Can Christians Affirm Transhumanism?

Quick to Listen

Christianity Today

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.3 • 622 Ratings

🗓️ 27 April 2017

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Move over Fitbits and Apple Watches. Technology is coming with radical implications for our physical bodies this century. “The next frontier, the next real step-change in human history, is biological,” said author Andy Crouch in an interview with CT last week. “The next ‘easy everywhere’ in the 21st century is about permanently modifying the conditions of human embodiment.” Crouch’s prediction isn’t new. In fact, CT ran a major story announcing the upcoming arrival of the “techno sapiens” back in 2004. But for the most part, most Christians have paid scant attention to the implications of this technological revolution—and of the transhumanist ideology parallel to it, says Douglas Estes, a theology professor at South University with a lifelong interest in science. “It seems to me that the biggest misunderstanding of Christians for transhumanism is that they think that it’s just science fiction, that’s it’s some crazed scientist idea that is never going to happen.” said Estes, pointing to Captain America as an example. “I think that dismissing this issue would be a huge mistake for us because it would not allow Christians to engage in this issue.” Estes joined assistant editor Morgan Lee and editor-in-chief Mark Galli on Quick to Listen to discuss just how fast technology is changing, why Christians may be willing to genetically modify their children, and the best way to understand transhumanism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you in part by The Apologetics Guy Show, the podcast that helps you find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity.
0:11.0	Learn to explain your faith with courage and compassion.
0:14.5	Join Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikhail del Rosario at apologeticsky.com.
0:30.6	Music Michael Del Rosario at Apologeticsguy.com. You're listening to Quick to Listen. Each week we go beyond hashtags and hot takes to discuss a major cultural event. Today we will be talking about
0:39.3	transhumanism, which is something I'm super soaked to talk about with my co-host Mark Galley. Hey, Mark.
0:44.7	Hey, Mark. Good to see you again. We probably have like two dozen questions, don't we?
0:48.3	Yeah, maybe more. I think we could probably go on all night, but don't worry, guys, this is still
0:52.3	going to be within the normal hour mark of when we finish.
0:55.1	I'm pretty sure, though, this is like what Mark and I could talk about for like three or four hours.
0:58.4	But who do we have to talk about this on the show with?
1:00.9	Well, we have someone who is an expert in New Testament and practical theology and has an avid interest in science.
1:08.8	So I think this is a good combination for us.
1:10.7	His name is Douglas
1:11.6	Estes. He's a assistant professor of New Testament and practical theology and director of the
1:15.8	DEMN program at South University in Columbia, South Carolina. He's been a pastor for 16 years,
1:20.5	so he doesn't have his head in the cloud, so that's a good thing. And he's written a number of books,
1:24.7	most recently questions and rhetoric in the Greek New Testament.
1:28.1	And he's been featured in Bible study magazine and recently in Christianity today. So welcome,
1:32.5	Douglas. Thanks, Mark. Great to be here. So Douglas, I heard you say that both your parents worked for
1:37.9	NASA growing up? Yes, that's true. I grew up in very much in a NASA household. So science was
1:43.5	always an integral part of the conversation and actually kind of almost a way of life. I mean, when I got ready to go to college, my dad's view was that you study science or nothing else.
1:55.0	There you go. Well, I guess it was nothing else then. He was a dogmatic scientist. That's good.
	...

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