Technology and Theology
- Length: 350 pages
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- Publisher: Vernon Press
- Publication Date: 2021-03-24
- ISBN-10: 1648892272
- ISBN-13: 9781648892271
- Sales Rank: #0 (See Top 100 Books)
Technology is growing at an exponential rate vis-à-vis humanity’s ability to control it. Moreover, the numerous ethical issues that technology raises are also troubling. These statements, however, may be alarmist–since Telus would tell us “The Future is Friendly”.
The Modernist vision of the future was utopic, for instance Star Trek of the 1960s. But postmodern views, such as are found in Blade Runner 2049, are dystopic. Theology is in a unique interdisciplinary position to deal with the many issues, pro and con, that technology raises. Even theologians like Origen in the third century and Aquinas in the thirteenth century made forays into Artificial Intelligence and surrounding issues (they just didn’t know it at the time). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Transhumanism raise questions about what it means to be human. What is consciousness? What is soul? What are life and death? Can technology really save us and give us eternal life?
Theology is in a unique position to handle these questions and issues. This book also has practical applications in terms of ecclesiology (church) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic–both in terms of what it means to be a church and in terms of the sacraments or ordinances. Is there such a thing as a “Virtual Church” or must we gather physically to constitute one? Are Baptism and Communion legitimate if one is not physically in a church building but are “online”? This book struggles with these and many other questions which will help the scholar or reader make up their own minds, however tentatively.
Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables List of Contributors Acknowledgements Foreword Introduction On Technology, Mysticism and Ethics: Truth and Eros in Heidegger vs. Plato Who Am I? Personhood and the SelfDefeating Epistemology of Transhumanism Emergence of Consciousness: Christian Friend or Foe? Testing the Spirits in Kurzweil’sSpiritual Machines: The Bondageof a Technological Teleology “Hey Siri: Do You Believe in God?” A Posthuman Exposé of Belief Bias in AI Programming Theology, Technology and Moral Applications: A Muslim Perspective Technology and Worship: Effect and Impact Virtual Church and the Means of Grace: Legitimately “Real” or Not? Is Virtual Baptism a “Real” Baptism? Fetishism of Printed Bibles and the Spirit of Digital Bibles in African Christianity200 Christian Faith, the Intellect and Rational Management of Technology in Zimbabwe Anima Ex Machina:Can Artificial Intelligence Have Soul? Will Androids Need Salvation? A Dialogue with Chalmers’ Philosophy of Mind Does This Geth Unit Have a Soul?1Aquinas and Origen on the Ethics ofTranshumanism and AI in Mass Effect Holograms and Idols: The Image of Godand Artificial Transcendence in theCultural Phenomenon of the JapaneseVocaloid Hatsune Miku Bibliography Index
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