[ExI] H+ & religion call for papers

[Eschatoon Magic]

I agree with Max (note that it is "attack" and not "attach" as he has
explained in another message): "it's a mistake to reflexively attack
everything that might be labeled as religion"

I have often said that a "transhumanist approach" to religion, which
is shared by many religious people and has been shared by many well
known philosophers, should be fostered in order to memetically infect
religions by showing that the only heaven is that we will build
ourselves.

Max, I wish to encourage you to submit a paper.

G.

On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 5:35 AM, Max More <max at maxmore.com> wrote:
> Many of the subscribers to this email list have a strongly aversive reaction
> to the irrationalism, fideism, and ultimate authoritarianism aspects of
> "religion". As a pancritical rationalist, I understand and share in those
> reactions. However, I think it's a mistake to reflexively attach everything
> that might be labeled as religion.
>
> For the record, I met Calvin Mercer in April of last year. Don't let his
> first name put you off. He seemed to me to be a remarkably pleasant and
> reasonable fellow. The fact that he is chairing the session at issue is a
> good sign.
>
> I'm even considering submitting a paper for this event myself. (Don't burn
> me at the stake...)
>
> Max
>
>
>> 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)
>> <mailto:mercerc at ecu.edu>mercerc at ecu.edu
>> www.ecu.edu/religionprogram
>
>
> Max More, Ph.D.
> Strategic Philosopher
> www.maxmore.com
> max at maxmore.com
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>



-- 
Eschatoon Magic
http://cosmeng.org/index.php/Eschatoon
aka Giulio Prisco
http://cosmeng.org/index.php/Giulio_Prisco