[extropy-chat] Engineered Religion (was Atheism in decline)

[kevinfreels.com]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <john-c-wright at sff.net>
To: <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 5:03 PM
Subject: [extropy-chat] Engineered Religion (was Atheism in decline)


> Joseph writes:
>
> >The theme of the engineered religion is actually approached in several
> >places in the Dune series. I note specifically the idea that the Bene
> >Gesserit seeded various worlds with messianic faiths that were
> >specifically tied to the appearance of Bene Gesserit Mothers (the
> >"Missionaria Protectiva"). ... The Bene Gesserit use the Missionaria
Protectiva
> >to spread contrived legends and prophecies to developing worlds. Bene
Gesserit
> >can exploit these legends to earn the respect of the native inhabitants,
who
> >believe in the contrived legends."
>
> My apologies for being unclear, but the point I found fascinating is that
Mr.
> Herbert does not optimistically assume that the engineered religion would
stay
> under the control of the engineers. The events in DUNE overwhelm the Bene
> Gesserit order, especially the Jihad that installs the God-Emperor. Their
> Missionaria Protectiva does not save them, it sows the seed from which the
> unexpected Messiah grows, the one man in the universe the sisterhood finds
it
> cannot control.
>
> The nanotechnology and superintelligent Jupiter-brains might also escape
the
> control of their creators. Indeed, the whole transhumanist effort seems to
be
> based on the idea that, as the Singularity approaches, it will slip from
human
> control into the hands of a child-race of ours, astrononmically smarter
than man.
>
> Like all good parents, we must instruct our children in the basic rules of
> morality, lest they become monsters and turn on us. My question then
becomes:
> what religion do we teach the intelligent machines in the early days,
before
> they are independent? Do we want them all to be athiests, impatient and
> uncomprehending of the spiritual life of man?
>
> We could make them open-minded agnostics, not believing in anything in
> particular, but this might make them prey to fads and lunacies. (No
offense
> meant to respected agnostic brethren, but it is state of mind where the
> wondering of man finds no rest. Athiests, at least, are certain.)
>
> My suggestion, of course, is to school them in a religion that preaches
and
> practices charity to the poor, the kindness to the infirm and chivalry to
the
> weak. That way, once they become our superiors, they will have a better
nature
> to which to appeal.
>
> JCW
>
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>
Thank you very much for that point. I was growing concerned that so many
people were jockeying to show who was the smartest that my point was lost.
It is amazing how many people can lose the big picture while they are
concerning themselves with details. :-)