How can we love religion when so many are hurt?How do we describe the reality of social constructs?Does Jesus have a personality?What's St. Paul's social media presence?Is God an AI?  twitter @BrokenBookPod Broken Book Podcast twitter @micahtredding Deconstruction John Calvin Calvin College How to be human. Different messages from the minor prophets. Scripture trains you for the ambiguity of life. Sharing religion to expand the universe. Religious thought separates us from other animals. Logic does not have room for contradiction, but the world is all about contradictions. Speaking possibilities into the world. Religious improvisation. Most things exist because we have faith in them. Substance comes from words. Virtual Reality government from words. The most prominent things in life are constructs of imagination. Non-binary religion. We aren't dealing with conservative vs. progressive. We are, like the Trinity, multiple things at once. Are you a coat hanger? You are a trinity. "Jesus Christ is an excellent dinner party guest" - Sam Jesus' Myers-Briggs – INFJ?? Jesus is into irony. "Jesus is good at saying smart things in less than 160 characters" - Sam Paul is Naïve. Humans are contradictory, nuanced beings. AI won't come about from logic, but from. "The Bible is closer to being human than the most complex super computer that we have devised" - Sam Libraries are a first draft at AI. 

<p>How can we love religion when so many are hurt?<br/>How do we describe the reality of social constructs?<br/>Does Jesus have a personality?<br/>What's St. Paul's social media presence?<br/>Is God an AI?</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/BrokenBookPod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter @BrokenBookPod</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/67135" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Broken Book Podcast</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/micahtredding" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter @micahtredding</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstruction" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deconstruction</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Calvin</a></li> <li><a href="https://calvin.edu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Calvin College</a></li> <li>How to be human.</li> <li>Different messages from the minor prophets.</li> <li>Scripture trains you for the ambiguity of life.</li> <li>Sharing religion to expand the universe.</li> <li>Religious thought separates us from other animals.</li> <li>Logic does not have room for contradiction, but the world is all about contradictions.</li> <li>Speaking possibilities into the world.</li> <li>Religious improvisation.</li> <li>Most things exist because we have faith in them.</li> <li>Substance comes from words.</li> <li>Virtual Reality government from words.</li> <li>The most prominent things in life are constructs of imagination.</li> <li>Non-binary religion. We aren't dealing with conservative vs. progressive.</li> <li>We are, like the Trinity, multiple things at once.</li> <li>Are you a coat hanger?</li> <li>You are a trinity.</li> <li>"Jesus Christ is an excellent dinner party guest" - Sam</li> <li>Jesus' <a href="https://www.myersbriggs.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Myers-Briggs</a> – INFJ??</li> <li>Jesus is into irony.</li> <li>"Jesus is good at saying smart things in less than 160 characters" - Sam</li> <li>Paul is Naïve.</li> <li>Humans are contradictory, nuanced beings.</li> <li>AI won't come about from logic, but from.</li> <li>"The Bible is closer to being human than the most complex super computer that we have devised" - Sam</li> <li>Libraries are a first draft at AI.</li> </ul>

Ep 45: The Realities of Social Construction, with Sam from the Broken Book Bible Podcast

Moritz Bierling

Moritz Bierling &amp; Micah Redding discuss the self, the second brain, and the process of individual and group transformation.

<p>Moritz Bierling &amp; Micah Redding discuss the self, the second brain, and the process of individual and group transformation.</p>

Ep 44: Moritz Bierling on self, second brain, and personal transformation

Derek Webb

Derek Webb gets inside the head of the first A.I. waking up to consciousness.Also: the oncoming future, laws, the Amish, hippies, Kevin Kelly, and the iPhone 13.Links:  Derek Webb Christian Transhumanist Conference 2018 

<p>Derek Webb gets inside the head of the first A.I. waking up to consciousness.<br/>Also: the oncoming future, laws, the Amish, hippies, Kevin Kelly, and the iPhone 13.</p><h2>Links:</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.derekwebb.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Derek Webb</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/conference" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christian Transhumanist Conference 2018</a></li> </ul>

Ep 43: Derek Webb & the AI

Taryn Southern

Taryn Southern teaches AI to sing, releases the first song on the blockchain, and talks about how to use VR for good.Bio:Taryn Southern is a digital artist and filmmaker. She is co-directing a documentary about the brain, and recently unveiled her AI/human collaborative album, I AM AI. As a YouTuber, she has produced more than 1000 videos and garnered more than half a billion views online.Topics:  Taryn's personal story:    Growing up in Kansas Studying Ayahuasca among rainforest communities in Peru Working as an actress in LA, becoming a comedic YouTuber  Creative pivots and losing your audience Hip-hop, EDM, and AI-based music    Tools for making music with AI: (Amper, Aiva, Watson Beat, Google Magenta) Kevin Kelly on the tools to unlock future geniuses  Creating a Song on the Blockchain Virtual Reality as Artform, VR for Healing    How to create a VR music video What VR reveals about embodiment Doing good, VR, and biofeedback  Social Media &amp; Our Story-telling Imagination    The movie theater as meditation Why dystopias are killing us, and our deep, practical need for hopeful stories  What does it mean to be human? Freezing your stem cells Why would you want to live forever? How to keep going, when 90% of things you try will fail Links &amp; Resources:  Taryn's website Life Support | 360° VR Music Video Composed By AI BREAK FREE Breaks into Radio—get it here! (video)  Pull-Quotes: “We could create literally anything—and we've chosen to create this world.” &lt;-- tweet this 

<p>Taryn Southern teaches AI to sing, releases the first song on the blockchain, and talks about how to use VR for good.</p><h2>Bio:</h2><p><a href="https://www.tarynsouthern.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Taryn Southern</a> is a digital artist and filmmaker. She is co-directing a documentary about the brain, and recently unveiled her AI/human collaborative album, I AM AI. As a YouTuber, she has produced more than 1000 videos and garnered more than half a billion views online.</p><h2>Topics:</h2> <ul> <li>Taryn's personal story:   <ul> <li>Growing up in Kansas</li> <li>Studying Ayahuasca among rainforest communities in Peru</li> <li>Working as an actress in LA, becoming a comedic YouTuber</li> </ul></li> <li>Creative pivots and losing your audience</li> <li>Hip-hop, EDM, and AI-based music   <ul> <li>Tools for making music with AI: (<a href="https://www.ampermusic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amper</a>, <a href="http://www.aiva.ai/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aiva</a>, <a href="https://www.ibm.com/watson/music/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watson Beat</a>, <a href="https://ai.google/research/teams/brain/magenta/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Magenta</a>)</li> <li><a href="https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/podcast/17" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kevin Kelly on the tools to unlock future geniuses</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://futurism.com/help-make-worlds-first-tokenized-song/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Creating a Song on the Blockchain</a></li> <li>Virtual Reality as Artform, VR for Healing   <ul> <li><a href="https://www.tiltbrush.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to create a VR music video</a></li> <li>What VR reveals about embodiment</li> <li><a href="https://devdiner.com/virtual-reality/striving-to-do-good-in-the-world-with-virtual-reality-and-360-video" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Doing good, VR, and biofeedback</a></li> </ul></li> <li>Social Media &amp; Our Story-telling Imagination   <ul> <li>The movie theater as meditation</li> <li>Why dystopias are killing us, and <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/the-revolutionary-story" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our deep, practical need for hopeful stories</a></li> </ul></li> <li>What does it mean to be human?</li> <li>Freezing your stem cells</li> <li>Why would you want to live forever?</li> <li>How to keep going, when 90% of things you try will fail</li> </ul><p><br/></p><h2>Links &amp; Resources:</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.tarynsouthern.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Taryn's website</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RhLXep_730" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Life Support | 360° VR Music Video Composed By AI</a></li> <li><strong>BREAK FREE</strong> <a href="https://artists.spotify.com/c/artist/6PjLXtg6VKsB2bZF5Aw0z3/song/2uFxcTGKpurYNxLVGOyu5K?time-filter=28day" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Breaks into Radio—get it here!</a> (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUs6CznN8pw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">video</a>)</li> </ul><p><br/> </p><h2>Pull-Quotes:</h2> <blockquote><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/podcast/42&amp;text=%20%E2%80%9CWe%20could%20create%20literally%20anything%E2%80%94and%20we%27ve%20chosen%20to%20create%20this%20world.%E2%80%9D%20%0D%0A%20%E2%80%94%20@TarynSouthern" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“We could create literally anything—and we've chosen to create this world.”</a> &lt;-- tweet this</p> </blockquote>

Ep 42: Taryn Southern Lives in the Future

David Pearce

David Pearce lays out a plan for building heaven on earth, shows us why vegans need more science fiction, and explains why computers may never become conscious.Bio:David Pearce is a philosopher, a founder of the World Transhumanist Association (now called Humanity+), and the author of The Hedonistic Imperative.Topics:  The Naturalization of Heaven  The Lion and the Lamb as an engineering project The Ever-Happy Mice The Hedonistic Imperative &amp; The Abolitionist Project  How do we make heaven on earth? A 3-step plan:    Stop systematically harming living beings. Shut down factory farms &amp; slaughter houses. Introduce in vitro meats. Designer babies &amp; free genetic screening. Raise our "hedonic set-point" — How much pleasure and pain we experience on average.  Wireheading vs Paradise Engineering?    Genetic Engineering, Smart Drugs, and why natural selection won't let us become wire-headers Wireheading, Faith Healing &amp; the Placebo Effect — Micah's comprehensive theory of placebo, faith healing, and the genetics of spiritual authority Will genetic engineering increase biodiversity? Do we need pain in order to experience pleasure?  Should vegans be more ambitious?    What is the role of humanity in governing life? The significance of Science Fiction &amp; Religious Visions  Will computers become conscious?    The Binding Problem of Consciousness Is there one consciousness or many? What does consciousness do? Consciousness as Quantum Coherence   Links:  BBC on David Pearce &amp; the Pursuit of Happiness The Hedonistic Imperative The Abolitionist Project  Pull-Quotes: "Computers may never become conscious." &lt;-- Click to tweet"The pain-pleasure axis exposes the world's metric of value." — @webmasterdave "Every child born today is a unique genetic experiment." — @webmasterdave"Ending suffering for good entails tackling its genetic-biological roots, i.e. a programming solution." — @webmasterdave"All that matters is the pleasure-pain axis." — @webmasterdave 

<p>David Pearce lays out a plan for building heaven on earth, shows us why vegans need more science fiction, and explains why computers may never become conscious.</p><h2>Bio:</h2><p>David Pearce is a philosopher, a founder of the World Transhumanist Association (now called <a href="https://humanityplus.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Humanity+</a>), and the author of <a href="https://www.hedweb.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hedonistic Imperative</a>.</p><h2>Topics:</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://hplusmagazine.com/2013/10/26/david-pearce-the-naturalisation-of-heaven/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Naturalization of Heaven</a> <ul> <li>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_lamb_and_lion" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lion and the Lamb</a> as an <a href="http://www.scifuture.org/a-non-trivial-pursuit-of-happiness-paradise-engineering-with-david-pearce/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">engineering project</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060822180641.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ever-Happy Mice</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v07VZIQyoMc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hedonistic Imperative</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.abolitionist.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Abolitionist Project</a></li> </ul></li> <li>How do we make heaven on earth? A 3-step plan:   <ol> <li>Stop systematically harming living beings. Shut down factory farms &amp; slaughter houses. Introduce in vitro meats.</li> <li>Designer babies &amp; free genetic screening.</li> <li>Raise our "hedonic set-point" — How much pleasure and pain we experience on average.</li> </ol></li> <li>Wireheading vs Paradise Engineering?   <ul> <li>Genetic Engineering, Smart Drugs, and why natural selection won't let us become wire-headers</li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/wireheading-faith-healing-and-the-placebo-effect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wireheading, Faith Healing &amp; the Placebo Effect</a> — Micah's comprehensive theory of placebo, faith healing, and the genetics of spiritual authority</li> <li>Will genetic engineering increase biodiversity?</li> <li>Do we need pain in order to experience pleasure?</li> </ul></li> <li>Should vegans be more ambitious?   <ul> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/environmentalism-mandates-transhumanism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What is the role of humanity in governing life?</a></li> <li>The significance of Science Fiction &amp; Religious Visions</li> </ul></li> <li>Will computers become conscious?   <ul> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xizbtklciA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Binding Problem of Consciousness</a></li> <li>Is there one consciousness or many?</li> <li>What does consciousness do?</li> <li><a href="https://www.hedweb.com/physicalism/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Consciousness as Quantum Coherence</a></li> </ul></li> </ul><p><br/> </p><h2>Links:</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b037v4gd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BBC on David Pearce &amp; the Pursuit of Happiness</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.hedweb.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hedonistic Imperative</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.abolitionist.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Abolitionist Project</a></li> </ul><p><br/> </p><h2>Pull-Quotes:</h2> <blockquote><p><a href="https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/podcast/41" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Computers may never become conscious."</a> &lt;-- Click to tweet</p><p><a href="https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/podcast/41" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The pain-pleasure axis exposes the world's metric of value." — @webmasterdave</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/podcast/41" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Every child born today is a unique genetic experiment." — @webmasterdave</a></p><p><a href="https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/podcast/41" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Ending suffering for good entails tackling its genetic-biological roots, i.e. a programming solution." — @webmasterdave</a></p><p><a href="https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/podcast/41" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"All that matters is the pleasure-pain axis." — @webmasterdave</a></p> </blockquote>

Ep 41: David Pearce & Engineering Paradise

Justin Lee

Justin Lee navigates being gay &amp; Christian, talks about Paul, the Bible, and Christian ethics, and bridges the ultimate divide: geeks vs nerds!Bio:Justin Lee is an American author, speaker, and LGBT Christian activist known for his focus on building bridges. He is the author of "Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate" and the director of a 2009 documentary, "Through My Eyes". He is the founder of the Gay Christian Network, and the current executive director of Nuance Ministries. His latest book is "Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree with and Maybe Even Change the World". Topics:  Being Gay &amp; Evangelical   Side A / Side B: orientation, behavior, and why labels are important Trying to become straight, and the truth about Ex-Gay ministries The reality of intersex &amp; why gender is more complicated than you think  Missing the forest for the trees &amp; Marrying the Gospel to Our Sins   The Civil War as a Theological Crisis &amp; why many Christians got the Bible wrong about slavery Following the Bible through the clobber passages  Christian ethical philosophy   Romans 13:8-10 and Paul's ethical philosophy Why this is not hippy-dippy nonsense! "By their fruits you will know them" &amp; Christianity's call for evidence Why the Law of Moses won’t work outside of the ancient desert, but Jesus’ morality would work in the Andromeda galaxy.  Polarization, Social Media, and why we should still fellowship across big theological disagreements   Why Christian ethics should play a bigger role in how we communicate Justin's book: Talking Across the Divide How we're being shaped in hidden ways: The Filter Bubble: How the Personalized Web Is Changing What We Read and How We Think  Geeks, Nerds, and the differences between   Ready Player One: the book vs the movie Board games &amp; Justin's Clue collection Choose Your Own Adventure Books — which ones are best?  Ryan North, Creator of Dinosaur Comics &amp; Choose Your Own Adventure Hamlet   Choose Your Own Adventure Hamlet! The novelization of Back to the Future Dinosaur Comics: The Simulation Argument, Part 2—Diamonds!  Books &amp; Links  Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree with and Maybe Even Change the World Justin Lee's Website

<p>Justin Lee navigates being gay &amp; Christian, talks about Paul, the Bible, and Christian ethics, and bridges the ultimate divide: geeks vs nerds!</p><h2>Bio:</h2><p>Justin Lee is an American author, speaker, and LGBT Christian activist known for his focus on building bridges. He is the author of "<a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Torn-Rescuing-Gospel-Gays-vs-Christians-Debate/dp/B00CRMOLJA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524591659&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=justin+lee&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=51685f3f58bf75fa81d9adc7f5c5001e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate</a>" and the director of a 2009 documentary, "Through My Eyes". He is the founder of the Gay Christian Network, and the current executive director of Nuance Ministries. His latest book is "<a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Talking-Across-Divide-Communicate-Disagree-ebook/dp/B077LT9X4G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524591659&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=justin+lee&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=794d5c3c687ceae7655aa2cde00e0d72" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree with and Maybe Even Change the World</a>". </p><h2>Topics:</h2> <ul> <li>Being Gay &amp; Evangelical<br>  <ul> <li>Side A / Side B: orientation, behavior, and why labels are important</li> <li>Trying to become straight, and the truth about Ex-Gay ministries</li> <li>The reality of intersex &amp; why gender is more complicated than you think</li> </ul></li> <li>Missing the forest for the trees &amp; Marrying the Gospel to Our Sins<br>  <ul> <li><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00W1W601S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=d09d88012260830ccb20ca54476449a2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Civil War as a Theological Crisis</a> &amp; why many Christians got the Bible wrong about slavery</li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW5ZZtdziwU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Following the Bible through the clobber passages</a></li> </ul></li> <li>Christian ethical philosophy<br>  <ul> <li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A8-10&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Romans 13:8-10</a> and Paul's ethical philosophy</li> <li>Why this is not hippy-dippy nonsense!</li> <li>"By their fruits you will know them" &amp; Christianity's call for evidence</li> <li>Why <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2015/08/07/infinite-morality-jesus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Law of Moses won’t work outside of the ancient desert, but Jesus’ morality would work in the Andromeda galaxy.</a></li> </ul></li> <li>Polarization, Social Media, and why we should still fellowship across big theological disagreements<br>  <ul> <li>Why Christian ethics should play a bigger role in how we communicate</li> <li>Justin's book: <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Talking-Across-Divide-Communicate-Disagree-ebook/dp/B077LT9X4G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524591659&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=justin+lee&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=794d5c3c687ceae7655aa2cde00e0d72" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Talking Across the Divide</a></li> <li>How we're being shaped in hidden ways: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Filter-Bubble-Personalized-Changing-Think/dp/0143121235/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1528382229&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=the+filter+bubble&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=8b0782611db42b890ed0c2c8dcbe6288" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Filter Bubble: How the Personalized Web Is Changing What We Read and How We Think</a></li> </ul></li> <li>Geeks, Nerds, and the differences between<br>  <ul> <li><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Ready-Player-One-Ernest-Cline-ebook/dp/B004J4WKUQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1528382575&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ready+player+one&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=7769a05696b28f3b608b20656a600e1f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ready Player One</a>: the book vs the movie</li> <li>Board games &amp; <a href="http://geekyjustin.com/okay-im-slightly-obsessed-with-clue/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Justin's Clue collection</a></li> <li><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Cave-Time-Choose-Your-Adventure/dp/055312790X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1528382793&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=cave+of+time&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=d0706f3f172fcf55f57d6a52af9ba77b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Choose Your Own Adventure Books</a> — which ones are best?</li> </ul></li> <li>Ryan North, Creator of Dinosaur Comics &amp; Choose Your Own Adventure Hamlet<br>  <ul> <li><a href="https://topatoco.com/collections/ryan-north/products/qw-tbontb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Choose Your Own Adventure Hamlet!</a></li> <li><a href="http://btothef.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The novelization of Back to the Future</a></li> <li>Dinosaur Comics: <a href="http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=1623" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Simulation Argument</a>, <a href="http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=1624" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Part 2—Diamonds!</a></li> </ul></li> </ul><h2>Books &amp; Links</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Torn-Rescuing-Gospel-Gays-vs-Christians-Debate/dp/B00CRMOLJA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524591659&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=justin+lee&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=51685f3f58bf75fa81d9adc7f5c5001e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate</a></li> <li><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Talking-Across-Divide-Communicate-Disagree-ebook/dp/B077LT9X4G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524591659&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=justin+lee&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=794d5c3c687ceae7655aa2cde00e0d72" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree with and Maybe Even Change the World</a></li> <li><a href="http://geekyjustin.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Justin Lee's Website</a></li></ul>

Ep 40: Justin Lee—Gay, Geek & Christian

Ilia Delio

Ilia Delio explains how Jesus is like the Singularity, shows us why Christianity is the religion of evolution, and explores the thought of Teilhard de Chardin—the 1930s priest who foresaw the internet.Bio:Ilia Delio is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Washington, D.C.,is the Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University, and the author of 17 books, including The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love.Books &amp; Links  The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love The Emergent Christ Other Books by Ilia Delio Conference: Christianity as Planetary Faith: Engaging Teilhard’s Vision Topics:  Christ &amp; Evolution    Creation, Sanctification &amp; Redemption is one process of Incarnation—a person coming into the world. Jesus is the beginning of the fuller incarnation. Christianity is the one religion that says God is involved in everything What's missing from Darwinian evolution The Florida God, the Kool-Aid Man God, and the Christian God  Teilhard de Chardin (as quoted in the Royal Wedding!)    The Jesuit Priest Who Believed in God and the Singularity — Micah's article for Motherboard Teilhard's influence on Vatican II, Pope Benedict, Pope John Paul, and Pope Francis The relationship between Teilhard &amp; Julian Huxley ("the father of modern transhumanism") The Omega Point  Religion as zest for life    Religion in the best sense should wake us up, move us into the world, to be doing new things The whole New Testament is future-oriented Transhumanism will transform the church  Does the Body of Christ include other religions? Developing religion toward the life of God "God loves new things" Pull-Quotes: "Jesus is like a new Big Bang. Jesus is the Singularity." &lt;-- Tweet this"Christianity is the religion of evolution." "Christians are not separate from the whole. Christians are to be the prime evolvers." "Our humanness is the ability to grow out of suffering." "The comparative power of religious creeds may be measured by their respective power of evolutive activation." — Teilhard  (Watch the video of this conversation)

<p>Ilia Delio explains how Jesus is like the Singularity, shows us why Christianity is the religion of evolution, and explores the thought of Teilhard de Chardin—the 1930s priest who foresaw the internet.</p><p><br/></p><h2>Bio:</h2><p>Ilia Delio is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Washington, D.C.,<br/>is the Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University, and the author of 17 books, including <a href="https://amzn.to/2JlWvTc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love</a>.</p><p><br/></p><h2>Books &amp; Links</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/2JlWvTc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love</a></li> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/2xtcdra" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Emergent Christ</a></li> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/2J2qikq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Other Books by Ilia Delio</a></li> <li>Conference: <a href="https://www.omegacenter.info/event/omega-conference-2018/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christianity as Planetary Faith: Engaging Teilhard’s Vision</a></li> </ul><p><br/></p><h2>Topics:</h2> <ul> <li>Christ &amp; Evolution   <ul> <li>Creation, Sanctification &amp; Redemption is one process of Incarnation—a person coming into the world. Jesus is the beginning of the fuller incarnation.</li> <li>Christianity is the one religion that says God is involved in everything</li> <li>What's missing from Darwinian evolution</li> <li>The Florida God, the Kool-Aid Man God, and the Christian God</li> </ul></li> <li>Teilhard de Chardin (as quoted in the <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/be-thou-my-vision-and-theosis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Royal Wedding</a>!)   <ul> <li><a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/nz7z7q/the-priest-who-believed-in-god-and-the-singularity-pierre-teilhard-de-chardin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Jesuit Priest Who Believed in God and the Singularity</a> — Micah's article for Motherboard</li> <li>Teilhard's influence on Vatican II, <a href="https://teilhard.com/2013/08/14/the-noosphere-part-ii-christian-concepts-of-the-noosphere/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pope Benedict</a>, Pope John Paul, and <a href="https://teilhard.com/2015/06/19/laudato-si-and-teilhard-de-chardin/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pope Francis</a></li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2015/11/02/the-word-transhumanist" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The relationship between Teilhard &amp; Julian Huxley ("the father of modern transhumanism")</a></li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/omega-point-theory" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Omega Point</a></li> </ul></li> <li>Religion as zest for life   <ul> <li>Religion in the best sense should wake us up, move us into the world, to be doing new things</li> <li>The whole New Testament is future-oriented</li> <li><a href="http://www.globalsistersreport.org/why-transhumanism-will-transform-church-14956" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transhumanism will transform the church</a></li> </ul></li> <li>Does the Body of Christ include other religions?</li> <li>Developing religion toward the life of God</li> <li>"God loves new things"</li> </ul><p><br/></p><h2>Pull-Quotes:</h2> <blockquote><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christiantranshumanism.org%2Fpodcast%2F39&amp;text=%22Jesus%20is%20like%20a%20new%20Big%20Bang.%20Jesus%20is%20the%20Singularity.%22%20%E2%80%94%20Ilia%20Delio&amp;hashtags=Christian%2CTranshumanism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Jesus is like a new Big Bang. Jesus is the Singularity."</a> &lt;-- Tweet this</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christiantranshumanism.org%2Fpodcast%2F39&amp;text=%22Christianity%20is%20the%20religion%20of%20evolution.%22%20%E2%80%94%20Ilia%20Delio&amp;hashtags=Christian%2CTranshumanism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Christianity is the religion of evolution."</a> </p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christiantranshumanism.org%2Fpodcast%2F39&amp;text=%22Christians%20are%20not%20separate%20from%20the%20whole.%20Christians%20are%20to%20be%20the%20prime%20evolvers.%22%20%E2%80%94%20Ilia%20Delio&amp;hashtags=Christian%2CTranshumanism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Christians are not separate from the whole. Christians are to be the prime evolvers."</a> </p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christiantranshumanism.org%2Fpodcast%2F39&amp;text=%22Our%20humanness%20is%20the%20ability%20to%20grow%20out%20of%20suffering.%22%20%E2%80%94%20Ilia%20Delio&amp;hashtags=Christian%2CTranshumanism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Our humanness is the ability to grow out of suffering."</a> </p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christiantranshumanism.org%2Fpodcast%2F39&amp;text=%22The%20comparative%20power%20of%20religious%20creeds%20may%20be%20measured%20by%20their%20respective%20power%20of%20evolutive%20activation.%22%20%E2%80%94%20@TdeChardin&amp;hashtags=Christian%2CTranshumanism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The comparative power of religious creeds may be measured by their respective power of evolutive activation." — Teilhard</a> </p> </blockquote><p><br/></p><p>(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8O4t-f8MuQ&amp;index=3&amp;list=PL-S97LROgRNy8GQORBQ6opBCITdM4dP2O" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watch the video of this conversation</a>)</p>

Ep 39: Ilia Delio, Christ & Evolution

NT Wright explains why we don't want to go to Heaven, points us toward medical technology as a sign of the Kingdom, and clears up our biggest misconceptions about the apostle Paul.Books &amp; Links:  Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church Paul: A Biography NT Wright's online courses Topics:  Why should the church care about history? “Going to Heaven” vs “The Kingdom of Heaven”    Eschatology, the story we find ourselves in, and why God wants to renew the physical world CS Lewis, The Great Divorce, and an afterlife that's more physical, not less Why people ignore Romans 8:19-21  “Signs of the kingdom”    The Resurrection spreads outward from Christ, through humanity, to all creation. Signs of Christ's impact: Health Care, Education, Concern for the Poor The centrality of medical technology to the work of Christianity  What does the word “God” mean?    A Skeptic's introduction to the New Testament Christology from below? Epicureanism, Stoicism, Judaism The Mistakes of the Church Fathers The Eastern Orthodox doctrine of Theosis (Divinization)  Doctor Who? The biggest misunderstanding about Paul    Paul wasn't expecting the end of the world (see Gifford Lectures) Phoebe, Junia, and why Paul wasn't a misogynist  Quotes: “If we were to scour the first century for people who were hoping that their souls would leave the present material world behind and go to heaven, we would discover Platonists like Plutarch, not Christians like Paul.” &lt;-- (click to tweet) “The rise of medical technology over the last two or three hundred years is one of the great success stories of science.” &lt;-- (click to tweet) 

<p>NT Wright explains why we don't want to go to Heaven, points us toward medical technology as a sign of the Kingdom, and clears up our biggest misconceptions about the apostle Paul.</p><p><br/></p><h2>Books &amp; Links:</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Surprised-Hope-Rethinking-Resurrection-Mission-ebook/dp/B0010SIPOY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1527181272&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=surprised+by+hope+n.t.+wright&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=8c244ef99b6dd3947f8cf39bd1a7c9c1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Surprised by Hope</a>: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church</li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Biography-N-T-Wright-ebook/dp/B072L5DTCH/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1527181258&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=paul+a+biography+nt+wright&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=1e11a526fa006ac1469edb8ea6bf313f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paul: A Biography</a></li> <li><a href="http://ntwrightonline.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NT Wright's online courses</a></li> </ul><p><br/></p><h2>Topics:</h2> <ul> <li>Why should the church care about history?</li> <li>“Going to Heaven” vs “The Kingdom of Heaven”   <ul> <li>Eschatology, the story we find ourselves in, and why God wants to renew the physical world</li> <li>CS Lewis, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Great-Divorce-C-S-Lewis-ebook/dp/B002BD2US4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1527181568&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=the+great+divorce+cs+lewis&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=03abc3f6c69ebe2cec663f0f6f9bddac" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Great Divorce</a>, and <strong>an afterlife that's more physical, not less</strong></li> <li>Why people ignore <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A19-21&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Romans 8:19-21</a></li> </ul></li> <li>“Signs of the kingdom”   <ul> <li>The Resurrection spreads outward from Christ, through humanity, to all creation.</li> <li>Signs of Christ's impact: <strong>Health Care, Education, Concern for the Poor</strong></li> <li>The centrality of medical technology to the work of Christianity</li> </ul></li> <li>What does the word “God” mean?   <ul> <li>A Skeptic's introduction to the New Testament</li> <li>Christology from below?</li> <li>Epicureanism, Stoicism, Judaism</li> <li>The Mistakes of the Church Fathers</li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/be-thou-my-vision-and-theosis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Eastern Orthodox doctrine of Theosis</a> (Divinization)</li> </ul></li> <li>Doctor Who?</li> <li>The biggest misunderstanding about Paul   <ul> <li>Paul wasn't expecting the end of the world (see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIWDJyqh3aE&amp;list=PLv797D4CCFPAyZfVlS02nzhFD-l2GgHf4&amp;index=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gifford Lectures</a>)</li> <li>Phoebe, Junia, and why Paul wasn't a misogynist</li> </ul></li> </ul><p><br/></p><h2>Quotes:</h2> <blockquote><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CIf%20we%20were%20to%20scour%20the%20first%20century%20for%20people%20who%20were%20hoping%20that%20their%20souls%20would%20leave%20the%20present%20material%20world%20behind,%20and%20go%20to%20heaven%E2%80%94we%20would%20discover%20Platonists%20like%20Plutarch,%20not%20Christians%20like%20Paul.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20@NTWrightSays&amp;url=https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/podcast/38" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“If we were to scour the first century for people who were hoping that their souls would leave the present material world behind and go to heaven, we would discover Platonists like Plutarch, not Christians like Paul.”</a> &lt;-- (click to tweet) </p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CThe%20rise%20of%20medical%20technology%20over%20the%20last%20two%20or%20three%20hundred%20years%20is%20one%20of%20the%20great%20success%20stories%20of%20science.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20@NTWrightSays&amp;url=https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/podcast/38" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“The rise of medical technology over the last two or three hundred years is one of the great success stories of science.”</a> &lt;-- (click to tweet)</p> </blockquote>

Ep 38: NT Wright & the Future of God

Robin Hanson

Robin Hanson explores a future of robotic human uploads, helps us worry about The Great Filter, gives us strategies for living in a Simulation, and casually points out the Elephant in the Brain.Bio:Robin Hanson is an associate professor of economics at George Mason University and a research associate of the Future of Humanity Institute of Oxford University. He is the author of The Age of Em: Work, Love and Life when Robots Rule the Earth andThe Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life, with co-author Kevin Simler.Topics:  Is Robin a "sex redistribution professor"? The Elephant in the Brain  Why do we hide our actual motives from ourselves? Ignorance as a strategy The log in the eye — Jesus' version of the elephant in the brain Is the "elephant" an evolutionary version of the Christian concept of a "fallen nature"? Does anyone believe in creationism?  Where does religion come from? What will life be like when robots rule the earth? Why human brains will probably be with us for a very long time The Great Filter  Read about The Great Filter, or watch the TEDx talk What stands between dead matter, and expanding lasting life? "Something out there is killing everything, and you're likely next."  How to live in a simulation    The Simulation Argument (see also a religious version and why we should believe we are not alone) Why Donald Trump is probably living in a Simulation — and you aren't.  Books &amp; Links:  The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life, with co-author Kevin Simler. The Age of Em: Work, Love and Life when Robots Rule the Earth Robin Hanson's website Kevin Simler's website (Watch the video of this conversation)

<p>Robin Hanson explores a future of robotic human uploads, helps us worry about The Great Filter, gives us strategies for living in a Simulation, and casually points out the Elephant in the Brain.</p><h2>Bio:</h2><p>Robin Hanson is an associate professor of economics at George Mason University and a research associate of the Future of Humanity Institute of Oxford University. He is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Age-Em-Work-Robots-Earth/dp/B01KMD36OQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1526417611&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=The+Age+of+Em&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=a5ec60348816280a3f2594eb8d850b38" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Age of Em: Work, Love and Life when Robots Rule the Earth</a> and<br/><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Elephant-Brain-Hidden-Motives-Everyday-ebook/dp/B077GZT9Q1/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1526314798&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=elephant+in+the+brain&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=80ae40ce956508818e934c6c7ce4117e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life</a>, with co-author <a href="http://meltingasphalt.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kevin Simler</a>.</p><h2>Topics:</h2> <ul> <li>Is Robin a "sex redistribution professor"?</li> <li><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Elephant-Brain-Hidden-Motives-Everyday-ebook/dp/B077GZT9Q1/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1526314798&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=elephant+in+the+brain&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=80ae40ce956508818e934c6c7ce4117e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Elephant in the Brain</a> <ul> <li>Why do we hide our actual motives from ourselves?</li> <li>Ignorance as a strategy</li> <li>The log in the eye — Jesus' version of the elephant in the brain</li> <li>Is the "elephant" an evolutionary version of the Christian concept of a "fallen nature"?</li> <li>Does anyone believe in creationism?</li> </ul></li> <li>Where does religion come from?</li> <li>What will life be like when robots rule the earth?</li> <li>Why human brains will probably be with us for a <em>very</em> long time</li> <li><a href="http://mason.gmu.edu/~rhanson/greatfilter.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Great Filter</a> <ul> <li><a href="http://mason.gmu.edu/~rhanson/greatfilter.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read about The Great Filter</a>, or watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aspMV6ERqpo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TEDx talk</a></li> <li>What stands between dead matter, and expanding lasting life?</li> <li>"Something out there is killing everything, and you're likely next."</li> </ul></li> <li>How to live in a simulation   <ul> <li><a href="https://www.simulation-argument.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Simulation Argument</a> (see also a <a href="https://new-god-argument.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">religious version</a> and <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/minimum-viable-theology-we-are-not-alone" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">why we should believe we are not alone</a>)</li> <li>Why Donald Trump is probably living in a Simulation — and you aren't.</li> </ul></li> </ul><p><br/></p><h2>Books &amp; Links:</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Elephant-Brain-Hidden-Motives-Everyday-ebook/dp/B077GZT9Q1/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1526314798&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=elephant+in+the+brain&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=80ae40ce956508818e934c6c7ce4117e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life</a>, with co-author Kevin Simler.</li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Age-Em-Work-Robots-Earth/dp/B01KMD36OQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1526417611&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=The+Age+of+Em&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=micahredding-20&amp;linkId=a5ec60348816280a3f2594eb8d850b38" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Age of Em: Work, Love and Life when Robots Rule the Earth</a></li> <li><a href="http://mason.gmu.edu/~rhanson/home.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Robin Hanson's website</a></li> <li><a href="http://meltingasphalt.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kevin Simler's website</a></li> </ul><p><br/></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKFw8OdZMi4&amp;list=PL-S97LROgRNy8GQORBQ6opBCITdM4dP2O" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Watch the video of this conversation)</a></p>

Ep 37: Robin Hanson & The Elephant in the Brain

Aubrey de Grey

See Aubrey de Grey live at the first ever Christian Transhumanist Conference on August 25th, 2018—in Nashville, TN!Aubrey de Grey pioneers anti-aging research, answers your questions about the future this is leading to, and explains why not working to defeat aging would be a sin.Bio:Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist, the founder &amp; Chief Science Officer of the SENS Research Foundation, editor-in-chief of Rejuvenation Research, and author of the book Ending Aging.Relevant Links:  Aubrey's book: Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime Stay-up-date on news and research, and contribute to the anti-aging effort at the SENS Research Foundation. Other efforts discussed: Google's Calico Labs, Humanity Longevity Inc Important thoughts:  Aging causes more suffering than almost anything in the world 90% of the medical budget of the western world is spent on costs associated with old age The cure for Heart Disease and Cancer is being held back by the reluctance to deal with aging itself Aging &amp; Medicine Aging isn't “programmed in”: much of our body's machinery is dedicated to fighting aging Ending aging is continuous with current medical practice Ending aging will never look like a “magic pill”—it will necessarily be an ongoing cooperative process of society. World impact The UN predicts that human population will peak, and start to decline, sometime this century Out of pure economic necessity, world governments will pay for universal anti-aging therapy Repairing damage to our bodies can correlate with repairing damage to the planet The clash between science and engineering: understanding a problem, vs solving a problem It would be a sin not to work on ending aging How might this interact with religion?  The biblical vision of optimal human life is living multiple centuries, and having children much later. For example, Isaiah 65 looks forward to a time of radically extended lifespans. All religions insist that we are not supposed to hasten death, and command us to work against it Christians should support radical life extension Pull-Quotes: “Ageing is, simply and clearly, the accumulation of damage in the body. That's all that ageing is.” &lt;-- click to tweet“If changing our world is playing God, it is just one more way in which God made us in His image.” &lt;-- click to tweet 

<p><strong><a href="https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/conference" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">See Aubrey de Grey live at the first ever Christian Transhumanist Conference on August 25th, 2018—in Nashville, TN!</a></strong></p><p>Aubrey de Grey pioneers anti-aging research, answers your questions about the future this is leading to, and explains why not working to defeat aging would be a sin.</p><h3>Bio:</h3><p>Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist, the founder &amp; Chief Science Officer of the <a href="http://www.sens.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SENS Research Foundation</a>, editor-in-chief of <a href="http://www.liebertpub.com/overview/rejuvenation-research/127/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rejuvenation Research</a>, and author of the book <a href="http://amzn.to/2g3MsFs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ending Aging</a>.</p><p><br/></p><h3>Relevant Links:</h3> <ul> <li>Aubrey's book: <a href="http://amzn.to/2g3MsFs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime</a></li> <li>Stay-up-date on news and research, and contribute to the anti-aging effort at the <a href="http://www.sens.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SENS Research Foundation</a>.</li> <li>Other efforts discussed: Google's <a href="https://www.calicolabs.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Calico Labs</a>, <a href="http://www.humanlongevity.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Humanity Longevity Inc</a></li> </ul><p><br/></p><h3>Important thoughts:</h3> <ul> <li>Aging causes more suffering than almost anything in the world</li> <li>90% of the medical budget of the western world is spent on costs associated with old age</li> <li>The cure for Heart Disease and Cancer is being held back by the reluctance to deal with aging itself</li> <li>Aging &amp; Medicine</li> <li>Aging isn't “programmed in”: much of our body's machinery is dedicated to fighting aging</li> <li>Ending aging is continuous with current medical practice</li> <li>Ending aging will never look like a “magic pill”—it will necessarily be an ongoing cooperative process of society.</li> <li>World impact</li> <li>The UN predicts that human population will peak, and start to decline, sometime this century</li> <li>Out of pure economic necessity, world governments will pay for universal anti-aging therapy</li> <li>Repairing damage to our bodies can correlate with repairing damage to the planet</li> <li>The clash between science and engineering: understanding a problem, vs solving a problem</li> <li>It would be a sin not to work on ending aging</li> </ul><p><br/></p><h3>How might this interact with religion?</h3> <ul> <li>The biblical vision of optimal human life is living multiple centuries, and having children much later. For example, <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2016/02/17/why-christians-should-support-radical-life-extension" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Isaiah 65 looks forward to a time of radically extended lifespans</a>.</li> <li>All religions insist that we are not supposed to hasten death, and command us to work against it</li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2016/02/17/why-christians-should-support-radical-life-extension" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christians should support radical life extension</a></li> </ul><p><br/></p><h3>Pull-Quotes:</h3> <blockquote><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CAgeing%20is,%20simply%20and%20clearly,%20the%20accumulation%20of%20damage%20in%20the%20body.%20That%27s%20all%20that%20ageing%20is.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20@aubreydegrey&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/36" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Ageing is, simply and clearly, the accumulation of damage in the body. That's all that ageing is.”</a> &lt;-- click to tweet</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CIf%20changing%20our%20world%20is%20playing%20God,%20it%20is%20just%20one%20more%20way%20in%20which%20God%20made%20us%20in%20His%20image.%E2%80%9D%E2%80%94@aubreydegrey&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/36" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“If changing our world is playing God, it is just one more way in which God made us in His image.”</a> &lt;-- click to tweet</p> </blockquote>

Ep 36: Aubrey de Grey & Radical Life Extension

Explore Christianity and Transhumanism, diving deep into the relationship between religion, technology, and the future of the human race—with provocative guests from the leading edges of science and theology.

Great content

Amazing and thought provoking. One of my favorite podcasts

ActionJ

The Christian Transhumanist Podcast

David Deutsch

David Deutsch explains the physics of humanity’s profound place in the cosmos—and our potentially unlimited future.   Bio: David Deutsch is an Oxford Physicist, a pioneer in the field of Quantum Computing, the founder of Constructor Theory, and the author of the books The Fabric of Reality, and The Beginning of Infinity.   Takeaways:  Humans occupy a profound place in the cosmos, because of our “special relationship with the laws of physics” Human minds have reached a sort of escape velocity. There is nothing in the universe we cannot understand, and nothing that is possible in the universe that we cannot do. This means there is no categorical difference between any of us—or between us and any alien species, or super-intelligent AI We need a culture of problem-solving, not problem-avoidance Knowledge confers power without limit   Relevant links, essays, and talks by David Deutsch:  The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch (**Must read!**) The Fabric of Reality by David Deutsch Artificial Intelligence is a Philosophical Problem—on the relevance of understanding human intelligence to the creation of AI TED talk—chemical scum that dream of distant quasars—on our place in the cosmos TED talk—a new way to explain explanation—what explanatory knowledge actually is David Deutsch’s Interview with Sam Harris David Deutsch’s website   How might religion engage with these ideas?  Micah Redding on The Infinite Morality of Jesus (essay) Micah Redding on Christianity as Transcendent Humanism (talk)   Pull-quotes: “The one advantage that good has over evil…is that the bad guys are wrong” — David Deutsch (click to tweet!)“Wayward teenagers are also AIs” — David Deutsch (click to tweet!)   Key concepts and definitions:  Knowledge is the defining characteristic of life Explanatory knowledge is the defining characteristic of persons Humans are the only persons we know of Explanatory knowledge means:    We have a “special relationship with the laws of physics” We have infinite reach We can understand anything in the universe We can do anything that is possible in the universe We are the most significant phenomenon in the universe  The creation of new explanatory knowledge is what persons do    We don’t yet know how this works—which means Artificial Intelligence is a Philosophical Problem, not a technical one Because humans are persons, with infinite reach, there is no categorical difference between us and any alien species, or future AI, no matter how intelligent Human minds have reached a sort of escape velocity Human Universality is a consequence of the theory of computation—and demonstrates that we have no fundamental limits, and that our biological differences are irrelevant  We need a culture of problem-solving, not problem-avoidance    We are guaranteed to have problems, but we can solve them. Pursuing knowledge will not prevent problems, and will sometimes create them, but it is the only way for good to triumph. “The one advantage that good has over evil…is that the bad guys are wrong” — David Deutsch The pursuit of new knowledge is the one area where good has an advantage over evil. To stop the pursuit of knowledge is to sacrifice good’s one advantage.  “Traditions which stabilize change” are the paradoxical phenomenon necessary for ongoing progress, and must be “traditions of criticism”    The scientific revolution was one particular tradition of criticism, involving the pursuit of “good explanations”      “Good explanations” are explanations which are hard-to-vary Micah’s maxim: “Truth is the thing that’s hard to shake” The scientific process itself is subject to evolution and change  Democracy, and many other institutions which achieve ongoing progress, are other examples of traditions of criticism      The one criterion by which we judge political systems should be, does this make it more or less easy to remove bad policies, and bad leaders, without violence?   David Deutsch’s take on The Omega Point Theory and other cosmological models: One way or another, we have a virtually unlimited cosmological future 

<p>David Deutsch explains the physics of humanity’s profound place in the cosmos—and our potentially unlimited future. </p> <p><br/></p> <h3>Bio:</h3> <p>David Deutsch is an Oxford Physicist, a pioneer in the field of Quantum Computing, the founder of Constructor Theory, and the author of the books <a href="http://amzn.to/2uEF6Nj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fabric of Reality</a>, and <a href="http://amzn.to/2uJkKBg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Beginning of Infinity</a>. </p> <p><br/></p> <h3>Takeaways:</h3> <ul> <li>Humans occupy a profound place in the cosmos, because of our “special relationship with the laws of physics”</li> <li>Human minds have reached a sort of escape velocity. There is nothing in the universe we cannot understand, and nothing that is possible in the universe that we cannot do.</li> <li>This means there is no categorical difference between any of us—or between us and any alien species, or super-intelligent AI</li> <li>We need a culture of problem-solving, not problem-avoidance</li> <li>Knowledge confers power without limit</li> </ul> <p><br/></p> <h3>Relevant links, essays, and talks by David Deutsch:</h3> <ul> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2uJkKBg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Beginning of Infinity</a> by David Deutsch (**Must read!**)</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2uEF6Nj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fabric of Reality</a> by David Deutsch</li> <li><a href="https://aeon.co/essays/how-close-are-we-to-creating-artificial-intelligence" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Artificial Intelligence is a Philosophical Problem</a>—on the relevance of understanding human intelligence to the creation of AI</li> <li><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/david_deutsch_on_our_place_in_the_cosmos#t-556863" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TED talk—chemical scum that dream of distant quasars</a>—on our place in the cosmos</li> <li><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/david_deutsch_a_new_way_to_explain_explanation#t-979077" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TED talk—a new way to explain explanation</a>—what explanatory knowledge actually is</li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J21QuHrIqXg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Deutsch’s Interview with Sam Harris</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.daviddeutsch.org.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Deutsch’s website</a></li> </ul> <p><br/></p> <h3>How might religion engage with these ideas?</h3> <ul> <li>Micah Redding on <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2015/08/07/infinite-morality-jesus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Infinite Morality of Jesus</a> (essay)</li> <li>Micah Redding on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8AprXckeTE&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;list=PL-S97LROgRNzo--DO8vVoRMQXFnBPYXXw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christianity as Transcendent Humanism</a> (talk)</li> </ul> <p><br/></p> <h3>Pull-quotes:</h3> <blockquote><p>“The one advantage that good has over evil…is that the bad guys are wrong” — David Deutsch <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CThe%20one%20advantage%20that%20good%20has%20over%20evil%E2%80%A6is%20that%20the%20bad%20guys%20are%20wrong%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20David%20Deutsch&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/35" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(click to tweet!)</a></p><p>“Wayward teenagers are also AIs” — David Deutsch <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CWayward%20teenagers%20are%20also%20AIs%E2%80%9D%20%20%E2%80%94%20David%20Deutsch&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/35" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(click to tweet!)</a></p> </blockquote> <p><br/></p> <h3>Key concepts and definitions:</h3> <ul> <li>Knowledge is the defining characteristic of life</li> <li>Explanatory knowledge is the defining characteristic of persons</li> <li>Humans are the only persons we know of</li> <li>Explanatory knowledge means:   <ul> <li>We have a “special relationship with the laws of physics”</li> <li>We have infinite reach</li> <li>We can understand anything in the universe</li> <li>We can <em>do</em> anything that is possible in the universe</li> <li>We are the most significant phenomenon in the universe</li> </ul></li> <li>The creation of new explanatory knowledge is what persons do   <ul> <li>We don’t yet know how this works—which means <a href="https://aeon.co/essays/how-close-are-we-to-creating-artificial-intelligence" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Artificial Intelligence is a Philosophical Problem</a>, not a technical one</li> <li>Because humans are persons, with infinite reach, there is no categorical difference between us and any alien species, or future AI, no matter how intelligent</li> <li>Human minds have reached a sort of escape velocity</li> <li>Human Universality is a consequence of the theory of computation—and demonstrates that we have no fundamental limits, and that our biological differences are irrelevant</li> </ul></li> <li>We need a culture of problem-solving, not problem-avoidance   <ul> <li>We are guaranteed to have problems, but we can solve them.</li> <li>Pursuing knowledge will not prevent problems, and will sometimes create them, but it is the only way for good to triumph.</li> <li>“The one advantage that good has over evil…is that the bad guys are wrong” — David Deutsch</li> <li>The pursuit of new knowledge is the one area where good has an advantage over evil. To stop the pursuit of knowledge is to sacrifice good’s one advantage.</li> </ul></li> <li>“Traditions which stabilize change” are the paradoxical phenomenon necessary for ongoing progress, and must be “traditions of criticism”   <ul> <li>The scientific revolution was one particular tradition of criticism, involving the pursuit of “good explanations”     <ul> <li>“Good explanations” are explanations which are hard-to-vary</li> <li>Micah’s maxim: “Truth is the thing that’s hard to shake”</li> <li>The scientific process itself is subject to evolution and change</li> </ul></li> <li>Democracy, and many other institutions which achieve ongoing progress, are other examples of traditions of criticism     <ul> <li>The one criterion by which we judge political systems should be, does this make it more or less easy to remove bad policies, and bad leaders, without violence?</li> </ul></li> </ul></li> <li>David Deutsch’s take on <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/omega-point-theory" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Omega Point Theory</a> and other cosmological models: <em>One way or another, we have a virtually unlimited cosmological future</em></li> </ul>

Ep 35: David Deutsch & Humanity's Infinite Reach

Meghan O'Gieblyn lost her faith—and found transhumanism. Then she realized that those two things weren't quite as far apart as she first believed. Relevant links:  N+1: Ghost in the Cloud—transhumanism's Simulation Theology Guardian: God in the Machine—my strange journey into transhumanism (shorter version of above) Megan O'Gieblyn's Hell Megan's website Important thought:  The loss of faith is a loss of narrative, of history. Transhumanism, like Christianity, is the embrace of history's dramatic significance. Pull quote: “But people who’ve gotten that far into the faith never totally shake it. To be a former believer is to perpetually return to the scene of the crime.” — Megan O'Gieblyn(click to tweet) 

<p>Meghan O'Gieblyn lost her faith—and found transhumanism. Then she realized that those two things weren't quite as far apart as she first believed. </p><p><br/></p><h3>Relevant links:</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://nplusonemag.com/issue-28/essays/ghost-in-the-cloud/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">N+1: Ghost in the Cloud—transhumanism's Simulation Theology</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/18/god-in-the-machine-my-strange-journey-into-transhumanism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Guardian: God in the Machine—my strange journey into transhumanism</a> (shorter version of above)</li> <li>Megan O'Gieblyn's <a href="https://thepointmag.com/2014/examined-life/hell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hell</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.meghanogieblyn.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Megan's website</a></li> </ul><p><br/></p><h3>Important thought:</h3> <ul> <li>The loss of faith is a loss of narrative, of history. Transhumanism, like Christianity, is the embrace of history's dramatic significance.</li> </ul><p><br/></p><h3>Pull quote:</h3> <blockquote><p>“But people who’ve gotten that far into the faith never totally shake it. To be a former believer is to perpetually return to the scene of the crime.” — Megan O'Gieblyn</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CBut%20people%20who%E2%80%99ve%20gotten%20that%20far%20into%20the%20faith%20never%20totally%20shake%20it.%20To%20be%20a%20former%20believer%20is%20to%20perpetually%20return%20to%20the%20scene%20of%20the%20crime.%E2%80%9D%E2%80%94Megan%20O%27Gieblyn&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/34" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(click to tweet)</a></p> </blockquote>

Ep 34: Meghan O'Gieblyn's Strange Journey into Transhumanism

Ron Cole-Turner

What does Christianity bring to the conversation about the future of humanity? How do we move beyond the selfishness of short-term thinking, and embrace technology as part of the renewal and transformation of all life? Ron Cole-Turner, professor of theology and ethics, and author of numerous books on transhumanism and human origins, joins us to explore these questions.  What does Christianity bring to the conversation about the future? The need for theology to relate to the real, practical world Bioethics and why the distinction between Therapy &amp; Enhancement can't answer our moral questions for us Why Christian theology needs to offer more than justification The Eastern Orthodox doctrine of Theosis &amp; the Vision of Cosmic Transformation The whole universe becomes "luminous" or intelligent Christian Transhumanism applied to the Cosmos Ephesians 1:9-10 and God's plan to bring all things into unity in Christ, not as dead matter, but as participatory life “God became human so that humanity might become divine.” — St Athanasius &lt;-- (click to tweet) The breath-taking doctrine of the incarnation The rejection of racist interpretations Can you engineer something outside the scope of the incarnation? Everything we are, have been, or will become, is in the scope of God's plan Pierre Teilhard de Chardin aka The Jesuit Priest Who Believed in God and the Singularity Karl Rahner Romans 8:19-21 and the glorious vision of incarnation's ultimate impact Physicist David Deutsch on Humanity's Infinite Reach Salvation as transformation The historic differences between East &amp; West   The problem isn't guilt, it is that we are mortal—and cannot share fully in the life of God  Why newer churches are named things like Elevation “The glory of God is a human being fully alive” — St Irenaeus &lt;-- (click to tweet) Why moments of persecution are the moments of greatest imagination Why Christian Transhumanism is the strongest possible transhumanism The origins of the word “Transhumanism” by Ron Cole-Turner Dante in 1320—exclaiming over the impossibility of saying what is beyond the human Dante's final guide: Bernard of Clairvaux, the figure who personified looking beyond the human The History of “Transhumanism” by Harrison/Wolniak God takes the limits off our humanity The more we open ourselves to God, the more we open ourselves to unlimited life Books: Design and Destiny: Jewish and Christian Perspectives on Human Germline Modification The End of Adam and Eve: Theology and the Science of Human Origins Transhumanism and Transcendence: Christian Hope in an Age of Technological Enhancement Links: Blogging at TheologyPlus Ron Cole-Turner on Twitter  Ron Cole-Turner is the Professor of Theology and Ethics at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, a founding member of the International Society for Science and Religion, and has served on the advisory board of the John Templeton Foundation and the Metanexus Institute Quotes:  “The glory of God is a human being fully alive” — St Irenaeus &lt;-- (click to tweet) “God became human so that humanity might become divine.” — St Athanasius &lt;-- (click to tweet)  "After all, almost no one objects to the idea that human beings should strive to enhance or improve themselves.""And to say that religion, Christianity in particular, also endorses at least some form of human enhancement is an understatement in the extreme.""The distinction in theology is between redemption and glorification, between God redeeming humanity by restoring us to an original state from which we have fallen and glorifying or transforming us far above any original status. The bioethics distinction that is similar, and perhaps related historically, is of course the one between therapy and enhancement. Redemption and therapy are both aimed at restoring what was (or what should be regarded as a “normal” state, even if it never actually existed), whereas glorification and enhancement take us far beyond toward something completely new.""The main point, however, is that human transformation is central to Christian thought, and thus it affects the way in which Christian theology understands not just the character but the very being of God as triune and as capable of entering into and taking up the human condition, thereby transforming it beyond all human expectation."

<p>What does Christianity bring to the conversation about the future of humanity? How do we move beyond the selfishness of short-term thinking, and embrace technology as part of the renewal and transformation of all life? Ron Cole-Turner, professor of theology and ethics, and author of numerous books on transhumanism and human origins, joins us to explore these questions.</p> <ul> <li>What does Christianity bring to the conversation about the future?</li> <li>The need for theology to relate to the real, practical world</li> <li>Bioethics and why the distinction between Therapy &amp; Enhancement can't answer our moral questions for us</li> <li>Why Christian theology needs to offer more than justification</li> <li><a href="http://www.metanexus.net/essay/technology-and-eschatology" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Eastern Orthodox doctrine of Theosis</a> &amp; the Vision of Cosmic Transformation</li> <li>The whole universe becomes "luminous" or intelligent</li> <li>Christian Transhumanism applied to the Cosmos</li> <li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A9-10&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ephesians 1:9-10</a> and God's plan to bring all things into unity in Christ, not as dead matter, but as participatory life</li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CGod%20became%20human%20so%20that%20humanity%20might%20become%20divine.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20St%20Athanasius%20&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/33" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“God became human so that humanity might become divine.” — St Athanasius</a> &lt;-- (click to tweet)</li> <li>The breath-taking doctrine of the incarnation</li> <li>The rejection of racist interpretations</li> <li>Can you engineer something outside the scope of the incarnation?</li> <li>Everything we are, have been, or will become, is in the scope of God's plan</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Teilhard_de_Chardin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pierre Teilhard de Chardin</a> aka <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/the-priest-who-believed-in-god-and-the-singularity-pierre-teilhard-de-chardin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Jesuit Priest Who Believed in God and the Singularity</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Rahner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Karl Rahner</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A19-21&amp;version=RSV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Romans 8:19-21</a> and the glorious vision of incarnation's ultimate impact</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2oOk1Ld" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Physicist David Deutsch on Humanity's Infinite Reach</a></li> <li>Salvation as transformation</li> <li>The historic differences between East &amp; West<br>  <ul> <li>The problem isn't guilt, it is that we are mortal—and cannot share fully in the life of God</li> </ul></li> <li>Why newer churches are named things like <em>Elevation</em></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CThe%20glory%20of%20God%20is%20a%20human%20being%20fully%20alive%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20St%20Irenaeus&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/33" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“The glory of God is a human being fully alive” — St Irenaeus</a> &lt;-- (click to tweet)</li> <li>Why moments of persecution are the moments of greatest imagination</li> <li>Why Christian Transhumanism is the strongest possible transhumanism</li> <li><a href="http://www.theologyplus.org/the-history-of-the-word-transhumanism/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The origins of the word “Transhumanism”</a> by Ron Cole-Turner</li> <li>Dante in 1320—exclaiming over the impossibility of saying what is beyond the human</li> <li>Dante's final guide: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_of_Clairvaux" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bernard of Clairvaux</a>, the figure who personified looking beyond the human</li> <li><a href="https://oup.silverchair-cdn.com/oup/backfile/Content_public/Journal/nq/62/3/10.1093/notesj/gjv080/3/gjv080.pdf?Expires=1492290643&amp;Signature=O8t7nwPXfLtpXrAZEYCYoxeztveE7PMRL~BEwS3Vz2Y25DYUjN-p19oTWdEEte5ILBKAjB5zKUEHLy9pP9mO7IPn7GLBJmy6OJrfX~QXqNuowiHyltzGI5vGCxODO3Kc6fNOAU~u7xP1I5I5Fa2FfoOYycGarnDyeX8F~PNXuj-6UGsNO3SknvK-qeaUrem0JomFn2bfNgbOM20yAQZ9d~WF1RX2S2PaAUeDoSPfDYhadQNEVuw9l7UlcmUs~b5RD0S4Ole7FvCTSL3M3UPeNPQDk0Rw4WvNznzHWYHcJbpBwuYVNy46igIvW3JMGb6OBlRs5IP6c4iMqCBJROXsZA__&amp;Key-Pair-Id=APKAIUCZBIA4LVPAVW3Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The History of “Transhumanism”</a> by Harrison/Wolniak</li> <li>God takes the limits off our humanity</li> <li>The more we open ourselves to God, the more we open ourselves to unlimited life</li> <li>Books:</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2p578Nn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Design and Destiny: Jewish and Christian Perspectives on Human Germline Modification</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2owWYHl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The End of Adam and Eve: Theology and the Science of Human Origins</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2on5MNY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transhumanism and Transcendence: Christian Hope in an Age of Technological Enhancement</a></li> <li>Links:</li> <li><a href="http://www.theologyplus.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blogging at TheologyPlus</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/RonColeTurner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ron Cole-Turner on Twitter</a></li> </ul> <p><em>Ron Cole-Turner is the Professor of Theology and Ethics at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, a founding member of the International Society for Science and Religion, and has served on the advisory board of the John Templeton Foundation and the Metanexus Institute</em></p> <h3>Quotes:</h3> <ul> <li><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CThe%20glory%20of%20God%20is%20a%20human%20being%20fully%20alive%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20St%20Irenaeus&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/33" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“The glory of God is a human being fully alive” — St Irenaeus</a> &lt;-- (click to tweet)</p></li> <li><p><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CGod%20became%20human%20so%20that%20humanity%20might%20become%20divine.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20St%20Athanasius%20&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/33" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“God became human so that humanity might become divine.” — St Athanasius</a> &lt;-- (click to tweet)</p></li> </ul> <blockquote><p>"After all, almost no one objects to the idea that human beings should strive to enhance or improve themselves."</p><p>"And to say that religion, Christianity in particular, also endorses at least some form of human enhancement is an understatement in the extreme."</p><p>"The distinction in theology is between redemption and glorification, between God redeeming humanity by restoring us to an original state from which we have fallen and glorifying or transforming us far above any original status. The bioethics distinction that is similar, and perhaps related historically, is of course the one between therapy and enhancement. Redemption and therapy are both aimed at restoring what was (or what should be regarded as a “normal” state, even if it never actually existed), whereas glorification and enhancement take us far beyond toward something completely new."</p><p>"The main point, however, is that human transformation is central to Christian thought, and thus it affects the way in which Christian theology understands not just the character but the very being of God as triune and as capable of entering into and taking up the human condition, thereby transforming it beyond all human expectation."</p></blockquote>

Ep 33: Ron Cole-Turner & The Theology of Transformation

Shannon Vyff

Is cryonics selfish? What do Harry Potter, transhumanism, and religious education have in common? What happens when kids go door-to-door raising money for life extension? Shannon Vyff—Transhumanist, Cryonicist, Unitarian Universalist, and author of “21st Century Kids“, and “The Scientific Conquest of Death”—discusses all these questions and more!  21st Century Kids Hyperdrives, nano-minting, accelerated brains with direct computer interfaces, conversations with dolphins, indefinite lifespan Will AI have its own religions? How to involve your kids in big discussions about the future Kids raising money for life extension Nick Bostrom’s fable of the Dragon Tyrant The Scientific Conquest of Death Essay, Confessions of a Proselytizing Immortalist Discussing cryonics at your children's playgroup Caloric Restriction “The only thing that retards aging is calorie restriction. As genetic studies go forward, we’ll find out why.” — Roy Walford Calorie Restriction &amp; intermittent fasting Cryonics &amp; Common Questions Is cryonics selfish? In cryonics, are you taking up too much space? Why Cryonics might be more green than a burial How cryonics might help people who are living now Cryonics is "an ongoing experiment—a very long one" Kim Suozzi, the 23-year old neuroscience student who was in the midst of battling terminal brain cancer How cryonicists rallied to help fulfill her wishes—and preserve her after death What is natural? Is cryonics against God's will? “the naturalness of transhumanism (being open to what we may become)” How technology may reduce our environmental footprint What does "natural" or "biblical" actually mean?   The Year of Living Biblically A Year of Biblical Womanhood The future of religious education—virtual reality visits to religious history  Can you be a Unitarian Universalist and a Transhumanist? Harry Potter, time travel, religious education and transhumanism Teaching the whole world of religion The history of Unitarianism and Universalism in America Shannon Vyff with Barbara Walters Organizations: Alcor Longecity SENS La Leche League Books: 21st Century Kids The Scientific Conquest of Death Shannon Vyff on Facebook

<p>Is cryonics selfish? What do Harry Potter, transhumanism, and religious education have in common? What happens when kids go door-to-door raising money for life extension? Shannon Vyff—Transhumanist, Cryonicist, Unitarian Universalist, and author of “21st Century Kids“, and “The Scientific Conquest of Death”—discusses all these questions and more!</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2oV2Fjr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">21st Century Kids</a></li> <li>Hyperdrives, nano-minting, accelerated brains with direct computer interfaces, conversations with dolphins, indefinite lifespan</li> <li>Will AI have its own religions?</li> <li>How to involve your kids in big discussions about the future</li> <li>Kids raising money for life extension</li> <li><a href="http://www.nickbostrom.com/fable/dragon.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nick Bostrom’s fable of the Dragon Tyrant</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2p4rtSU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Scientific Conquest of Death</a></li> <li>Essay, <a href="http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/12986-confessions-of-a-proselytizing-immortalist/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Confessions of a Proselytizing Immortalist</a></li> <li>Discussing cryonics at your children's playgroup</li> <li>Caloric Restriction</li> <li>“The only thing that retards aging is calorie restriction. As genetic studies go forward, we’ll find out why.” — Roy Walford</li> <li>Calorie Restriction &amp; <a href="https://examine.com/nutrition/the-low-down-on-intermittent-fasting/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">intermittent fasting</a></li> <li>Cryonics &amp; Common Questions</li> <li><em>Is cryonics selfish?</em></li> <li>In cryonics, are you taking up too much space?</li> <li>Why Cryonics might be more <em>green</em> than a burial</li> <li>How cryonics might help people who are living now</li> <li>Cryonics is "an ongoing experiment—a very long one"</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/us/cancer-immortality-cryogenics.html?_r=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kim Suozzi</a>, the 23-year old neuroscience student who was in the midst of battling terminal brain cancer</li> <li>How cryonicists rallied to help fulfill her wishes—and preserve her after death</li> <li>What is natural? Is cryonics against God's will?</li> <li>“the naturalness of transhumanism (being open to what we may become)”</li> <li>How technology may reduce our environmental footprint</li> <li>What does "natural" or "biblical" actually mean?<br>  <ul> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2owgQKX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Year of Living Biblically</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2owlPv2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Year of Biblical Womanhood</a></li> <li>The future of religious education—virtual reality visits to religious history</li> </ul></li> <li>Can you be a Unitarian Universalist and a Transhumanist?</li> <li>Harry Potter, time travel, religious education and transhumanism</li> <li>Teaching the whole world of religion</li> <li>The history of Unitarianism and Universalism in America</li> <li><a href="http://www.alcor.org/blog/update_abc_news_barbara_walter/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shannon Vyff with Barbara Walters</a></li> <li>Organizations:</li> <li><a href="http://www.alcor.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alcor</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.longecity.org/forum/page/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Longecity</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.sens.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SENS</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.llli.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">La Leche League</a></li> <li>Books:</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2oV2Fjr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">21st Century Kids</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2p4rtSU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Scientific Conquest of Death</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShannonVyff" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shannon Vyff on Facebook</a></li></ul>

Ep 32: Shannon Vyff, Cryonics & Religious Education

Peter Enns

How can certainty be a form of idolatry? Why should Christians embrace the humanity of the scriptures? How did an existentialist rant sneak into the Bible? And what does that teach us about faith? Peter Enns joins us to explore all these questions and more!Peter Enns is an biblical scholar and theologian, and Professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University. He has taught at Princeton, Harvard, and Westminster Theological Seminary, and is the author of books such as "Inspiration and Incarnation", "The Evolution of Adam", "The Sin of Certainty", and recently, "The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It"  Pete's journey, and Uh-oh moments The problems of being a person whose love language is analytical. Welcome to the club! The paradox of churches trying shore up faith intellectually, while driving away intellectual people When changing your perspective forces you to leave your community Maybe churches should celebrate when people are ready to move on? How is certainty a form of idolatry? How Ecclesiastes explores Existentialism, and explains what faith really is—moving forward in spite of the absurdity of life Taking the Bible as it actually is Why the Bible can't act as our foundation—but can bear witness to the Spirit of God What does inspiration actually mean? How does it relate to incarnation?   “In the same way that Jesus is—must be—both God and human, the Bible is also a divine and human book.” Why removing the human element is a historic Christian heresy  New Year's Bible reading challenge? How to read through the Bible the right way. Why Christian faith is trans-rational Jewish and Christian ways of reading: Is the Bible a source of conversation, or a source of unquestioned, simple, obvious doctrine? The Paradox of Protestantism: putting interpretation into everyone's hands, and expecting them all to agree! :) A fact which challenges your theology does not mean the fact is wrong—it means you have a theology problem. Welcome to adult Christianity! Tweetable quotes: "God is in the habit of upsetting our theologies, not just confirming them." &lt;-- (click to tweet) "The Bible is a compost pile. Without it, nothing grows, but the focus is on what grows out of it." "The need to move beyond biblical categories is biblical." Peter's Books The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It The Sin of Certainty Inspiration and Incarnation The Evolution of Adam Peter's Recommended Study Guides: Harper Collins Study Bible Jewish Study Bible

<p>How can certainty be a form of idolatry? Why should Christians embrace the humanity of the scriptures? How did an existentialist rant sneak into the Bible? And what does that teach us about faith? Peter Enns joins us to explore all these questions and more!</p><p>Peter Enns is an biblical scholar and theologian, and Professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University. He has taught at Princeton, Harvard, and Westminster Theological Seminary, and is the author of books such as "<a href="http://amzn.to/2n1cdWh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inspiration and Incarnation</a>", "<a href="http://amzn.to/2n78x7c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Evolution of Adam</a>", "<a href="http://amzn.to/2mNvutf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Sin of Certainty</a>", and recently, "<a href="http://amzn.to/2mNyk1r" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It</a>"</p> <ul> <li>Pete's journey, and <em>Uh-oh</em> moments</li> <li>The problems of being a person <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLmHMCTR0Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">whose love language is analytical</a>. Welcome to the club!</li> <li>The paradox of churches trying shore up faith intellectually, while driving away intellectual people</li> <li>When changing your perspective forces you to leave your community</li> <li>Maybe churches should celebrate when people are ready to move on?</li> <li>How is certainty a form of idolatry?</li> <li>How Ecclesiastes explores Existentialism, and explains <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2016/02/04/faith-of-the-martian" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">what faith <em>really</em> is</a>—moving forward in spite of the absurdity of life</li> <li>Taking the Bible as it actually is</li> <li>Why the Bible can't act as our foundation—but <em>can</em> bear witness to the Spirit of God</li> <li>What does inspiration actually mean? How does it relate to incarnation?<br>  <ul> <li>“In the same way that Jesus is—must be—both God and human, the Bible is also a divine and human book.”</li> <li>Why removing the human element is a historic Christian heresy</li> </ul></li> <li>New Year's Bible reading challenge? How to read through the Bible <em>the right way</em>.</li> <li>Why Christian faith is trans-rational</li> <li>Jewish and Christian ways of reading: Is the Bible a source of conversation, or a source of unquestioned, simple, obvious doctrine?</li> <li>The Paradox of Protestantism: putting interpretation into everyone's hands, and expecting them all to agree! :)</li> <li>A fact which challenges your theology does not mean the fact is wrong—it means you have a theology problem. Welcome to adult Christianity!</li> <li>Tweetable quotes:</li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CGod%20is%20in%20the%20habit%20of%20upsetting%20our%20theologies,%20not%20just%20confirming%20them.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20@peteenns&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/31" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>"God is in the habit of upsetting our theologies, not just confirming them."</strong></a> &lt;-- (click to tweet)</li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Bible%20is%20a%20compost%20pile.%20Without%20it,%20nothing%20grows,%20but%20the%20focus%20is%20on%20what%20grows%20out%20of%20it.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20@peteenns&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/31" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The Bible is a compost pile. Without it, nothing grows, but the focus is on what grows out of it."</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%9CThe%20need%20to%20move%20beyond%20biblical%20categories%20is%20biblical.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%94%20@peteenns&amp;url=http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/31" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The need to move beyond biblical categories is biblical."</a></li> <li>Peter's Books</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mNyk1r" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mNvutf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Sin of Certainty</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2n1cdWh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inspiration and Incarnation</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2n78x7c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Evolution of Adam</a></li> <li>Peter's Recommended Study Guides:</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mm401U" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Harper Collins Study Bible</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2nfgNm0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jewish Study Bible</a></li></ul>

Ep 31: Peter Enns & How to Stop Defending the Bible (So You Can Actually Read It)

Robert Wright

Can evolution have a purpose? Are we living in an alien zoo? Does the cosmos evolve? Why did Christianity emerge when it did? What is the direction of human society—and are we at a crisis point in history? Best-selling author Robert Wright explores all these questions and more.Robert Wright is a journalist, scholar, and prize-winning author of best-selling books about science, evolutionary psychology, history, religion, and game theory.  Zero Sum and Non-Zero-Sum Games  Example: the economy is a non-zero-sum game Both conflict and cooperation can lead to non-zero-sum games External zero-sum games can drive internal non-zero-sum  Is there such a thing as progress? Evolutionary, Technological, Cultural?   The Expanding Circle: Ethics, Evolution, and Moral Progress, by Peter Singer When faced with external threats, the Greek city states went from seeing each other as non-human, to seeing each other as human, and only outsiders as non-human. A similar process has proceeded at larger and larger scales throughout history.  Are we at a crisis point in history?   The Fermi Paradox &amp; the Danger of Tribalism  Christianity’s unique relationship with cosmopolitanism   The Bible claims that Christianity emerged “at just the right time” When Christianity emerged, it was in an age of multi-ethnic cosmopolitanism across the Roman Empire. And it emerged as a faith that was explicit about its multi-ethnic nature. If Christianity hadn’t happened, would another similar religion have necessarily emerged? How similar might it have been?  Can evolution have a higher purpose?—Robert Wright’s controversial article for the NY Times   Three myths about evolution and higher purpose:     To say that there’s in some sense a “higher purpose” means there are “spooky forces” at work. To say that evolution has a purpose is to say that it is driven by something other than natural selection. Evolution couldn’t have a purpose, because it doesn’t have a direction. If evolution has a purpose, the purpose must have been imbued by an intelligent being.  Are we living in an alien evolution zoo? What does purpose mean? The one thing Richard Dawkins and William Paley agreed on  Cosmological Natural Selection   Lee Smolin's original black-hole centric formulation Black holes as reproductive organs of the universe Does life play a role? Louis Crane’s expansion, centering the role of intelligent beings The Anthropic Principle &amp; Fine-tuning “A shared path to the future” — Micah’s argument for the role of intelligence in the universe, based on Richard Dawkins’ distinction between Symbiosis and Parasitism  The Simulation Argument, as presented by Elon Musk, and in theological and religious forms  Non-supernatural miracles The fear of purpose   Are popular scientists committing a slippery slope fallacy? Why did early biologists, including Darwin's friends, talk about purpose in evolution? Is ruling out purpose driving people away from thoughtful naturalism and into reactionary supernaturalism? Will it hurt science education?  Robert Wright’s books:   NonZero: the logic of human destiny The Moral Animal The Evolution of God  Robert Wright on the Fermi Paradox Robert Wright on The Colbert Report Robert Wright on Twitter Robert Wright’s video network: MeaningOfLife.tv

<p>Can evolution have a purpose? Are we living in an alien zoo? Does the cosmos evolve? Why did Christianity emerge when it did? What is the direction of human society—and are we at a crisis point in history? Best-selling author Robert Wright explores all these questions and more.</p><p>Robert Wright is a journalist, scholar, and prize-winning author of best-selling books about science, evolutionary psychology, history, religion, and game theory.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum_game" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zero Sum and Non-Zero-Sum Games</a> <ul> <li>Example: the economy is a non-zero-sum game</li> <li>Both conflict and cooperation can lead to non-zero-sum games</li> <li>External zero-sum games can drive internal non-zero-sum</li> </ul></li> <li>Is there such a thing as progress? Evolutionary, Technological, Cultural?<br>  <ul> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2n2EBdd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Expanding Circle: Ethics, Evolution, and Moral Progress, by Peter Singer</a></li> <li>When faced with external threats, the Greek city states went from seeing each other as non-human, to seeing each other as human, and only <em>outsiders</em> as non-human.</li> <li>A similar process has proceeded at larger and larger scales throughout history.</li> </ul></li> <li>Are we at a crisis point in history?<br>  <ul> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdIRRCMe1cY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fermi Paradox &amp; the Danger of Tribalism</a></li> </ul></li> <li>Christianity’s unique relationship with cosmopolitanism<br>  <ul> <li>The Bible claims that Christianity emerged “<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5:6&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">at just the right time</a>”</li> <li>When Christianity emerged, it was in an age of multi-ethnic cosmopolitanism across the Roman Empire. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3:28" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">And it emerged as a faith that was explicit about its multi-ethnic nature.</a></li> <li>If Christianity hadn’t happened, would another similar religion have necessarily emerged? How similar might it have been?</li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/12/opinion/can-evolution-have-a-higher-purpose.html?_r=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Can evolution have a higher purpose?</a>—Robert Wright’s controversial article for the NY Times<br>  <ul> <li>Three myths about evolution and higher purpose:<br>    <ol> <li>To say that there’s in some sense a “higher purpose” means there are “spooky forces” at work.</li> <li>To say that evolution has a purpose is to say that it is driven by something other than natural selection.</li> <li>Evolution couldn’t have a purpose, because it doesn’t have a direction.</li> <li>If evolution has a purpose, the purpose must have been imbued by an intelligent being.</li> </ol></li> <li>Are we living in an alien evolution zoo?</li> <li>What does purpose <em>mean</em>?</li> <li><a href="http://meaningoflife.tv/articles/wright-evolution-purpose" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The one thing Richard Dawkins and William Paley agreed on</a></li> </ul></li> <li>Cosmological Natural Selection<br>  <ul> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2nnk40d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lee Smolin's original black-hole centric formulation</a></li> <li>Black holes as reproductive organs of the universe</li> <li>Does life play a role? <a href="http://meaningoflife.tv/videos/36967" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Louis Crane</a>’s expansion, centering the role of intelligent beings</li> <li>The Anthropic Principle &amp; Fine-tuning</li> <li>“A shared path to the future” — Micah’s argument for the role of intelligence in the universe, based on <a href="http://amzn.to/2n30KYF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Richard Dawkins’ distinction between Symbiosis and Parasitism </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.simulation-argument.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Simulation Argument</a>, as presented by Elon Musk, and in <a href="https://new-god-argument.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">theological</a> and <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/minimum-viable-theology-we-are-not-alone" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">religious forms</a></li> </ul></li> <li>Non-supernatural miracles</li> <li>The fear of purpose<br>  <ul> <li>Are popular scientists committing a slippery slope fallacy?</li> <li>Why did early biologists, including Darwin's friends, talk about purpose in evolution?</li> <li>Is ruling out purpose driving people away from thoughtful naturalism and into reactionary supernaturalism? Will it hurt science education?</li> </ul></li> <li>Robert Wright’s books:<br>  <ul> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mllpDG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NonZero: the logic of human destiny</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mlox1P" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Moral Animal</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mU4LhN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Evolution of God</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="http://meaningoflife.tv/videos/36967" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Robert Wright on the Fermi Paradox</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.cc.com/video-clips/xjhfzn/the-colbert-report-robert-wright" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Robert Wright on The Colbert Report</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/robertwrighter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Robert Wright on Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="http://meaningoflife.tv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Robert Wright’s video network: MeaningOfLife.tv</a></li></ul>

Ep 30: Robert Wright & the Purpose of Evolution

Calvin Mercer

How does religion grapple with transhumanism and radical life extension? What does a theology of Extraterrestrials say about a theology of AI? Is Mind Uploading a rejection of the body, or an affirmation of St Paul's theology of resurrection?Dr Calvin Mercer is the Professor of Religious Studies at East Carolina University, the founder of the American Academy of Religion's “Transhumanism and Religion” Group, and the author of 7 books.  How do we define Transhumanism? Living beyond 120 years &amp; common misunderstandings about Radical Life Extension Harvard's George Church in 2015: "Perhaps the aging process can be reversed in 5 or 6 years" Categories of enhancement Healthy lifespan Cognitive enhancement Emotional enhancement Moral enhancement? Spiritual enhancement — see upcoming interview with Ron Cole-Turner! Methods and Trends toward Radical Life Extension and beyond: Genetic Engineering — CRISPR Germline Genetic Engineering Tissue &amp; Organ Replacement (like a car still running after 1,000,000 miles) Merging of Computer Technology with Human Biology Nanotechnology and Robotics Whole Brain Emulation or "Mind Uploading" The well-funded pursuit of ending aging: Kernel with Brian Johnson and Craig Venter of the Human Genome Project Aubrey de Grey SENS foundation Calico Labs Ray Kurzweil at Google Upwing vs Downwing—the Strange Bedfellows of the Singularity, and why left and right will break down on the path the future Transhumans, Posthumans, and Superintelligent AI. What does it mean to be Posthuman? The theology of AI and Extraterrestrial Intelligence &amp; Why the pope would baptize aliens Does AI have a creation story? Is it the same as ours? Is AI made in the image of God? Mind Uploading &amp; Resurrection The role of the body &amp; the importance of embodiment Transhumanists are accused of denigrating the body. But what if the critique goes the other way? Max More's Letter to Mother Nature The Christian doctrine of resurrection is not resuscitation of a dead body (just compare Lazarus to Jesus) Why embodiment does not rule out mind uploading. Why mind uploading might look more like Christian resurrection than other forms of radical life extension. Continuity, Discontinuity and Transformation in the Christian doctrine of the body Substrate-Independent Minds is a better terminology than "Mind Uploading" Mind Uploading is an affirmation of what St Paul says about resurrection The multifaceted dilemma of cloning our minds &amp; why identical twins already pose a transhumanist dilemma for the pro-life position The Psychology of fundamentalism: Fundamentalism is a modern movement, a reaction to change We are overwhelmed Fundamentalism offers safety in the face of tremendous existential threats, and anxiety about the world Religion is nimble. When it gets hardened, it becomes irrelevant Why the fundamentalist approach to the Bible can absolutely affirm a conversation about transhumanism Why we need conversations on Christianity &amp; Transhumanism from Alcor to Baptist churches Books &amp; Further Works: Religion and Transhumanism: The Unknown Future of Human Enhancement Transhumanism and the Body: The World’s Religions Speak Religion and the Implications of Radical Life Extension Steve Fuller, Calvin Mercer co-edit the “Palgrave Studies in the Future of Humanity and Its Successors” Contact &amp; Further Information on Calvin Mercer: mercerc@ecu.edu http://www.ecu.edu/religionprogram/mercer

<p>How does religion grapple with transhumanism and radical life extension? What does a theology of Extraterrestrials say about a theology of AI? Is Mind Uploading a rejection of the body, or an affirmation of St Paul's theology of resurrection?</p><p>Dr Calvin Mercer is the Professor of Religious Studies at East Carolina University, the founder of the American Academy of Religion's “Transhumanism and Religion” Group, and the author of 7 books.</p> <ul> <li>How do we define Transhumanism?</li> <li>Living beyond 120 years &amp; common misunderstandings about <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2016/02/17/why-christians-should-support-radical-life-extension" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Radical Life Extension</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/achenblog/wp/2015/12/02/professor-george-church-says-he-can-reverse-the-aging-process/?utm_term=.16a50eb36312" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Harvard's George Church in 2015</a>: "Perhaps the aging process can be reversed in 5 or 6 years"</li> <li>Categories of enhancement</li> <li>Healthy lifespan</li> <li>Cognitive enhancement</li> <li>Emotional enhancement</li> <li>Moral enhancement?</li> <li>Spiritual enhancement — see upcoming interview with Ron Cole-Turner!</li> <li>Methods and Trends toward Radical Life Extension and beyond:</li> <li>Genetic Engineering — CRISPR</li> <li>Germline Genetic Engineering</li> <li>Tissue &amp; Organ Replacement (like a car still running after 1,000,000 miles)</li> <li>Merging of Computer Technology with Human Biology</li> <li>Nanotechnology and Robotics</li> <li>Whole Brain Emulation or "Mind Uploading"</li> <li>The well-funded pursuit of ending aging:</li> <li><a href="http://kernel.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kernel</a> with Brian Johnson and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Venter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Craig Venter</a> of the Human Genome Project</li> <li><a href="http://www.sens.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aubrey de Grey SENS foundation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.calicolabs.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Calico Labs</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.kurzweilai.net/ray-kurzweil-biography" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ray Kurzweil</a> at Google</li> <li><a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/12/two_new_books_change_the_left_right_paradigm_on_environmental_policy.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Upwing vs Downwing</a>—the Strange Bedfellows of the Singularity, and why left and right will break down on the path the future</li> <li>Transhumans, Posthumans, and Superintelligent AI. What does it mean to be Posthuman?</li> <li>The theology of AI and Extraterrestrial Intelligence &amp; <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-says-he-would-baptise-aliens-9360632.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why the pope would baptize aliens</a></li> <li>Does AI have a creation story? Is it the same as ours?</li> <li>Is AI made in the image of God?</li> <li>Mind Uploading &amp; Resurrection</li> <li>The role of the body &amp; <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2013/11/24/embodiment" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the importance of embodiment</a></li> <li>Transhumanists are accused of denigrating the body. <a href="https://christandpopculture.com/can-transhumanism-lead-us-back-to-orthodoxy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">But what if the critique goes the other way?</a></li> <li><a href="http://strategicphilosophy.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-about-ten-years-since-i-wrote.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Max More's Letter to Mother Nature</a></li> <li>The Christian doctrine of resurrection is not resuscitation of a dead body (just compare Lazarus to Jesus)</li> <li>Why embodiment does not rule out mind uploading. Why mind uploading might look more like Christian resurrection than other forms of radical life extension.</li> <li>Continuity, Discontinuity and Transformation in the Christian doctrine of the body</li> <li><a href="https://www.carboncopies.org/faqs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Substrate-Independent Minds</a> is a better terminology than "Mind Uploading"</li> <li>Mind Uploading is an affirmation of what St Paul says about resurrection</li> <li>The multifaceted dilemma of cloning our minds &amp; why identical twins already pose a transhumanist dilemma for the pro-life position</li> <li>The Psychology of fundamentalism:</li> <li>Fundamentalism is a modern movement, a reaction to change</li> <li>We are overwhelmed</li> <li>Fundamentalism offers safety in the face of tremendous existential threats, and anxiety about the world</li> <li>Religion is nimble. When it gets hardened, it becomes irrelevant</li> <li>Why the fundamentalist approach to the Bible can absolutely affirm a conversation about transhumanism</li> <li>Why we need conversations on Christianity &amp; Transhumanism from <a href="http://www.alcor.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alcor</a> to Baptist churches</li> <li>Books &amp; Further Works:</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mtJyuG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Religion and Transhumanism: The Unknown Future of Human Enhancement</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mNJmrj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transhumanism and the Body: The World’s Religions Speak</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mtEc2C" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Religion and the Implications of Radical Life Extension</a></li> <li>Steve Fuller, Calvin Mercer co-edit the <a href="http://www.palgrave.com/br/series/14587" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Palgrave Studies in the Future of Humanity and Its Successors”</a></li> <li>Contact &amp; Further Information on Calvin Mercer:</li> <li><a href="mailto:mercerc@ecu.edu">mercerc@ecu.edu</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.ecu.edu/religionprogram/mercer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.ecu.edu/religionprogram/mercer</a></li></ul>

Ep 29: Calvin Mercer—Theology & the Trickiest Questions in Transhumanism

Robert Walden Kurtz

Robert Walden

Can a Seventh-Day Adventist be a transhumanist? Robert Walden Kurtz, Adventist pastor and Professor of Philosophy, says yes! Join us as we discuss robots stealing your job, mind-mapping Jesus, the hidden threat of washing machines, zero-sum games, hacking the mind, and radical humility.  Why Singularitarians are like early Seventh-Day Adventists The origins of Adventism, and what to do when your apocalypse fails The impact of communication on historical cycles in culture, and how this connects the Adventists, Mormons, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and the Bahai What's different about utopian expectations this time around? Ray Kurzweil &amp; the Transcendent Man Documentary Will there always be an economy? Redefining what value means Transhumanism: the prospect of becoming superheroes. But will it also make us super-villains? What happens when you get everything you really want? "Earl Grey, hot!" — Star Trek &amp; the world of 3D printing we're now entering Altruism isn’t popular — especially in modern Christianity Must others fail for you to succeed? Zero-sum games — amplifying competition, what about altruism? Robots stealing your jobs? Washing Machines: the robots already among us! Did the washing machine destroy community? What do you do about it? Mind-mapping Jesus, The Buddha &amp; Mother Teresa Hacking the neural correlates of spiritual experiences, controlling oxytocin, and amping up our pro-sociality Prayer and meditation as the original brain-hacking technology Why brain modification doesn't make zombies, but can help us overcome our zombie addictions, and become more human How Robert became a more effective police officer, and spent 15 years in law enforcement without needing to hurt anyone Aubrey De Grey &amp; Calico Labs “I have never been okay with accepting death and destruction as somehow beautiful and natural” Why Christianity agrees with Ray Kurzweil about the beauty of life, and the ugliness of death John 10:10 “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Adventists pioneered some of the finest hospitals and medical technologies—desiring to extend life and relieve suffering David Brin’s Bible study David Brin, novelist &amp; futurist, author of The Postman, speaking to atheists about how to communicate with theists The biblical motif of God as parent, and humans as growing children God saying "not yet" to humans But ultimately inviting them into his family business Stephen Pinker and The Better Angels of Our Nature Darwin — a patron saint? Why nature films skew our perception of nature in the direction of conflict Schadenfreude — Why people will destroy their own best interest to spite others Why humility is the gateway to curiosity Does the Big Bang contradict the Second Law of Thermodynamics? Do our theologies amuse God? Why the criticism of "Playing God" is hypocrisy—and why Christianity calls us to "Play God" better For further reading: The Four Gospels!

<p>Can a Seventh-Day Adventist be a transhumanist? Robert Walden Kurtz, Adventist pastor and Professor of Philosophy, says yes! Join us as we discuss robots stealing your job, mind-mapping Jesus, the hidden threat of washing machines, zero-sum games, hacking the mind, and radical humility.</p> <ul> <li>Why Singularitarians are like early Seventh-Day Adventists</li> <li>The origins of Adventism, and <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2013/04/21/better-apocalypse" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">what to do when your apocalypse fails</a></li> <li>The impact of communication on historical cycles in culture, and how this connects the Adventists, Mormons, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and the Bahai</li> <li>What's different about utopian expectations this time around?</li> <li><a href="http://www.kurzweilai.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ray Kurzweil</a> &amp; the <a href="http://transcendentman.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transcendent Man Documentary</a></li> <li>Will there always be an economy?</li> <li>Redefining what value means</li> <li>Transhumanism: the prospect of becoming superheroes. But will it also make us super-villains?</li> <li>What happens when you get everything you really want?</li> <li>"Earl Grey, hot!" — Star Trek &amp; the world of 3D printing we're now entering</li> <li>Altruism isn’t popular — especially in modern Christianity</li> <li>Must others fail for you to succeed?</li> <li>Zero-sum games — amplifying competition, what about altruism?</li> <li>Robots stealing your jobs?</li> <li>Washing Machines: the robots already among us!</li> <li>Did the washing machine destroy community? What do you do about it?</li> <li>Mind-mapping <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2015/08/07/infinite-morality-jesus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jesus</a>, The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buddha</a> &amp; Mother Teresa</li> <li>Hacking the neural correlates of spiritual experiences, controlling oxytocin, and amping up our <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosocial_behavior" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pro-sociality</a></li> <li>Prayer and meditation as the original brain-hacking technology</li> <li>Why brain modification doesn't make zombies, but can help us <em>overcome</em> our zombie addictions, and become more human</li> <li>How Robert became a more effective police officer, and spent 15 years in law enforcement without needing to hurt anyone</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_de_Grey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aubrey De Grey</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.calicolabs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Calico Labs</a></li> <li>“I have never been okay with accepting death and destruction as somehow beautiful and natural”</li> <li>Why Christianity agrees with Ray Kurzweil about the beauty of life, and the ugliness of death</li> <li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John 10:10</a> “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”</li> <li>Adventists pioneered some of the finest hospitals and medical technologies—desiring to extend life and relieve suffering</li> <li>David Brin’s Bible study</li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/David-Brin/e/B000APAXV6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Brin</a>, novelist &amp; futurist, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Postman-David-Brin/dp/0553278746" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Postman</a>, speaking to atheists about how to communicate with theists</li> <li>The biblical motif of God as parent, and humans as growing children</li> <li>God saying "not yet" to humans</li> <li>But ultimately inviting them into his <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/partnership-with-god" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">family business</a></li> <li><a href="http://stevenpinker.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stephen Pinker</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Better-Angels-Our-Nature-Violence/dp/0143122010/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Better Angels of Our Nature</a></li> <li>Darwin — a patron saint?</li> <li>Why nature films skew our perception of nature in the direction of conflict</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Schadenfreude</a> — Why people will destroy their own best interest to spite others</li> <li>Why humility is the gateway to curiosity</li> <li>Does the Big Bang contradict the Second Law of Thermodynamics?</li> <li>Do our theologies amuse God?</li> <li>Why the criticism of "Playing God" is hypocrisy—and why Christianity calls us to "Play God" better</li> <li>For further reading: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Four Gospels</a>!</li></ul>

Ep 28: Robert Walden Kurtz & the Zero Sum Game

Christopher Benek

Is it possible to be a Presbyterian and a Transhumanist? Rev. Christopher Benek, pastor of a large Presbyterian church, and graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, says yes! Join us as we discuss how AI will participate in God's redemption, how humans are God's technology, and the surprising connection between Ray Kurzweil and NT Wright.  Is it possible to be Reformed &amp; Transhumanist? How does that work? How the pastor of a large Presbyterian church became a transhumanist Are humans God's technology? Why A.I. will participate in God's redemption Alternative Intelligence vs Artificial Intelligence How technology will end the abortion debate How the church can address technological unemployment, i.e., when robots take our jobs Ron Cole-Turner Bigger Stronger Faster by Chris Bell Are steroids bad? How Tiger Woods &amp; LASIK eye surgery change the debate over human enhancement Two perspectives Hell in a handbasket Participate in Christ’s redemptive purposes. Ray Kurzweil, Transcendent Man Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope by NT Wright (essential reading for Christian Transhumanists) Stewardship of Tech Taking away people’s cars Care-taking creation Creation is technology Christian Transhumanist Association

<p>Is it possible to be a Presbyterian and a Transhumanist? Rev. Christopher Benek, pastor of a large Presbyterian church, and graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, says yes! Join us as we discuss how AI will participate in God's redemption, how humans are God's technology, and the surprising connection between Ray Kurzweil and NT Wright.</p> <ul> <li>Is it possible to be Reformed &amp; Transhumanist? How does that work?</li> <li>How the pastor of a large Presbyterian church became a transhumanist</li> <li><a href="http://www.christopherbenek.com/?p=4389" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Are humans God's technology?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.christopherbenek.com/?p=4464" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why A.I. will participate in God's redemption</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.christopherbenek.com/?p=4468" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alternative Intelligence vs Artificial Intelligence</a></li> <li><a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-technology-could-end-the-abortion-debate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How technology will end the abortion debate</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.christopherbenek.com/?p=4452" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How the church can address technological unemployment</a>, i.e., when robots take our jobs</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2ldbtyy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ron Cole-Turner</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bigger-Stronger-Faster-Christopher-Bell/dp/B001B7CNW4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bigger Stronger Faster</a> by Chris Bell</li> <li>Are steroids bad?</li> <li>How Tiger Woods &amp; LASIK eye surgery change the debate over human enhancement</li> <li>Two perspectives</li> <li>Hell in a handbasket</li> <li>Participate in Christ’s redemptive purposes.</li> <li>Ray Kurzweil, <a href="http://transcendentman.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transcendent Man</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Simply-Christian-Christianity-Makes-Sense/dp/0061920622" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simply Christian</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/2jVUOer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Surprised by Hope</a> by NT Wright (essential reading for Christian Transhumanists)</li> <li>Stewardship of Tech</li> <li>Taking away people’s cars</li> <li>Care-taking creation</li> <li>Creation is technology</li> <li><a href="http://www.christiantranshumanism.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christian Transhumanist Association</a></li></ul>

Ep 27: Christopher Benek—Presbyterian, Pastor, Transhumanist

Philip Clayton

Raised by atheists, now a theologian and philosopher, Philip Clayton joins us to discuss the messy world between doubt and belief, feeling stuck in Christianity, and being okay with unanswered questions.  Do you find God at 6,000 feet? The Spectrum/Grid of Belief — occupying the liminal space between belief and doubt. Are you willing to escape prison, and how does that apply to belief in God? Thinkers referenced: Roger Haight: All Books Peter Berger: A Far Glory Peter Rollins Ian Barbour [Ted Peters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Peters_(theologian)) John Haught Stephen Jay Gould on "non-overlapping magisteria". See his book Rocks of Ages Wolfhart Pannenberg Technophobes vs. Technophiles, and where does Christian Transhumanism fit? Bill Joy: Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us Alvin Toffler: Future Shock Did humans grow up to soon? Is your worldview raft seaworthy? Emergence / Neural-Darwinism Religious Minimalism / Minimalist Christianity The Future of Faith, Science &amp; Religion Panentheism &amp; Wolfhart Pannenberg Postmodernism vs. Modernism across disciplines The [Precautionary principle](Precautionary principle) vs the Proactionary principle Philip Clayton's new project: Toward Ecological Civilization (EcoCiv) Philip Clayton's numerous books, including Religion and Science, and The Predicament of Belief Philip Clayton's web site, and on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Clayton_(philosopher)) and Huffington Post

<p>Raised by atheists, now a theologian and philosopher, Philip Clayton joins us to discuss the messy world between doubt and belief, feeling stuck in Christianity, and being okay with unanswered questions.</p> <ul> <li>Do you find God at 6,000 feet?</li> <li>The Spectrum/Grid of Belief — occupying the liminal space between belief and doubt.</li> <li>Are you willing to escape prison, and how does that apply to belief in God?</li> <li>Thinkers referenced:</li> <li>Roger Haight: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roger-Haight/e/B001JS6FTW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">All Books</a></li> <li>Peter Berger: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Far-Glory-Peter-L-Berger/dp/0385469799" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Far Glory</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2i8xx8A" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter Rollins</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Barbour" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ian Barbour</a></li> <li>[Ted Peters](<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Peters_(theologian)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Peters_(theologian)</a>)</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Haught" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Haught</a></li> <li>Stephen Jay Gould on "non-overlapping magisteria". See his book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00589AYH2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rocks of Ages</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfhart_Pannenberg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wolfhart Pannenberg</a></li> <li>Technophobes vs. Technophiles, and where does Christian Transhumanism fit?</li> <li>Bill Joy: <a href="https://www.wired.com/2000/04/joy-2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us</a></li> <li>Alvin Toffler: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Future-Shock-Alvin-Toffler/dp/0553277375" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Future Shock</a></li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Did humans grow up to soon?</a></li> <li>Is your worldview raft seaworthy?</li> <li>Emergence / Neural-Darwinism</li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/minimum-viable-theology-good-wins" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Religious Minimalism</a> / Minimalist Christianity</li> <li>The Future of Faith, Science &amp; Religion</li> <li>Panentheism &amp; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfhart_Pannenberg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wolfhart Pannenberg</a></li> <li>Postmodernism vs. Modernism across disciplines</li> <li>The [Precautionary principle](Precautionary principle) vs the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proactionary_principle" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Proactionary principle</a></li> <li>Philip Clayton's new project: <a href="http://ecociv.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toward Ecological Civilization (EcoCiv)</a></li> <li>Philip Clayton's <a href="http://amzn.to/2hNN4y8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">numerous books</a>, including <a href="http://amzn.to/2hNNbK6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Religion and Science</a>, and <a href="http://amzn.to/2gVcup8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Predicament of Belief</a></li> <li><a href="http://philipclayton.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Philip Clayton's web site</a>, and on [Wikipedia](<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Clayton_(philosopher)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Clayton_(philosopher)</a>) and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-clayton-phd/science-religion-religious-minimalism_b_1143257.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a></li></ul>

Ep 26: Philip Clayton & The Spectrum of Belief

Katharine Hayhoe

Katharine Hayhoe shares her unexpected journey to becoming an evangelical Christian climate scientist, discusses evidence for climate change, and explains why working to solve our climate problems doesn't mean "Big Government!". We explore optimistic ways to address global warming, and the incredible economic and health benefits of clean energy. Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist, a Professor of Political Science, and Director of Client Science at Texas Tech University. She is also the founder and CEO of Atmos Research, has been named one of Christianity Today’s 50 Women to Watch, and has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People. Her Twitter bio reads: "First in line for cloning".  For skeptics of climate change, pay attention to the testimony of God's creation: Tens of thousands of lines of evidence from God’s own creation: sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting, animals and plants and bird and insects are moving. For the first time in history of this planet, the evidence is pointing to us causing changes in the climate. Our Christian Responsibility: In the first chapter of Genesis, God gave humans dominion, stewardship, or responsibility over every living thing on this planet. In Revelation 11:18 “God will destroy those who destroy the earth.” God has given this responsibility for good or bad. How we can prepare to fix this: Fixing this is not only possible, it is within our role as Christians. Falling to act is like taking all the natural risks we face everyday and putting them on steroids. Government does not have to be the solution, in fact it won’t completely solve the problem. Transitioning and speeding up transition to the clean sources of energy from the wind, sun and tide, that God has given to us in abundance. Prepare for the changes that are already coming. Prepare for risks to make sure that we are all going to be okay. Clean energy has health benefits in addition to curbing climate change. 200,000 Americans are dying a year from air pollution. 5.5 million people in the world are dying. Christians &amp; Climate: Climate Caretakers: An online global Christian community created to address climate change. The “Green Bible” Mitch Hescox: Life does not end at birth. To be pro-life is to care for life from conception to death Cornerstone of sound practice: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but has given us a spirit of love, of power to get stuff done and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 Global Weirding series: A PBS web series for dispelling climate change myths. The number one predictor of climate change beliefs is contingent on where we fall on the political system. Climate change is like smoking. At a certain point, some damage is irreversible. The best day to quit is yesterday. The next best time is today. And the next best time after that is tomorrow. Miami sunny day flooding Katharine on the web, on Twitter and on Facebook  Quotes:  “We are designed to be part of the body of Christ, to work in community with each other, to express God’s love to each other and to the world.”“If we act now we can avoid the worst of the impacts. If we put this off a couple of more decades we’ll be in serious trouble.”“If we agree on the solutions, I don’t care what we think on the science.”

<p>Katharine Hayhoe shares her unexpected journey to becoming an evangelical Christian climate scientist, discusses evidence for climate change, and explains why working to solve our climate problems doesn't mean "Big Government!". We explore optimistic ways to address global warming, and the incredible economic and health benefits of clean energy. </p><p>Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist, a Professor of Political Science, and Director of Client Science at Texas Tech University. She is also the founder and CEO of Atmos Research, has been named one of Christianity Today’s 50 Women to Watch, and has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People. Her Twitter bio reads: "First in line for cloning".</p> <ul> <li>For skeptics of climate change, pay attention to the testimony of God's creation:</li> <li>Tens of thousands of lines of evidence from God’s own creation: sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting, animals and plants and bird and insects are moving.</li> <li>For the first time in history of this planet, the evidence is pointing to us causing changes in the climate.</li> <li>Our Christian Responsibility:</li> <li>In the first chapter of Genesis, God gave humans dominion, stewardship, or responsibility over every living thing on this planet.</li> <li>In <a href="http://biblehub.com/revelation/11-18.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Revelation 11:18</a> “God will destroy those who destroy the earth.”</li> <li>God has given this responsibility for good or bad.</li> <li>How we can prepare to fix this:</li> <li>Fixing this is not only possible, it is within our role as Christians.</li> <li>Falling to act is like taking all the natural risks we face everyday and putting them on steroids.</li> <li>Government does not have to be the solution, in fact it won’t completely solve the problem.</li> <li>Transitioning and speeding up transition to the clean sources of energy from the wind, sun and tide, that God has given to us in abundance.</li> <li>Prepare for the changes that are already coming.</li> <li>Prepare for risks to make sure that we are all going to be okay.</li> <li>Clean energy has health benefits in addition to curbing climate change.</li> <li>200,000 Americans are dying a year from air pollution. 5.5 million people in the world are dying.</li> <li>Christians &amp; Climate:</li> <li><a href="http://climatecaretakers.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Climate Caretakers</a>: An online global Christian community created to address climate change.</li> <li>The “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Bible" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Green Bible</a>”</li> <li>Mitch Hescox: <a href="http://www.evangelicalsforsocialaction.org/about/who-we-are/contributors/rev-mitchell-c-hescox/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Life does not end at birth. To be pro-life is to care for life from conception to death</a></li> <li>Cornerstone of sound practice: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but has given us a spirit of love, of power to get stuff done and a sound mind.” <a href="http://biblehub.com/2_timothy/1-7.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2 Timothy 1:7</a></li> <li><a href="http://globalweirdingseries.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Global Weirding</a> series: A PBS web series for dispelling climate change myths.</li> <li>The number one predictor of climate change beliefs is contingent on where we fall on the political system.</li> <li><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/09/americas-denial-climate-change-philip-morris-1950-levels/310547/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Climate change is like smoking. At a certain point, some damage is irreversible. The best day to quit is yesterday. The next best time is today. And the next best time after that is tomorrow.</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/04/science/global-warming-increases-nuisance-flooding.html?_r=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Miami sunny day flooding</a></li> <li>Katharine on the <a href="http://katharinehayhoe.com/wp2016/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">web</a>, on <a href="https://twitter.com/KHayhoe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katharine.hayhoe/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> </ul> <p>Quotes: </p> <blockquote><p>“We are designed to be part of the body of Christ, to work in community with each other, to express God’s love to each other and to the world.”</p><p>“If we act now we can avoid the worst of the impacts. If we put this off a couple of more decades we’ll be in serious trouble.”</p><p>“If we agree on the solutions, I don’t care what we think on the science.”</p></blockquote>

Ep 25: Katharine Hayhoe, Christians & Climate Change

Greg Boyd

Greg Boyd on how God enters the cosmic dance through Science, Scripture, and Us. We explore faith &amp; doubt, quantum physics &amp; relativity, Christ-shaped politics, and the hard parts of the Bible!  Greg Boyd is an internationally recognized theologian, preacher, teacher, apologist and author. He has been featured in The New York Times, The Charlie Rose Show, CNN, NPR, BBC, and is the co-founder &amp; senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Greg has authored 20 books, including his best-selling "Letters From a Skeptic" and "The Myth of a Christian Nation". Greg Boyd's graphic book on science: The Cosmic Dance: What Science Can Teach Us about the Nature of Time, Life, God &amp; Humpty Dumpty "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." - Albert Einstein Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman talks about how breaking things down simply is the only real way to understand them The nature of things seems to be spontaneity and openness. We're dance partners with God. Quantum physics, Complexity theory, Chaos theory, and Relativity. Newtonian physics seemed deterministic, modern physics seems indeterminist. Quantum physics seems participatory. How Relativity theory might support determinism, and Greg Boyd's alternate explanation. The Open View of the future &amp; Open Theism (see also our previous interview with Thomas Jay Oord) Our lives make a difference Scriptures suggest that God sees the future as a set of possibilities The greatest imaginable God is a God who creates genuine possibilities God knows things that "might or might not" happen An omniscient God doesn't need to determine the future Greg Boyd's book on the subject: God of the Possible Greg Boyd's book Benefit of the Doubt: Breaking the Idol of Certainty "Certainty-Seeking Faith is a Form of Idolatry" Biblical faith is about covenant, not certainty If faith is about intellectual assent, it actively discriminates against people who are intellectual Real faith is faith "in the face of uncertainty" Micah's essay on scriptural faith &amp; the movies: The Faith of the Martian How to read the hard parts of the Bible Greg Boyd responds to issues Derek Flood raised in our previous interview Reading the Bible for the surprise ending: The Sixth Sense and The Book of Eli and how they're like the Bible The Bible has to be read backwards: It all points to Christ Other approaches to this problem: Eric Seibert, Derek Flood suggest the bad things simply didn't happen Even if it didn't happen, Christ says that the narrative points to him. Which forces us to wrestle with the text. God is a missionary, and gets his hands dirty   The crucified Christ suggests a God who allows himself to be revealed through sin. How God improvises with his people: 1 Samuel 8 on how God can ordain a king, even though he doesn't want them to have a king. How God takes on the appearance of an ancient near-eastern deity in response to people's demands and expectations.  Politics &amp; The Religious Right Some brief thoughts about Christians in politics The error of focusing on one cause, and the error of trusting in one regime to change things Being a person of faith is not going to make you smarter politically, but it may very well make you dumber Is the kingdom of God about polarization? Jesus' apostles were from all over the political spectrum See some alternate Christian approaches to politics: The And Campaign and Public Faith Further reading: Rachel Held Evans' interview with Greg Boyd An atheist view of Greg Boyd Explanation of the Cosmic Dance: "I would describe The Cosmic Dance as a cross between a humorous graphic novel (the writing is framed as a playful discussion among photo-shopped versions of my friends and other characters), on the one hand, and an introductory book on contemporary science and the open view of the future (or “Open Theism”), on the other. In this book I try to explain, at a “Dick and Jane” level, Quantum Physics, Chaos and Complexity Theory, Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics, and Relativity Theory. I then argue that, in their own distinctive way, each of these theories encourage us to understand life, creation and even God as a sort of open-ended, creative, spontaneity-filled, adventurous dance." Greg Boyd on Twitter and ReKnew.org

<p>Greg Boyd on how God enters the cosmic dance through Science, Scripture, and Us. We explore faith &amp; doubt, quantum physics &amp; relativity, Christ-shaped politics, and the hard parts of the Bible!</p> <ul> <li>Greg Boyd is an internationally recognized theologian, preacher, teacher, apologist and author. He has been featured in The New York Times, The Charlie Rose Show, CNN, NPR, BBC, and is the co-founder &amp; senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Greg has authored 20 books, including his best-selling "<a href="http://amzn.to/2gvI9S9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Letters From a Skeptic</a>" and "<a href="http://amzn.to/2gdWosj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Myth of a Christian Nation</a>".</li> <li>Greg Boyd's graphic book on science: <a href="http://reknew.org/book/the-cosmic-dance/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Cosmic Dance: What Science Can Teach Us about the Nature of Time, Life, God &amp; Humpty Dumpty</a></li> <li>"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." - Albert Einstein</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2fiy1am" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman</a> talks about how breaking things down simply is the only real way to understand them</li> <li>The nature of things seems to be spontaneity and openness. We're dance partners with God.</li> <li>Quantum physics, Complexity theory, Chaos theory, and Relativity.</li> <li>Newtonian physics seemed deterministic, modern physics seems indeterminist. Quantum physics seems participatory.</li> <li>How Relativity theory might support determinism, and Greg Boyd's alternate explanation.</li> <li>The Open View of the future &amp; Open Theism (see also our <a href="http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">previous interview with Thomas Jay Oord</a>)</li> <li>Our lives make a difference</li> <li>Scriptures suggest that God sees the future as a set of possibilities</li> <li>The greatest imaginable God is a God who creates genuine possibilities</li> <li>God knows things that "might or might not" happen</li> <li>An omniscient God doesn't need to determine the future</li> <li>Greg Boyd's book on the subject: <a href="http://amzn.to/2gvESSR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">God of the Possible</a></li> <li>Greg Boyd's book <a href="http://amzn.to/2fkLsKb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Benefit of the Doubt: Breaking the Idol of Certainty</a></li> <li>"Certainty-Seeking Faith is a Form of Idolatry"</li> <li>Biblical faith is about covenant, not certainty</li> <li>If faith is about intellectual assent, it actively discriminates against people who are intellectual</li> <li>Real faith is faith "in the face of uncertainty"</li> <li>Micah's essay on scriptural faith &amp; the movies: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/micah-redding/the-faith-of-the-martian_b_9128666.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Faith of the Martian</a></li> <li>How to read the hard parts of the Bible</li> <li>Greg Boyd responds to issues <a href="http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/22" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Derek Flood raised in our previous interview</a></li> <li>Reading the Bible for the surprise ending: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167404/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Sixth Sense</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1037705/?ref_=nv_sr_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Book of Eli</a> and how they're like the Bible</li> <li>The Bible has to be read backwards: It all points to Christ</li> <li>Other approaches to this problem: <a href="http://amzn.to/2gf1hRD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eric Seibert</a>, <a href="http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/22" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Derek Flood</a> suggest the bad things simply didn't happen</li> <li>Even if it didn't happen, Christ says that the narrative points to him. Which forces us to wrestle with the text.</li> <li>God is a missionary, and gets his hands dirty<br>  <ul> <li>The crucified Christ suggests a God who allows himself to be revealed through sin.</li> <li>How God improvises with his people: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+8&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1 Samuel 8</a> on how God can ordain a king, even though he doesn't want them to have a king.</li> <li>How God takes on the appearance of an ancient near-eastern deity in response to people's demands and expectations.</li> </ul></li> <li>Politics &amp; The Religious Right</li> <li>Some brief thoughts about Christians in politics</li> <li>The error of focusing on one cause, and the error of trusting in one regime to change things</li> <li>Being a person of faith is not going to make you smarter politically, but it may very well make you dumber</li> <li>Is the kingdom of God about polarization?</li> <li>Jesus' apostles were from all over the political spectrum</li> <li>See some alternate Christian approaches to politics: <a href="http://theandcampaign.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The And Campaign</a> and <a href="http://www.publicfaith.us/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Public Faith</a></li> <li>Further reading:</li> <li><a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/greg-boyd-interview-doubt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rachel Held Evans' interview with Greg Boyd</a></li> <li><a href="http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=8383" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">An atheist view of Greg Boyd</a></li> <li>Explanation of the Cosmic Dance: "I would describe The Cosmic Dance as a cross between a humorous graphic novel (the writing is framed as a playful discussion among photo-shopped versions of my friends and other characters), on the one hand, and an introductory book on contemporary science and the open view of the future (or “Open Theism”), on the other. In this book I try to explain, at a “Dick and Jane” level, Quantum Physics, Chaos and Complexity Theory, Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics, and Relativity Theory. I then argue that, in their own distinctive way, each of these theories encourage us to understand life, creation and even God as a sort of open-ended, creative, spontaneity-filled, adventurous dance."</li> <li>Greg Boyd on <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_boyd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://reknew.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ReKnew.org</a></li></ul>

Ep 24: Greg Boyd & The Open-Ended God

Genesis vs the Babylonians, Eastern Orthodoxy vs American Fundamentalism, theosis vs playing god, and why early Christians kept talking about the 8th day of the week.  Micah's favorite shoes Portmantober! The story of Jesus calming the storm and how God affirms the chaos What is the Eastern Orthodox concept of Theosis? How does it relate to "playing God"? Eastern Orthodoxy - Christianity's time capsule? Different atonement theories in Christianity Can Transhumanism Lead Us Back to Orthodoxy? Micah's article for Christ &amp; Pop Culture Watch the Babylonian Creation Story the Enuma Elish — and compare to Genesis! Mimesis, (also see our previous episode on Rene Girard and Mimetic Theory) Fundamentalism as living in a simulation of a previous era The creation week, Jesus being raised on the "eighth day", and the beginning of New Creation Why do early Christians call Sunday the eighth day? "We keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead" (Epistle of Barnabas 15:6–8) Why Paul calls us heirs of God, and invites us into "God's Family Business" (see Galatians 3, 4) The dead-end humanity was at in the first century Jesus' critique of the first century world, and his way forward Was Jesus a first-century Singularity? GK Chesterton on the center-point of history The "revolutionary idea" of making things better

<p>Genesis vs the Babylonians, Eastern Orthodoxy vs American Fundamentalism, theosis vs playing god, and why early Christians kept talking about the 8th day of the week.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLRnGhCACVe/?taken-by=micahredding" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Micah's favorite shoes</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&amp;q=%23portmantober" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Portmantober!</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+8%3A23-27" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The story of Jesus calming the storm</a> and how God affirms the chaos</li> <li>What is the Eastern Orthodox <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">concept of Theosis</a>? How does it relate to "playing God"?</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eastern Orthodoxy</a> - Christianity's time capsule?</li> <li><a href="http://hackingchristianity.net/2013/03/primer-on-atonement-theories.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Different atonement theories in Christianity</a></li> <li><a href="http://christandpopculture.com/can-transhumanism-lead-us-back-to-orthodoxy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Can Transhumanism Lead Us Back to Orthodoxy?</a> Micah's article for Christ &amp; Pop Culture</li> <li>Watch the Babylonian Creation Story <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta3XER76iGI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Enuma Elish</a> — and compare to Genesis!</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimesis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mimesis</a>, (also see our previous episode on <a href="http://brickcaster.com/christiantranshumanist/10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rene Girard and Mimetic Theory</a>)</li> <li>Fundamentalism as living in a simulation of a previous era</li> <li>The creation week, Jesus being raised on the "eighth day", and the beginning of New Creation</li> <li>Why do early Christians call Sunday the eighth day? "We keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead" (Epistle of Barnabas 15:6–8)</li> <li>Why Paul calls us heirs of God, and invites us into "God's Family Business" (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians+3:23-4:7&amp;version=MSG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Galatians 3, 4</a>)</li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2013/05/28/poison-empires" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The dead-end humanity was at in the first century</a></li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2012/04/02/jesus-insurgent" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jesus' critique of the first century world, and his way forward</a></li> <li>Was Jesus a first-century Singularity?</li> <li>GK Chesterton on the center-point of history</li> <li>The "revolutionary idea" of making things better</li></ul>

Ep 23: Genesis vs The Babylonians

Derek Flood

The Bible is a rap battle! How to read the Bible like Jesus did, how to wrestle with the hard parts, and how the scientific method can make us better Christians.Derek Flood is the author of Disarming Scripture: Cherry-Picking Liberals, Violence-Loving Conservatives, and Why We All Need to Learn to Read the Bible Like Jesus Did. He is a writer for the Huffington Post &amp; Red Letter Christians, and writes regularly at theRebelGod.com. Notes from this episode:  The surprising and sometimes shocking way Jesus &amp; Paul read scripture How to read the Bible like a rap battle Would Paul flunk seminary? What is Romans 15:8-10 doing with Psalm 18 and Deuteronomy 32? How Jesus quotes Isaiah The cheat-sheet to biblical interpretation What does the scientific method have to do with the scriptures? "By their fruits you will know them" Micah's teenage essay on Romans 13:10 and the Law of Christ The surprising meaning of the "unpardonable sin" A story about how Micah encountered Samir Selmanovic, found Peter Rollins, and shouted angry Psalms at Reverend Vince Anderson Chick Tract Christianity, and how it leads us to devalue the scriptures Why the Bible is not "life's instruction manual" or "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" Christus Victor &amp; an angry God Greg Boyd's review/response to Disarming Scripture http://therebelgod.com/ Derek's book, Disarming Scripture, and the earlier one on Healing the Gospel

<p>The Bible is a rap battle! How to read the Bible like Jesus did, how to wrestle with the hard parts, and how the scientific method can make us better Christians.</p><p>Derek Flood is the author of <a href="http://amzn.to/29ahiZC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disarming Scripture: Cherry-Picking Liberals, Violence-Loving Conservatives, and Why We All Need to Learn to Read the Bible Like Jesus Did</a>. He is a writer for the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/derek-373" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.redletterchristians.org/author/derek-flood/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Red Letter Christians</a>, and writes regularly at <a href="theRebelGod.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">theRebelGod.com</a>. Notes from this episode:</p> <ul> <li>The surprising and sometimes shocking way Jesus &amp; Paul read scripture</li> <li>How to read the Bible like a rap battle</li> <li>Would Paul flunk seminary?</li> <li>What is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2015:8-10&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Romans 15:8-10</a> doing with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+18%3A47-49&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Psalm 18</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut.+32%3A43&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 32</a>?</li> <li>How <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A18-19&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jesus</a> quotes <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+61%3A1-2&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Isaiah</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A8-10&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The cheat-sheet to biblical interpretation</a></li> <li>What does the scientific method have to do with the scriptures?</li> <li><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A16-20&amp;version=NIV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"By their fruits you will know them"</a></li> <li><a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/2013/08/06/law-christ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Micah's teenage essay on Romans 13:10 and the Law of Christ</a></li> <li>The surprising meaning of the "unpardonable sin"</li> <li>A story about how Micah encountered <a href="http://amzn.to/2drvsUq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Samir Selmanovic</a>, found <a href="https://peterrollins.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter Rollins</a>, and shouted angry Psalms at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b_IxhBUwUw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reverend Vince Anderson</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.chick.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chick Tract</a> Christianity, and how it leads us to devalue the scriptures</li> <li>Why the Bible is not "life's instruction manual" or "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth"</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christus_Victor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christus Victor</a> &amp; an angry God</li> <li><a href="http://reknew.org/2015/04/must-we-deny-biblical-infallibility-to-disarm-scripture-a-review-of-derek-floods-disarming-scripture-part-1/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Greg Boyd's review/response to Disarming Scripture</a></li> <li><a href="http://therebelgod.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://therebelgod.com/</a></li> <li>Derek's book, <a href="http://amzn.to/29ahiZC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disarming Scripture</a>, and the earlier one on <a href="http://amzn.to/2cYtf3V" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Healing the Gospel</a></li></ul>

Ep 22: Derek Flood & Disarming Scripture

How to lose your religion, disrupt your life, and become a skeptic with faith! Science Mike describes his faith journey, and discusses brain science, space exploration, cryonics, and the oceanification of Miami.  Mike McHargue's new book: Finding God in the Waves: How I Lost My Faith and Found It Again Through Science, and the website, including more info about him, and his ongoing book tour A photo of the moment when Micah and Science Mike unknowingly crossed paths years ago, as extras in the same scene of Blue Like Jazz The weird and winding journey of Science Mike as explored on the Pete Holmes show Conservative evangelicalism. The great things about it, and its failure scenario: evangelicalism produces atheists. The fallout of losing faith, personally and relationally What it's like to be an atheist working to uphold other people's faith How to navigate a relationship across a faith transition Ending up as an Empirical Christian Mystic God &amp; the Brain Why belief in God is beneficial to your brain Brain science confirms the mystical idea that attempting to define God precisely is futile How to start rebuilding faith in the presence of intense skepticism: Science Mike's Axioms of faith and Micah's Minimum Viable Theology Richard Dawkins vs Science Mike: is religion beneficial or harmful? Richard Dawkins assumes conservative authoritarian fundamentalism is the essence of religion, and progressive religion enables it Mike McHargue argues that's not true. Authoritarianism is dangerous, but there is a strong move to remove it from religion. "I don't know of any more ardent critics of Westboro Baptist Church than my Baptist friends." — Mike McHargue Sam Harris on how skepticism often loses important elements of human well-being When authoritarianism is eliminated from religion, the strong evidence is that religion becomes a force for good. 3 proven nootropics: Exercise, Reading, Prayer Reading the Bible in an age of science. Three different approaches: NT Wright Pete Enns A human book about God The future of faith The world is not becoming more secular. But America and the West appear to be becoming non-institutional The church will adapt to this new context. The history of our faith is the retelling of the story of Exodus, in new contexts. The West is not becoming atheist, it's becoming less tolerant of boundaries. Secular &amp; Sacred: Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper - "I'm a force to be reconciled" Last Days in the Desert Topics for the supernerds The (scary!) ramifications of self-improving AI Cryonics, ethics &amp; the question of "Who's going to thaw you?" Space travel, and the newly-discovered exoplanet Proxima B Benefits of solar-system exploration: LIFE INSURANCE! Populating other planets in the solar system is a top ethical priority. Should be a top human priority. Why fixing climate change may have to wait until we're evacuating Miami Why we need to reorient our faith to universal human flourishing Why orthodox thinkers, and NT Wright and Richard Rohr offer a more progressive vision for the future of Christianity NT Wright's newest book, The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus's Crucifixion The book tour — see Science Mike live!

<p>How to lose your religion, disrupt your life, and become a skeptic with faith! Science Mike describes his faith journey, and discusses brain science, space exploration, cryonics, and the oceanification of Miami.</p> <ul> <li>Mike McHargue's new book: <a href="http://amzn.to/2c8D0xP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Finding God in the Waves: How I Lost My Faith and Found It Again Through Science</a>, and <a href="http://findinggodinthewaves.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the website</a>, including more info about him, and his ongoing book tour</li> <li><a href="https://plus.google.com/+MicahRedding/posts/9oiSnbQe5Jb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A photo of the moment when Micah and Science Mike unknowingly crossed paths years ago, as extras in the same scene of Blue Like Jazz</a></li> <li>The weird and winding journey of Science Mike</li> <li>as explored on <a href="http://nerdist.com/you-made-it-weird-201-science-mike-mchargue/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Pete Holmes show</a></li> <li>Conservative evangelicalism. The great things about it, and its failure scenario: evangelicalism produces atheists.</li> <li>The fallout of losing faith, personally and relationally</li> <li>What it's like to be an atheist working to uphold other people's faith</li> <li>How to navigate a relationship across a faith transition</li> <li>Ending up as an Empirical Christian Mystic</li> <li>God &amp; the Brain</li> <li>Why belief in God is beneficial to your brain</li> <li>Brain science confirms the mystical idea that attempting to define God precisely is futile</li> <li>How to start rebuilding faith in the presence of intense skepticism:</li> <li>Science Mike's <a href="http://mikemchargue.com/blog/2015/3/24/axioms-about-faith" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Axioms of faith</a></li> <li>and Micah's <a href="http://micahredding.com/blog/minimum-viable-theology-good-wins" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Minimum Viable Theology</a></li> <li>Richard Dawkins vs Science Mike: is religion beneficial or harmful?</li> <li>Richard Dawkins assumes conservative authoritarian fundamentalism is the essence of religion, and progressive religion enables it</li> <li>Mike McHargue argues that's not true. Authoritarianism is dangerous, but there is a strong move to remove it from religion.</li> <li>"I don't know of any more ardent critics of Westboro Baptist Church than my Baptist friends." — Mike McHargue</li> <li>Sam Harris on how skepticism often loses important elements of human well-being</li> <li>When authoritarianism is eliminated from religion, the strong evidence is that religion becomes a force for good.</li> <li>3 proven nootropics: Exercise, Reading, Prayer</li> <li>Reading the Bible in an age of science. Three different approaches:</li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2cubRRG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NT Wright</a></li> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/2cubkiz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pete Enns</a></li> <li>A human book about God</li> <li>The future of faith</li> <li>The world is not becoming more secular. But America and the West appear to be becoming non-institutional</li> <li>The church will adapt to this new context. The history of our faith is the retelling of the story of Exodus, in new contexts.</li> <li>The West is not becoming atheist, it's becoming less tolerant of boundaries.</li> <li>Secular &amp; Sacred:</li> <li><a href="https://soundcloud.com/chancetherapper/sets/coloring-book" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper</a> - "I'm a force to be reconciled"</li> <li><a href="http://www.lastdaysinthedesert.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Last Days in the Desert</a></li> <li>Topics for the supernerds</li> <li>The (scary!) ramifications of self-improving AI</li> <li>Cryonics, ethics &amp; the question of "Who's going to thaw you?"</li> <li>Space travel, and the newly-discovered exoplanet <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2016/08/24/exoplanet_discovered_orbiting_proxima_centauri.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Proxima B</a></li> <li>Benefits of solar-system exploration: LIFE INSURANCE!</li> <li>Populating other planets in the solar system is a top ethical priority. Should be a top human priority.</li> <li>Why fixing climate change may have to wait until we're evacuating Miami</li> <li>Why we need to reorient our faith to universal human flourishing</li> <li>Why orthodox thinkers, and NT Wright and Richard Rohr offer a more progressive vision for the future of Christianity</li> <li>NT Wright's newest book, <a href="http://amzn.to/2c8LDZa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus's Crucifixion</a></li> <li><a href="http://findinggodinthewaves.com/tour/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The book tour</a> — see Science Mike live!</li></ul>

Ep 21: Science Mike—Losing & Finding God

The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Non-Current Politics Podcasts

The best podcasts about ourselves as well as the world through the lense of Science. Specific topics include things about our brain, emotions to biology, physics and more!