[ExI] CALL: H+ call for papers

[Emlyn]

2009/2/19 Damien Broderick <thespike at satx.rr.com>:
> At 10:55 PM 2/18/2009 -0700, John Grigg wrote:
>
>> are there no strong connections/comparisons between
>> religion and transhumanism?  And do you feel trying to develop a
>> positive dialogue between religionists and transhumanists is bad or at
>> least totally unproductive?
>
> About as useful as a "dialogue" between transhumanists and astrologers,
> creation "scientists" or Scientologists.
>
> The point I was making was much more focused than that, though, which is
> that the analyses and aspirations of >H-ism don't spring from religion but
> from the human condition, from human hope and intelligence, just as the
> determination to learn how to fly didn't come from hubristically copying
> angels or demons but from looking at birds (also the source of angels, to
> the extent that these mythic beings are supposed to fly--which is really
> popular sentimental mythology rather than theology, but hey). Similarly, the
> reason planes are cruciform has nothing to do with Jesus on the cross and
> everything to do with (a) bird wings, (b) lifting surfaces, and (c) in any
> case they don't if they're helicopters. But I can imagine these
> theoreductionists blathering on as if that's a major and meaningful source
> of inspiration.
>
> Damien Broderick

Hear hear.

-- 
Emlyn

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