The imago Dei, Transhumanism, and the Future Glory of Humanity: A Critical Interaction With Ray Kurzweil's Technological Singularity

Abstract

In this dissertation, I argue that Ray Kurzweil’s transhumanist vision toward a merger between human biology and technology, generated out of a technological “Singularity,” will have revolutionary implications for humanity. I employ Trentham’s Inverse Consistency Protocol as a methodological framework for this research. Kurzweil’s vision is a false gospel that teleologically inverts the doctrines of the imago Dei, the atonement, human sanctification, the resurrection, and the future glorification of the saints. While his vision represents a City of Man far removed from that of the ancient Romans in Augustine’s The City of God against the Pagans, Kurzweil’s ultimate hope is the same—a City of Man that rises above previous generations and grasps immortality. In this dissertation, chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the scope of the work as a whole. In chapter 2, I provide an overview of The Singularity Is Near. While drawing from Kurzweil’s broader published works to support his claims in The Singularity, I illustrate his vision for a technological future seeking to eliminate sin, suffering, and death—one in which humanity will ultimately create “god” and form an all-encompassing unity. In chapter 3, I cast a biblical vision for the eternal City of God rooted in the active and redemptive work of the Trinity in the doctrines of the imago Dei, human dominion, the fall, and ultimately the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary to save humanity from sin, suffering, death, and to restore humanity to an incorruptible and perfect glorified state. In chapter 4, I employ reflective discernment in analyzing and evaluating these inversely oriented visions of the City of God and the City of Man. While the biblical vision finds its future hope in the City of God in the redemptive work of the Trinity, Kurzweil’s technological Singularity envisions a future where human and machine intelligence navigate the restraint of language, a development incomprehensible to previous generations, and synergize the vast cultures of Earth into a united and enduring City of Man. In chapter 5, I appropriate my research by exploring leadership and curricular priorities for the practice of Christian higher education, specifically in navigating what I believe will become one of the greatest metaphysical challenges of the twenty-first century—the integration of IVR and the Simulation Hypothesis. I conclude the work by providing suggestions toward future research projects and research concepts based on various implications that arose during my research but that could not be either addressed or engaged within the scope of this project.