SUBBTO 64, no. 2 (2019): 39-50 DOI:10.24193/subbto.2019.2.03
TRANSHUMANISM AND CHRISTIANITY. CONFLICT OR COMPATIBILITY? CĂLIN EMILIAN CIRA* ABSTRACT. In recent times, humanity has experienced an extraordinary evolution of science and technology. In this context, the transhumanist movement has emerged, which argues that through scientific and technological knowledge it will be possible to modify the human nature and the surrounding world by employing genetic engineering, biotechnologies, artificial intelligence. Thus, in this article we will try to very briefly outline the challenges that this way of thinking brings for the Christians and possible ways of responding to some of these issues. Keywords: Christianity, Transhumanism, technology, science, Christian anthropology.
As a result of the scientific evolution of the modern era, our perspective on nature and people has undergone a series of radical changes. A better understanding of the laws of nature brought about extraordinary technological advancements. Consequently, nowadays science and technology represent a decisive factor in the functioning of society. This extraordinary success of the two spheres often leads to scientism and the belief that all of the problems of the world can be solved through technological means. One of the trends supporting such ideas is Transhumanism which essentially proposes the creation of a new man: “Transhumanism is a way of thinking about the future that is based on the premise that the human species in its current form does not represent the end of our development but rather a comparatively early phase”1.
From this definition it results that humanity has the right and the possibility to modify not only the external environment, but also human nature itself. In order to achieve this desideratum the proposed means are not prayer, ascesis, the PhD in History, PhD Candidate in Theology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Romania. 1 Nick Bostrom, “The transhumanist FAQ - A General introduction - Version 2.1. (2003)”, accessed January 23, 2019, https://nickbostrom.com/views/transhumanist.pdf. *