CCR 095: Christian Transhumanism with Reverend Doctor Benek

IS CHRISTIANITY AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL SINGULARITY COMPATIBLE? When we started Canary Cry Radio back in 2012, we saw that the march toward a technological singularity, and the advent of transhumanism, was first, a secular enterprise, but second, an occult and esoteric endeavor, relating back to the earliest forms of spiritual practices, such as Kabbalah, Alchemy, and the ancient mystery schools. From our Christian worldview, the eschatological catalyst is the arrival of the Antichrist and his beast kingdom, which will eventually usher in the return of Jesus Christ to judge and restore the world with a new heavens and new earth. Included in the promise of His return, is an event known as the resurrection of the dead, where the dead in Christ rise first, and are given new, indestructible, immortal bodies. Contrary to this Biblical end times view, is the idea that humanity, through the progress of technology and science, will ultimately achieve immortality, and thus salvation. Or so we thought.

In this episode, we are joined by a man who is a pastor, husband, and father, and a graduate of the world’s first ever Doctor of Ministry program focusing specifically on Theology and Science from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Reverend Doctor Christopher Benek. He also has advanced degrees in Ministry/Theology (Ethics) from Princeton Theological Seminary and is currently working on a fourth in Technology and Theology at Durham University in England. He has been featured all over the place, from the NY Times, FOX News, RT, to Christianity Today, Motherboard, the Daily Show, and now, Canary Cry Radio. According to Reverend Doctor Benek, Christianity must lead the conversation in transhumanism and the technological singularity in order to shape it for the betterment of mankind, and ultimately to bring glory to Jesus Christ. He calls this “Christian Transhumanism.” While we share the notion of bringing glory to Jesus Christ and doing good works for the Kingdom, there are limitations and lessons from Biblical history, as well as projected events in Biblical eschatology, that seem to suggest that we ought to be very cautious about fully immersing ourselves in a transhuman, and ultimately post-human future. Do you believe that we can have Christian Transhumanism to glorify God in this world as Reverend Benek suggests? Or do you believe that one day, we will have to put the technology and science down, as it might ultimately be the catalyst to usher in the mark of the beast, the image of the beast, and the wrath of God?

LINKS

Christopher Benek’s Website (http://www.christopherbenek.com/)

LOFI File (Click HERE)