Pandemonium's Engine by Nita Horn & Gary Stearman & Noah Hutchings & Chuck Missler

Author:Nita Horn & Gary Stearman & Noah Hutchings & Chuck Missler
Language: eng
Format: mobi, pdf
Tags: Religion, Personal Growth, Christian Life
ISBN: 9780983621614
Publisher: Defender
Published: 2011-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

Christian Transhumanism: Pandemonium’s Latest Ploy

By Cris D. Putnam

At Pandemonium, the high capital Of Satan and his peers: their summons called From every and band squared regiment By place or choice the worthiest;

—John Milton, PARADISE LOST

Pandemonium is the capitol of hell built by the fallen angels at the suggestion of Mammon in John Milton’s classic Paradise Lost (1667). The name, derived from the Greek παν meaning “all” and δαιμόνιον meaning “demon,” is rendered Παν-δαιμονειον: “all-demon-place.” Loosely based on Scripture and pseudepigraphal texts, the epic is generally considered one of the greatest works in the English language. It describes the Fall of man as the product of a satanic conspiracy. Aided by his lieutenants: Mammon, Beelzebub, Belial, and Moloch, Satan summons a session of the infernal court. At the end of the demonic deliberation, Satan volunteers to tempt newly-created man. A delicious appeal

to man’s hubris is devised, “Ye Eate thereof...and ye shall be as Gods.”1 Of course, man fell and his hubris is now more heinous. The tree of knowledge, modern science, is bearing increasingly tempting fruit. We have now come full circle and even some who call themselves Christian are biting.

Transhumanism is a transnational technocratic trend that promises to break through human biological limitations by radically redesigning humanity. Despite their protestations, it meets the basic definition of a worldview and religion. Adherents to this worldview plan to extend lifespans, augment the senses, boost memory capacity, and generally use technology to enhance the human condition. It is tempting to write off transhumanism as the fantastical musings of a few eccentric gamers and sci-fi fans. However, these are not mere kooks; rather, they are scientists and professors from universities like Yale, MIT, and Oxford, and they have a secular vision for the future—an alternative eschatology if you will. They plan to conquer death and create a utopia by technological means. However, the Bible promises the same through Christ. These two visions are not compatible and a cultural collision is inevitable.

The modern philosophy of transhumanism was first authored in 1990 by Max More in the essay, “Transhumanism Toward a Futurist Philosophy.” According to More, “Transhumanism is a class of philosophies that seek to guide us towards a posthuman condition.” More is openly anti-theistic which will be addressed further as we progress. Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom has refined and toned down More’s initial rather virulent position. Still yet, most transhumanists are Atheists or Agnostics and the criticism that they are “playing God” does not trouble them.3 Based on the premise that naturalistic evolution is true, transhumanism looks to shape the human species through the direct application of technology. However, this depends on a myriad of variables. We could end up with the six-million-dollar man or the Frankenstein monster. The unanswered questions loom ominous. What does it mean to be a post human? What are the spiritual consequences? What about the soul? Can a Christian be a transhumanist? While these questions remain unanswered, there are those who attempt to merge Christianity with transhumanism. An answer to the last question will be offered near the end of this chapter.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.