Religion and the Technological Future: An Introduction to Biohacking, Artificial Intelligence, and Transhumanism

by Calvin Mercer, Tracy J.Trothen

We live in an age of rapid technological advancement. Never before has humankind wielded so much power over our own biology. Biohacking, the attempt at human enhancement of physical, cognitive, affective, moral, and spiritual traits, has become a global phenomenon. This textbook introduces religious and ethical implications of biohacking, artificial intelligence, and other technological changes, offering perspectives from monotheistic and karmic religions and applied ethics. These technological breakthroughs are transforming our societies and ourselves fundamentally via genetic modification, tissue engineering, artificial intelligence, robotics, the merging of computer technology with human biology, extended reality, brain stimulation, and nanotechnology. The book also considers the extreme possibilities of mind uploading, cryonics, and superintelligence. Chapters explore some of the political, economic, sociological, and psychological dimensions of these advances, with bibliographies for further study and questions for discussion. The technological future is here – and it is up to us to decide its moral and religious shape.

Genres: Philosophy

245 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2021

About the author

Professor of Religion at East Carolina University, Dr. Mercer writes widely about the Bible and other topics in religion. In recent years his focus has been on helping faith communities and other groups understand how artificial intelligence, robotics, genetic engineering, and other breakthrough technologies are going to radically change our bodies, emotions, minds, morals, and spirituality. He is a leader in evaluating these transhumanist programs, with particular attention to whole brain emulation (mind-uploading), cryonics, and efforts to terminate aging in the human species. A textbook for colleges and faith communities is forthcoming. After serving a decade in municipal elected office, he works to engage citizens and youth in their government. He has written a number of books for adults and says coauthoring a children’s book about how laws are made is a highlight of his career. Dr. Mercer speaks widely on subjects of his books. Contact him at mercerc@ecu.edu. Children’s book website: www.BrightBooks.org. Scholarly website: https://religionprogram.ecu.edu/calvi...

Reviews

[Glen O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written deliberately as a ‘text book’ ‘Religion and the Technological Future’ exhibits a somewhat dry writing style, accurate enough but somewhat lacking in its literary aesthetic. Perhaps its best feature is that it approaches religion broadly, including Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism alongside Christianity, while being aware that most of the discourse on the topic so far has been done by Christians. Its attempt to be balanced and even-handed is admirable but it did leave me at times wishing that the authors would take a particular stance on certain matters. Mercer and Trothen are widely published in the field so they know what they’re writing about. It’s just that they don’t write about what they know with much style.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First half of the book is really interesting and useful. Then it was a bit boring. But in the end I was satisfied.