When I began this blog, it was inspired by my engineering graduate project, a novelette that dealt with the ethical use of biotechnology. At this moment, I'm about half finished with the project as a whole (due this April)--the story is thoroughly outlined and the first couple of chapters are "done". But as I was researching the various ethical questions that concern us today (cloning, euthanasia, organ transplant and regeneration, bionics/prosthetics, abortion, etc...), I discovered a movement that sounded like something right out of a science fiction novel: transhumanism.
There are several other names for the general idea: posthumanism, humanity "plus", directed evolution, to name a few. One of the more interesting concepts deals with a phenomenon called "singularity". In the larger sense, a singularity is any single event that results in such profound change, we essentially have to redefine reality. In the technological sense, this is the creation of "smarter than human intelligence", including artificial intelligence, genetic re engineering, direct computer-to-brain interfaces, etc.
As I chased the rabbits I'd stirred through my research, I began to take a much closer look at the evolution/creation (or intelligent design, if you're agnostic) debate. Except there's no real debate; prominent evolutionists are actively attacking anyone within the scientific community who give i.d. any credibility (i.e. Richard Dawkins and his book "The God Delusion", and all out attack against religion.) Credibility is probably going too far: possibility is more like it. I ran across Ben Stein's excellent documentary "Expelled", and am now looking through Dr. Ron Carlson's material. I've been a fan of Lee Stroebel for years and highly recommend his book "The Case for a Creator".
The transhumanist movement is, at best, disturbing and after reviewing the aforementioned sources, I am truly confused: if you are convinced by the "evidence" for evolution, believe that humanity is merely a cosmic accident, and that when we as individuals die simply become dirt, why would you spend so much time, energy, and money trying to "invent" immortality? Well, on a certain level, I do understand why--fear. And unfortunately, that same fear is what's keeping qualified scientists from looking for evidence of intelligent design. A fear that we might actually find God. And what kind of God might we find? If we find a Being who is capable of creating the known universe from nothing, how then do we relate (if at all?) I find the "impersonal God" idea to be preposterous, too. Think about it: you are the Supreme Being. You created all there is that exists. But you want nothing to do with it. It just doesn't add up.
So, my purpose for this blog is to (hopefully) work out my thoughts and feelings regarding "transhumanism" and explore the evidence as it becomes available. I truly want to understand both sides of the argument, but will I ever change my mind? Is there any evidence that could cause me to permanently lose my faith? Or does the evidence really point to God in every way imaginable? The conclusion to "Expelled" was very disturbing and if you haven't seen it, I won't spoil it for you. While disturbing (at the level of contradictions within the "champions of evolution" camp), I also felt encouraged by it. If the quote by Bertram Russel, when asked what he would say to God should he meet him, is accurate ("Sir, why have you taken such pains to hide yourself?"), it astounds me that such a question could even be asked when we have had every opportunity to search for God--but refuse.
The evolutionists say that the debate is long over, Darwin has won and to belabor the point is a useless waste of time. Yet, we've been looking for transitional fossils for well over one-hundred and fifty years to no avail and the "theory" continues to morph as it loses ground--not to fit the evidence, but to perpetuate the search down dead-end alleys; and the public is being deceived. By public, of course, I mean our children. As we erode our value system into a "whatever works for you" confabulation, we move closer and closer to chaos and entropy. We do not "evolve", as the transhumanists would believe, but we devolve into anarchy.
So, it's clear where my biases lie at this point. We all bring our biases with us, regardless of our claims of objectivity--the differences lie with individuals who are willing to abandon bad information for good. So, in that regard, I'm open to an honest discussion. I do want to know the truth. At this point in my life, the "truth" points to a Creator, and I firmly believe that Creator is very interested in the creation. The problem is when will the creation become interested in the Creator? When will we, as "Adams and Eves", come out from OUR hiding?
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