Why do representatives of different religious traditions find the transhumanist vision of the future not only theologically compatible but even inspiring? Transhumanism is a global movement seeking radical human enhancement. The trans in transhumanism marks the transition from the present stage in human evolution into the future, namely, post-human existence. Containing chapters written by adherents to a variety of religious traditions, Religious Transhumanism and Its Critics provides first-hand testimony to the value of the transhumanist vision perceived by the religious mind. In addition, the contributors critique both secular and religious transhumanism in light of realistic science and commitment to social justice.
Arvin Gouw is an instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine and faculty affiliate at Harvard Center for Science, Religion, and Culture. Brian Patrick Green is the director of Technology Ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and adjunct faculty in the School of Engineering at Santa Clara University. Ted Peters is distinguished research professor emeritus at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.
Part I: Techno-Utopia? Where Are Transhumanists Leading Us? Chapter 1: Homo Deus or Frankenstein's Monster? Religious Transhumanism and Its Critics Ted Peters Chapter 2: Are We Becoming God(s)? Transhumanism, Posthumanism, Antihumanism, and the Divine Francesca Ferrando Part II: What Are Religious Transhumanists and Their Critics Saying? Chapter 3: Mormon Transhumanism Lincoln Cannon Chapter 4: Pre-Original Buddhism and the Transhumanist Imperative Michael LaTorra Chapter 5: Unitarian Universalists as Critical Transhumanists James Hughes Chapter 6: Confucian Religious Sensibility and Transhumanist Anthropology Heup Young Kim Chapter 7: Why Christian Transhumanism? Micah Redding Chapter 8: Steps Toward a Theology of Christian Transhumanism Ronald Cole-Turner Chapter 9: A Roman Catholic View: Technological Progress? Yes. Transhumanism? No. Brian Patrick Green Chapter 10: Technological Theosis? An Eastern Orthodox Critique of Religious Transhumanism Brandon Gallaher Chapter 11: The Transhumanist Pied Pipers: A Jewish Caution against False Messianism Hava Tirosch-Samuelson Part III: The H+ Future: What are the Issues? Chapter 12: Cyborg, Gender, and the Posthuman Self J. Jeanine Thweatt Chapter 13: A Virtual Ghost in the Digital Machine: Whole Brain Emulation, Disembodied Gender, and Queer Mystical Animality Jay Emerson Johnson Chapter 14: Copulation, Masturbation, and Sex Bots: Ethical Implication of AI as My Buddy in Bed Elisabeth Gerle Chapter 15: The Transhumanist Threat to Plants and Animals: An Exercise in Eco-Feminist Critical Theory Iris Ralph and Peter I-min Huang Chapter 16: Transhumanism, Theological Anthropology, and the Ethics of Ambiguity Whitney A. Bauman Chapter 17: The iCalf, Relationality, and the Extended Body: Evaluations of Different Notions of Post/Transhumanism Markus Muhling Part IV: Is H+ Sound Scientifically? Philosophically? Theologically? Chapter 18: Transhumanism: Good Science? Bad Science? Pseudo-Science Arvin Gouw Chapter 19: Ghosts or Zombies: On Keeping Body and Soul Together Noreen Herzfeld Chapter 20: In Praise of Boundaries: Understanding Mortality as an Ally Nelson R. Kellogg Chapter 21: Homo Gubernator as a Teilhardian-Catholic Response to Transhumanism Levi Checketts Chapter 22: Will Transhumanism Reach Point Omega? Ilia Delio Chapter 23: Resurrection, and the Transhumanist Promise Celia E. Deane-Drummond Chapter 24: Moral Enhancement, the Virtues, and Transhumanism: Moving Beyond Gene Editing Braden Molhoek Chapter 25: Epilogue: Introducing a New Transhumanist Theology Arvin Gouw
