cosmic collisions of imagination and creation

I’m blog dry.  Hi.

I now volunteer for the Northern Colorado Aids Project and last Saturday I helped at a health fair booth in Windsor Colorado.  It’s a small mostly farming/ranching community east of Fort Collins.

I must admit it was a bit strange to sit behind a table with a two bowls of condoms on it along with information about STD’s, AID’s, and alternate sexualities.  Even stranger to do it in Windsor.

But I also must admit that I met some very interesting, wonderful, clever, people.  Some gay, some not.  Some had friends who they were concerned about regarding STD’s and Aids, other were just people that appreciated what we do for the community.

And then it occured to me that I think it’s pretty awesome to go to places and just be me…hopefully being a light… to people that many conservative Christians avoid:  Brilliant scientists who are mostly aesthists and agnostics at astronomy club, the gay and lesbian community, and those living with HIV,(for the record, almost as many hetrosexuals have HIV as do homosexuals so I choose to keep the gay community and the AID’s work seperate in my mind).

What a wonderful eclectic group of people that I have encountered and really enjoyed being around.

And on a side note:  I’ve never knew there were so many different types of condoms out there including banana flavor.  Now tell me that’s not funny…

My next post will be on my dinner at Astronomy Club that I also had a blast at; and there was no birth control involved…

In the podcast, “The Future and You”, Stephen Euin Cobb has mentioned a couple times that much of his family are dedicated Christians. Stephen, although I don’t know what his personal theological belief is, made these comments alluding to how Christians are fearful of transhumanism.

If you don’t know what ‘transhumanism’ or ‘transhuman’ is, click here  (I didn’t know the term until recently although I’ve found the whole thing fascinating for sometime).

Now I’m going to make a leap here, but I don’t think it’s a big one.  If one is afraid of something; there is usually one of two reactions to it:  Run from it and avoid at all costs, or attack it, pummel and destroy it.

I’m hoping for all you transhumanist’s out there reading this that your experience has not been hostile.  If it has, on behalf of all who profess to follow Jesus, I would like to ask your forgiveness.

Michael Anissimov, a futurist, made a wise comment when he was interviewed by Cobb.  I’ll paraphrase by saying that he believes that not all Christians are against transhumanism (I’m not), of which I’m glad to hear that because that opens the door for future dialogue. 

So, without going into much detail (you can find more information on the links within and at the end of this post if you want to read further.  If anyone has other good links to share, I’d be happy to add them or you can add them in the comments) can transhumanism and Christianity be compatible?

I think it can – at least to the extent that both sides don’t have to run away or attack each other.

First let’s look at the obvious:

Both groups want a better planet to live on.  Both groups want immortality.  Both groups want to live life (virtual or not) to the fullest.  I also think that both groups are looking for a spiritual experience.  I would even argue (loosely) that an atheist transhuman - because s/he is looking to be a part of something bigger and more amazing than her/himself - is longing for a spiritual experience even though they may not use the same language.

All that aside, to me, comparing the two are a bit like comparing apples and carburetors.  Why can’t a transhuman be a Christian or a Christian be a transhuman?

Am I wrong in assuming that there is no rule in “World of Warcraft” or “Second Life” that says you have to renounce religious beliefs before joining?  I’ve heard of virtual churches that take place in Second Life.

The question then rather is (unless I’m wrong on the first one) is there a rule that in order to become a Christian you need to renounce all transhumanism?  Obviously these is not the case for all Christians.

I know that transhumanism has generated quite a bit of debate about reality and truth and I say we need to welcome that.  I think Christians need to be a part of this conversation.  Not to denounce, demean or throw virtual Bibles, but to dream, explore, and engage; to build relationships in the virtual and not so virtual worlds in which we live.

It is in my opinion that Christians who are afraid of transhumanism also have a theology that the world is going to hell so we need to hold up and wait till Jesus comes back.  But let us remember that even Paul expected Jesus to return in his lifetime and here we are 2,000 years later.  So Jesus could come back before I finish this sentence… nope, didn’t happen, or it could be another 2,000 years or more.

Christians who wish to love and make the world a better place, and understand that God has called us to care for the poor, the widow, and the virtual and very real earth, should embrace transhumanism and more importantly embrace those who call themselves as such.

I could say more on this topic and probably will in the future (no pun intended), but as I’m exploring this and the science of futurists, I’ll stop before I say something really stupid – if I haven’t done so already.  

Some other links:

Lifeboat

Mustard Seed

Second Life

And the links in the post and these provide more links so venture virtually and enjoy. 

If you ask Al Gore, Global Warming is the biggest threat to humanity. Not abortion or the absence of God in our homes and schools. Wake Up America! This is not your biggest problem. It is not even in the top 100. The bible tells of a dark future for the lost and the wicked. God has given us a chance to make a difference today, even now.”

Here are the other links to NeoMonastacism

Phil Wyman at Phil Wyman’s Square No More
Beth at Until Translucent
Steve Hayes at Notes from the Underground
Adam Gonnerman at Igneous Quill
Jonathan Brink at JonathanBrink.com
Sally Coleman at Eternal Echoes
Bryan Riley at Charis Shalom
Cobus van Wyngaard at My Contemplations
Mike Bursell at Mike’s Musings
David Fisher at Cosmic Collisions
Alan Knox at The Assembling of the Church
Sam Norton at Elizaphanian
Erin Word at Decompressing Faith
Sonja Andrews at Calacirian