Religion and Human Enhancement: Death, Values, and Morality (Palgrave Studies in the Future of Humanity and its Successors)

This collection vigorously addresses the religious implications of extreme human enhancement technology. Topics covered include cutting edge themes, such as moral enhancement, common ground to both transhumanism and religion, the meaning of death, desire and transcendence, and virtue ethics. Radical enhancement programs, advocated by transhumanists, could arguably have a more profound impact than any other development in human history. Reflecting a range of opinion about the desirability of extreme enhancement, leading scholars in the field join with emerging scholars to foster enhanced conversation on these topics. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Coming into Focus: An Introduction to the Collection (Calvin Mercer)....Pages 3-12 Front Matter ....Pages 13-13 In Extropy We Trust: A Systems Theory Approach to Identifying Transhumanism’s Religious Philosophy (Matthew Zaro Fisher)....Pages 15-33 Christian Transhumanism (Ron Cole-Turner)....Pages 35-47 Mormonism Mandates Transhumanism (Lincoln Cannon)....Pages 49-66 Technological Apocalypse: Transhumanism as an End-Time Religious Movement (Sean O’Callaghan)....Pages 67-88 A Theological Assessment of Whole Brain Emulation: On the Path to Superintelligence (Calvin Mercer)....Pages 89-104 Front Matter ....Pages 105-105 Is Transhumanism a Distraction? On the Good of Being Boring (Brent Waters)....Pages 107-119 What Exactly Are We Trying to Accomplish? The Role of Desire in Transhumanist Visions (Amanda Sebastienne Grant)....Pages 121-137 Genesis 2.0: Transhumanism, Catholicism, and the Future of Creation (Cory Andrew Labrecque)....Pages 139-156 “Have You Believed Because You Have Seen?”: Human and Transhuman Desires for Alterations to the Visual Field and Religious Experience (Alan Murphy)....Pages 157-172 Front Matter ....Pages 173-173 The Myth of Moral Bio-Enhancement: An Evolutionary Anthropology and Theological Critique (Celia Deane-Drummond)....Pages 175-189 Ancient Aspirations Meet the Enlightenment (James J. Hughes)....Pages 191-211 A Transhumanist Moral Bioenhancement Program: A Critique from Barth and Bonhoeffer (Todd T. W. Daly)....Pages 213-228 Enhancing Moral Goodness: Toward a Virtue Ethics of Moral Bioenhancement (James E. Helmer)....Pages 229-243 Moral Bioenhancement from the Margins: An Intersectional Christian Theological Reconsideration (Tracy J. Trothen)....Pages 245-263 Front Matter ....Pages 265-265 Technologizing Transcendence: A Critique of Transhumanism (Hava Tirosh-Samuelson)....Pages 267-283 Must We Die? Transhumanism, Religion, and the Fear of Death (Noreen Herzfeld)....Pages 285-299 Dining and Dunking the Dead: Postmortem Rituals in First-Century Hellenistic Society and What They Reveal About the Role of the Body in Christianity (Lee A. Johnson)....Pages 301-316 Front Matter ....Pages 317-317 Making Us Better: Believe It or Not? (Tracy J. Trothen)....Pages 319-329 Back Matter ....Pages 331-377 This Collection Vigorously Addresses The Religious Implications Of Extreme Human Enhancement Technology. Topics Covered Include Cutting Edge Themes, Such As Moral Enhancement, Common Ground To Both Transhumanism And Religion, The Meaning Of Death, Desire And Transcendence, And Virtue Ethics--back Cover. Coming Into Focus: An Introduction To The Collection / Calvin Mercer -- In Extrophy We Trust: A Systems Theory Approach To Identifying Transhumanism's Religious Philosophy / Matthew Zaro Fisher -- Christian Transhumanism / Ron Cole-turner -- Mormonism Mandates Transhumanism / Lincoln Cannon -- Technological Apocalypse: Transhumanism As An End-time Religious Movement / Sean O'callaghan -- A Theological Assessment Of Whole Brain Emulation: On The Path To Superintelligence / Calvin Mercer -- Is Transhumanism A Distraction?: On The Good Of Being Boring / Brent Waters -- What Exactly Are We Trying To Accomplish?: The Role Of Desire In Transhumanist Visions / Amanda Sebastienne Grant -- Genesis 2.0: Transhumanism, Catholicism, And The Future Of Creation / Cory Andrew Labrecque -- Have You Believed Because You Have Seen?: Human And Transhuman Desires For Alterations To The Visual Field And Religious Experience / Alan Murphy -- The Myth Of Moral Bio-enhancement: An Evolutionary Anthropology And Theological Critique / Celia Deane-drummond -- Ancient Aspirations Meet The Englightenment / James J. Hughes -- A Transhumanist Moral Bioenhancement Program: A Critique From Barth And Bonhoeffer / Todd T.w. Daly -- Enhancing Moral Goodness: Toward A Virtue Ethics Of Moral Bioenhancement / James E. Helmer -- Moral Bioenhancement From The Margins: An Intersectional Christian Theological Reconsideration / Tracy J. Trothen -- Technololgizing Transcendence: A Critique Of Transhumanism / Hava Tirosh-samuelson -- Must We Die?: Transhumanism, Religion, And The Fear Of Death / Noreen Herzfeld -- Dining And Dunking The Dead: Postmortem Rituals In First-century Hellenic Society And What They Reveal About The Role Of The Body In Christianity / Lee A. Johnson -- Making Us Better: Believe It Or Not? / Tracy J. Trothen. Tracy J. Trothen, Calvin Mercer, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 331-368) And Index.