Verse 7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Gen 2:7
POSTHUMAN?
Posthumanism is a dominant theme in Science Fiction. Whether it’s an evolutionary mutation leap a la “Heroes”, bionics, cybernetic interface, even consciousness transfer to biological or mechanical host, the thought of moving beyond the meat is a sort of geek holy grail. READ MORE HERE
So it’s sober question time: Looking back on five thousand or so years of recorded human history, (raise your hand if you can read cuneiform) have technological advances made us more or less human? Are we better or worse as a species?
Will feverishly advancing hi-tech ever allow us as a species to actually move beyond our fears, our flaws, our foibles? Our striving, our compassion, our love? Is this just an extreme form of self-improvement? A sort of prosthetic to the psyche? Self-evolution?
Or are we actually fleeing our humanity and defying Original Intent?
“We are technological giants and moral midgets. We have discovered the mystery of the atom, but we have forgotten the Sermon on the Mount.” – General Omar Bradley
In slogging away at novels, (and at sermons, Bible Studies, devotionals for ministry obligations) I realize more and more that one of my personal tenets of faith is that only the God of creation and redemption can change our inner nature. Theologically, I’m in the Semi-Pelagian Camp. Response and Responsibilities notwithstanding; we cannot defy gravity on our own power.
“Let’s pray that the human race never escapes from Earth to spread its iniquity elsewhere.” – C. S. Lewis
One of the impulses that drove Running Black was the notion that only spirituality holds brutality in check; only a principled commitment to a super-natural worldview – one that holds life as sacred – can possibly check the overwhelming historical tendency to exploit and commodify life. Designer Babies, anyone?
History shows us quite vividly concerning our tendency to dehumanize opponents. From the Nazi’s ‘useless eaters’ category for the handicapped or mentally challenged, to the term ‘rag dolls’ reserved for the bodies of exterminated Jews and Herr Mengele’s medical experiments on children, up to Hutu Power Radio demanding the Tutsi ‘cockroaches’ be exterminated. (Ah yes, Social Darwinism in action) As technology explodes and social mores shift, the idea of cloned property (soldiers, laborers, prostitutes, medical/experimental models) becomes not simply possible but probable.
“The ultimate end of all revolutionary social change is to establish the sanctity of human life, the dignity of man, the right of every human being to liberty and well-being” – Emma Goldman Odd to quote from a radical leftist, but I agree. And I hold that that in studying the New Testament, Jesus initiated the most profound revolutionary movement of all time. You change society by transforming people from the inside out. Only the grace and Spirit of God can do that.
I should probably finish with a Bible verse, but this is somehow more appropriate.
“No matter where you go, there you are.” – Buckaroo Banzai
I’d remind you God is there too.
Hot Space Station Justice 
A good post! Evolution (if it exists) is nobody’s business in my opinion. When you are alive, evolution is seen as an improvement in every aspect (Evolution of philosophy, evolution of culture, evolution of countless other things). Most of these are not something which you are responsible for and may be beyond your control. And what is not yours to control just goes right on top of the things you fear/hate (human nature). It is pointless to visualize humanity as standing on the edge and waiting to fall. Everything is as it is meant to be. So breathe while you can, deep and slow. Enjoy. I liked this post! sorry for rambling on about it.