Journal of Evolution and Technology : Religion and Transhumanism

The special issue of the Journal of Evolution and Technology focusing on religion and transhumanism is now online. An interesting collection of papers from various perspectives (e.g. sociological, theological and historical). The introduction by Mark Walker and Heidi Campbell makes for interesting reading as they track some of the previous history of interaction between transhumanism and religion. See,

Campbell, Heidi, and Mark Walker. “Religion and Transhumanism: Introducing a Conversation.” Journal of Evolution and Technology 14, no. 2 (2005): i-xiv. (HTML / PDF)

My paper looking a transhumanism through the lens of Christian social concern is up there as part of the issue. See,

Garner, Stephen R. “Transhumanism and Christian Social Concern.” Journal of Evolution and Technology 14, no. 2 (2005): 29-43. (HTML / PDF)

From the introduction to the issue.

Garner is concerned with social discourse and investigating what religion and transhumanism have to offer society in terms of narratives of hope and justice for the future. He strongly addresses the techno-optimistic tendencies he sees within transhumanism, yet calls for the Christian community to consider more seriously the role technology has to play in the alleviation of suffering and improvement of the quality of life. While detailing a tight Christian theological framework of reflection be entertained for contextualizing technological use, Garner states “engagement with the transhumanist technologies is demanded by this social vision”. He also stresses that “democratic transhumanism”, which addresses human dignity and personhood, offers a more complete perspective to the technological project of enhancement and the place where Christian social concern might find more consonance in dialogue.