and dogmas are, or who the major players involved are. In short, transhumanism is totally incompatible with the Catholic faith because of its dogmas and its agendas. I am both a scientist and a philosopher, taught both in university for 12 years, and have been following transhumanism for a while now. For those who are interested in finding out more about transhumanism (I assure you, our students already know!), please see my recent article posted on LifeIssues.net: “Foundations of Transhumanism and Futurism; Short List of Website URLs” (Sept. 28, 2012), at: lifeissues.net/writers/irv/irv_203transhumanism.html. Read them for yourself and see what they stand for. I hope this short article will help.

Dr. Dianne N. Irving, M.A., Ph.D.
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I read the article linked by Alberti in post #3 and this seemed to be more of a science/medical frontier effort. The Church does have its eye on it, evaluating what is going on. No doubt the philosophical/religious supporters of gnosticism will provide political/ethical support for much of the scientific/medical research and goals.
Thank you Dr. 👍
 
Thank you for the many responses!

Through my study, I’m learning that transhumanism has a range of advocates. On the one hand, there are atheists and secular humanists. On the other, there are people who see it as a religious pursuit, a “transreligion.” Check out the following:

terasemcentral.org/index.html

terasemcentral.org/docs/TruthsTerasem2012QC.pdf

Clearly, there are benefits to the technologies that appear to converge in the transhumanist ideal. However, the ultimate goals are a concern, especially those that appear to forcefully declare independence from God (e.g. “building Terasem into God").
 
Arosophos said:
The Mormon Transhumanist Association (transfigurism.org) may interest you. Some of its members are non-Mormon Christians. There is also a Christian Transhumanist Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/332924799454/) that may interest you.
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Is the list of bloggers a fair indication of participation by female vs male? (Just curious.)

Also, do LDS view transhumanism as a descriptor, or perhaps emulating similar methods/tools, for how God made rather than created?

TIA.
 
Hi RebeccaJ.

The Transhumanist movement is, unfortunately, demographically weighted toward males. So, yes, the list of bloggers does reflect the demographics.

The Mormon Transhumanist Association is not affiliated with the LDS Church, although most (77%) members of the association are also members of the LDS Church. Most Mormons aren’t familiar with the word “Transhumanism”, so most wouldn’t use it as a descriptor for anything. However, many Mormons are implicitly Transhumanists without knowing it. I’ve written a bit about that here: lincoln.metacannon.net/2012/10/mormonism-mandates-transhumanism.html

From the perspective of a Mormon Transhumanist, Transhumanism would be a descriptor for part of the creative process (as you point out, Mormons interpret creation in terms of organizing rather than creating from nothing). We do, however, tend to see two parts to the creative process, which we might describe as works and grace. Transhumanism is works. Works matter only within a context of grace, manifest by the world God created for us. If you’re interested in reading more about this subject, I’ve written about it at length here: docs.google.com/a/metacannon.net/document/pub?id=1zg57Jai0MRodtgERljywXSt4j7GR2DA-MSOuhFtEq0o

I hope this post is appropriate for this forum. If it’s not, I apologize. No intention to offend.
 
Arosophos said:
Hi RebeccaJ.

The Transhumanist movement is, unfortunately, demographically weighted toward males. So, yes, the list of bloggers does reflect the demographics.

The Mormon Transhumanist Association is not affiliated with the LDS Church, although most (77%) members of the association are also members of the LDS Church. Most Mormons aren’t familiar with the word “Transhumanism”, so most wouldn’t use it as a descriptor for anything. However, many Mormons are implicitly Transhumanists without knowing it. I’ve written a bit about that here: lincoln.metacannon.net/2012/10/mormonism-mandates-transhumanism.html

From the perspective of a Mormon Transhumanist, Transhumanism would be a descriptor for part of the creative process (as you point out, Mormons interpret creation in terms of organizing rather than creating from nothing). We do, however, tend to see two parts to the creative process, which we might describe as works and grace. Transhumanism is works. Works matter only within a context of grace, manifest by the world God created for us. If you’re interested in reading more about this subject, I’ve written about it at length here: docs.google.com/a/metacannon.net/document/pub?id=1zg57Jai0MRodtgERljywXSt4j7GR2DA-MSOuhFtEq0o

I hope this post is appropriate for this forum. If it’s not, I apologize. No intention to offend.
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Thanks. I don’t have time to read your links tonight. I did read more at the previous link you provided, and found a Sunstone article that describes transhumanism as linked to the process of exaltation. I got from it, that Mormons view exaltation has a process similar to evolution, and that God would provide the means and knowledge to further human evolution to godhood…that is what this particular author believed anyway.

Sets off alarm bells for my Catholic ears. 🙂 Like a modern tower of Babel.
 
RebeccaJ said:
Sets off alarm bells for my Catholic ears. 🙂 Like a modern tower of Babel.
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Some interpret Babel to be in the building. Others interpret Babel to be in the intent. Noah also builds, but his intent is different from that of the builders of Babel.
 
Arosophos said:
Some interpret Babel to be in the building. Others interpret Babel to be in the intent. Noah also builds, but his intent is different from that of the builders of Babel.
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The story of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9) illustrates increasing human wickedness, shown by the sinful pride that human beings take in their own achievements apart from God.
 
RebeccaJ said:
The story of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9) illustrates increasing human wickedness, shown by the sinful pride that human beings take in their own achievements apart from God.
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I agree. Some Transhumanists, such as I, recognize in Transhumanism the work of God, training his children.
 
Transhumanism is a science fiction concept on par with the book, Neuromancer by William Gibson.

I don’t see it as having any practical value in the short term, like Ray Kurzweil in his book, The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, since Wall Street - supposedly run by professional and expert men of finance - can wreck the global economy.

As a writer of science-fiction and a reader of obscure and “you actually paid money for that”? publications (like New Scientist), it’s quite obvious that the musings of the Transhumanists and those who find Mr. Kurzweil credible, will ignore how and by who this technology will be used, if it can be made - the military. And a good reading of recent (past 50 years) of military history, shows that it will be contained and weaponized. Oh sure, some low-grade advances in artificial vision or adult stem cell repair of heart, vision, diabetes and certain genetic disorders may gradually appear, but the goal will be maximum profits.

And the Catholic view?

catholiclane.com/transhumanisms-roots-in-eugenics/

Peace,
Ed
 
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