[ExI] H+ & religion call for papers

[Mercer, Calvin]

Broderick copied one of his messages to me and so I checked out these postings.  I am the professor who sent the American Academy of Religion (AAR) call for papers out beyond AAR and am the chair of the session in question.  Mike and BillK on your list had it about right, though I wouldn't say "anything" goes.  We are a scholarly society and use critical method (e.g. historical, literary) to ply our trade, so the society promotes rational analysis of religious phenomenon.  As noted in the postings, there are plenty of atheists and agnostics in the AAR group, as well as plenty of scholars of religions other than Christianity.  As for the session in question, as a steering committee we have no agenda for or against H+, and varying views are held by individual members of the steering committee.  Our committee goal is to foster a thoughtful discussion about transhumanism and religion.  The "Transhumanism and Religion" session is one year old and emerged out of two years of wildcard sessions that focused on radical life extension and religion.  I brought in Aubrey de Grey those first two years to summarize a scientific perspective for the audience before we moved into the papers on religion and radical life extension.  I am co-editing a book of original papers on the topic to be published in the fall by Palgrave Macmillan.  The book will contain papers from different religions and Aubrey writes one of the scientific introductory chapters.  Some of the authors are for and some against extreme longevity programs.  There was no litmus test in choosing the authors.  My goal in the AAR session, the book, and other projects is to forward the conversation about these issues among scholars of religion, and ultimately, among the faith communities and have it done without the antiscience biases that I agree comes with fundamentalist orientation.  Oh yes, Spike, as for being a "quiet infliltrator," no need for that strategy in this group.  As a former Christian fundamentalist now converted to atheism, you'd be most welcome and you'd be hard pressed to find a fundamentalist around anywhere if you attend the AAR meetings.  And Keith's paper on "would H+ mean the end of religion" would be evaluated in a blind review process like all proposals, and if it is well-argued would be as well-received as any other I think.

Calvin Mercer, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Religious Studies Program
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC  27858  USA
252 328 4310 (off & vm)
252 328 6301 (fax)
mercerc at ecu.edu<mailto:mercerc at ecu.edu>
www.ecu.edu/religionprogram<http://www.ecu.edu/religionprogram>

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