Ep. 51 - Micah Redding on Christian Transhumanism
In this installment of the Future Grind podcast host Ryan O’Shea speaks with Micah Redding, the founder and Executive Director of the Christian Transhumanist Association and the host of the Christian Transhumanist Podcast. He grew up as a preacher's kid, spent eight years as a rock musician, and now works as a software developer. He’s also a member of Mensa, a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post and Vice Motherboard, and a public speaker.
They discuss what it means to be a Christian transhumanist, Micah's thoughts on mind uploading, AI, cyborgs, and death, his vision of the future, and much more.
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Show Notes
The Christian Transhumanist Association [2:35]
How Micah defines transhumanism [5:04]
What it means to be a Christian transhumanist [5:51]
Micah’s path to transhumanism [8:19]
Is transhumanism a religion? [9:38]
Relationship with the Mormon Transhumanist Association [10:55]
Are Christians already transhumanists [12:12]
A history of Christian transhumanism [13:57]
Response to Apocalypse Accelerationists & escapism [16:36]
The Christian Transhumanist Oxymoron [18:48]
Transhumanist thought in the Bible [21:14]
The Tower of Babel and projects to avoid [23:36]
The solar system & beyond [26:02]
Self, Identity, Souls, & AI in a technological future [27:44]
Is the CTA the work of Satan? Is Micah a demon? [32:22]
Thoughts on a transhumanist schism [34:15]
A Christian in the transhumanist community [35:43]
The Mark of the Beast [37:08]
View of aesthetic and gender augmentations [39:13]
Is body modification & augmentation religious expression? [41:00]
Micah’s vision for the future [41:53]
Death [44:35]
Recommended reading [47:42]
Where to follow along with Micah & the CTA [50:02]
Mentioned
Mormon Transhumanist Association
Patristics
Francis Bacon, The Great Instauration, New Atlantis
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Phenomenon of Man
Julian Huxley
Russell Moore
From the Bible
- Genesis 1
- Noah’s Ark
- Tower of Babel
C. S. Lewis
N. T. Wright, Surprised by Hope
Humanity+
U.S. Transhumanist Party
Jacob Boss
Frank Tipler, The Physics of Immortality
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