According to Encyclopedia Britannica, transhumanism is a philosophical and scientific movement that advocates the use of current and emerging technologies — such as genetic engineering, cryonics, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology — to augment human capabilities and improve the human condition. Transhumanists envision a future in which the responsible application of such technologies enables humans to slow, reverse, or eliminate the aging process, to achieve corresponding increases in human life spans, and to enhance human cognitive and sensory capacities. The movement proposes that humans with augmented capabilities will evolve into an enhanced species that transcends humanity — the “posthuman.”
Transhumanism is a religion that is in direct competition with Biblical Christianity. For instance, both religions promise immortality and omniscience which are very desirable things to possess. Yet, you do not see waves of people embracing Christianity in the same way that they are embracing Transhumanism.
The statement that transhumanism is part of a religious worldview is readily admitted by its more resolute adherents. In an interview with Los Angeles Weekly, Natasha Vita-More and Max More spoke of transhumanism as part of a belief system. Both are staunch transhumanists, Max More is a leading figure in the “extropian” branch of the transhumanist movement. More states that the first principle of extropianism, which he defines as “Perpetual Progress,” involves the “pursuit of greater intelligence, wisdom, and effectiveness, an unlimited life span, and the elimination of political, cultural, biological, and psychological limits to self-realization.” Transhumanism is “the constant overcoming of limitations that impede our progress and possibilities, expansion into the universe, and progress without end.”
Transhumanists reject the Christian concept of the triune God. Self-confessed transhumanist Samantha Atkins speaks of “the norm, the way nature made us,” which clearly rules out a single creator God. The transhumanist church’s creed also denies the need for a savior God: “We are our own saviors. We cannot rely on supernatural or external forces to guide us on our journey. The responsibility is on our shoulders to create the world we want to live in.”
Transhumanists acknowledge the longing for immortality, life fulfillment, and meaning that religion provides, and often describe themselves as very spiritual — but their materialistic presuppositions lead them to substitute the promises of a technological utopia for the promises of spiritual redemption. Many profess secular Buddhism, whose belief that the world is one and evolving toward reunion with the original “God-unity” fits well with hopes for self-transcendence in an existence that will come after being human, and a better interface between man and machine.
Of course, the utopian vision of infinite health and youthful vitality in a world free of humanity’s suffering, hatred, and baseness resembles the Christian description of heaven — except that transhumanists hope for paradise on earth as well as see the interplay of man and machine not Christ at the center.
When Max More speaks of “Perpetual Progress”, he alludes to the original definition of progress as the humanistic prospect of improving the condition of man. The word “progressivism” was first used in 1848 and became the container of all so-called “higher criticism” of the Bible and the launch pad of many political, philosophical and religious movements.
To a Transhumanist like More, this progress finds initial satisfaction with the ultimate achievement of immortality and beyond that, expansion of man into the universe.
So, why do the people find it more compelling to follow after Transhumanism and “progress”? First, they are thoroughly pre-conditioned by “progress” to follow “progress”. This would naturally favor Transhumanism. Second, the Bible is not about what man can achieve in his own energy, but rather what God can do in spite of man’s best efforts. Third, the Bible underscores again and again that the efforts of humans fail and can only be overcome by the finished work of Christ.
Transhumanism is being embraced by the masses and especially by young people today. This is extremely dangerous on many levels, not the least of which that it is a religion that will eventually assert itself over other religions.