Black Transhuman Liberation Theology: Technology and Spirituality (Bloomsbury Studies in Black Religion and Cultures)

Edition description: This book proposes freedom through an unlikely source: science. Mediating Black religious studies and liberation theology, Philip Butler explores how Black Americans can utilize technology in conjunction with their spirituality in the fight towards materializing freedom. The discussions shaping what it means for humans to exist with technology and as part of technology are already underway – transhumanism suggests that any use of technology to augment intellectual, psychological or physical capability makes one transhuman. Black Transhuman Liberation Theology explores the role technology already plays in the lives of Black Americans, and considers the possibility for technology to be used as a liberative tool. Addressing some of the issues that have prevented Black Americans from participating in science, technology and even science fiction, the book engages how religion, medical abuse and the perception of the Black intellect in America have served as barriers. It takes a critical scientific approach to understanding the biological embodiment of Black spiritual practices, and projects how current and emerging technologies can be aligned with spiritually generative biological states to physically deconstruct oppressive societal structures. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Abbreviations Acknowledgments Introduction and Overview Impending technocracy Spirituality and liberation Spirituality and technology Blackness, spirituality, and technology Methodology Chapter breakdown Chapter 1: Thinking of Black Transhumanism: Non-Humanity, Moving Away From Transhumanism’s Roots Blackness and non-humanity Pulling away from transhumanism’s racist roots Chapter 2: Foundations of a Black Transhumanism: Blackness as the Biotechnologically Mediated Experience of Black Vitality Vitalist panpsychic animism Incarnating Blackness: Vitality interacting with technology Chapter 3: The Neurophysiology of Spiritual Experience Four realms of spiritual embodiment Neural correlates of stationary contemplative practices Neural correlates of somatically dominant spirituality Black spiritual practices Final thoughts Chapter 4: Black Transhuman Liberation Theology Already transhuman? Harnessing the technological Conclusion Chapter 5: Black Transhumanism as Revolt Spirituality Revolt spirituality Organisms of oppression Again, on violence Historically embodied revolt spirituality Black transhuman dystopia Black transhuman liberation theology: An illustration Fully immersed in the technological Glossary of Terms Notes Introduction and Overview Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 References Index "Mediating Black religious studies, spirituality studies, and liberation theology, Philip Butler explores what might happen if Black people in the United States merged technology and spirituality in their fight towards materializing liberating realities. The discussions shaping what it means for humans to exist with technology and as part of technology are already underway: transhumanism suggests that any use of technology to augment intellectual, psychological, or physical capability makes one transhuman. In an attempt to encourage Black people in the United States to become technological progenitors as a spiritual act, Butler asks whether anyone has ever been 'just' human? Butler then explores the implications of this question and its link to viewing the body as technology. Re-imagining incarnation as a relationship between vitality, biochemistry, and genetics, the book also takes a critical scientific approach to understanding the biological embodiment of Black spiritual practices. It shows how current and emerging technologies might align with the generative biological states of Black spiritualities in order to concretely disrupt and dismantle oppressive societal structures."--Bloomsbury Publishing. "Mediating Black religious studies, spirituality studies, and liberation theology, Philip Butler explores what might happen if Black people in the United States merged technology and spirituality in their fight towards materializing liberating realities. The discussions shaping what it means for humans to exist with technology and as part of technology are already underway: transhumanism suggests that any use of technology to augment intellectual, psychological, or physical capability makes one transhuman. In an attempt to encourage Black people in the United States to become technological progenitors as a spiritual act, Butler asks whether anyone has ever been 'just' human? Butler then explores the implications of this question and its link to viewing the body as technology. Re-imagining incarnation as a relationship between vitality, biochemistry, and genetics, the book also takes a critical scientific approach to understanding the biological embodiment of Black spiritual practices. It shows how current and emerging technologies might align with the generative biological states of Black spiritualities in order to concretely disrupt and dismantle oppressive societal structures."-- Provided by publisher List of Abbreviations -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction and Overview -- 1. Thinking of Black Transhumanism: Non-Humanity, Moving Away From Transhumanism's Roots -- 2. Foundations of a Black Transhumanism: Blackness as the Biotechnologically Mediated Experience of Black Vitality -- 3. The Neurophysiology of Spiritual Experience -- 4. Black Transhuman Liberation Theology -- 5. Black Transhumanism as Revolt Spirituality -- Glossary of Terms -- Notes -- References -- Index