Religion and the Technological Future - by Calvin Mercer & Tracy J Trothen (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

We live in an age of rapid technological advancement. Never before has humankind wielded so much power over our own biology. Biohacking, the attempt at human enhancement of physical, cognitive, affective, moral, and spiritual traits, has become a global phenomenon. This textbook introduces religious and ethical implications of biohacking, artificial intelligence, and other technological changes, offering perspectives from monotheistic and karmic religions and applied ethics. These technological breakthroughs are transforming our societies and ourselves fundamentally via genetic modification, tissue engineering, artificial intelligence, robotics, the merging of computer technology with human biology, extended reality, brain stimulation, and nanotechnology. The book also considers the extreme possibilities of mind uploading, cryonics, and superintelligence. Chapters explore some of the political, economic, sociological, and psychological dimensions of these advances, withbibliographies for further study and questions for discussion. The technological future is here - and it is up to us to decide its moral and religious shape.

From the Back Cover

We live in an age of rapid technological advancement. Never before has humankind wielded so much power over our own biology. Biohacking, the attempt at human enhancement of physical, cognitive, affective, moral, and spiritual traits, has become a global phenomenon. This textbook introduces religious and ethical implications of biohacking, artificial intelligence, and other technological changes, offering perspectives from monotheistic and karmic religions and applied ethics. These technological breakthroughs are transforming our societies and ourselves fundamentally via genetic modification, tissue engineering, artificial intelligence, robotics, the merging of computer technology with human biology, extended reality, brain stimulation, and nanotechnology. The book also considers the extreme possibilities of mind uploading, cryonics, and superintelligence. Chapters explore some of the political, economic, sociological, and psychological dimensions of these advances, with bibliographies for further study and questions for discussion. The technological future is here - and it is up to us to decide its moral and religious shape.

Review Quotes

"Mercer and Trothen succeed in offering a helpful introduction to the religious conversation of human enhancement. This textbook will aptly serve students and professors alike seeking to understand the allure of transhumanism and its immense potential to dialogue with the world's religious traditions." (Melanie Dzugan, Reading Religion, readingreligion.org, January 30, 2024)

"An Introduction to Biohacking, Artificial Intelligence, and Transhumanism to be a timely and impressive book. The topography is vast, and the authors' knowledge commensurate and encyclopaedic. In covering the territory, their writing is generally good. ... Each chapter also includes 'Questions for Discussion', which is a useful tool. These features make it a great text for teaching." (Greg Cootsona, Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture, July 11, 2023)

"Religion and the Technological Future is an introductory textbook that relates newer scientific and technology developments for transforming human life with their religious and ethical implications. The authors write as religious and ethics educators, not as scientists, but appear fluent with the technologies they discuss." (John Mauger, Nova Religio, Vol. 26 (2), November, 2022)

"Religion and the Technological Future is an interesting introduction to the main topics about transhumanism and human enhancement and the religious and ethical perspectives on the issue. As a textbook, it offers a broad perspective highlighting the main arising questions on the principal topics in an understandable and accessible way." (Luis Torró Ferrero, Reviews in Science, Religion and Theology, Issue 3, September, 2022)

"Religion and the Technological Future is more likely to prove a valuable resource; it maintains a healthy scepticism while still drawing on our enthusiasm for technology's gadgets to explore a variety of entanglements between them and religion ... . Religion and the Technological Future will be more helpful to the religious studies scholar or person of faith wanting to know more about the relationship between these two fields, so often framed as being in opposition." (Beth Singler, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 90 (2), June, 2022)

"Glossary is followed by an excellent list of references. ... it's intended to be an introductory text for university students of religion, ethics, and morality, as applied to ... 'biohacking.' It does all of this admirably. ... The discussions are meant to stimulate intellectual reflection on the current direction, and coming together of, the biosciences and computer sciences. And this it does admirably. I know of no other introduction of its kind." (David Bellin, Computing Reviews, December 16, 2021)

About the Author

Calvin Mercer is Professor of Religion at East Carolina University, USA, and founding chair of the American Academy of Religion's Human Enhancement and Transhumanism Unit.

Tracy J. Trothen is Professor of Ethics at Queen's University, Canada, and co-chair of the American Academy of Religion's Artificial Intelligence Seminar.