Will AI and Transhumanism be the Second “FALL” of Mankind?

Let’s lay some groundwork for answering this question.  In the fall, Eve was first tempted by the devil when he said to her,

“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”(Gen 3:5)  

Eve listened to the devil’s words and then lusted after the forbidden fruit. She saw that the fruit looked good (lust of the eyes), thought that it would satisfy her desire (lust of the flesh), and believed what the devil said about it making her like God (the pride of life).  

1 John 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Eve ate, and then so did Adam. 

When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, sin entered God’s perfect creation.  And, we know what followed.  Because our God is a just God, He had to judge and punish their sin. 

Sin must always be judged and “paid for” (atoned).  Therefore, God declared what we now call “the curse” – a punishment including three things:

1. Woman would have pain in childbirth
2. Man would have toil in working the earth to produce food.
3. Death would enter the world — they died spiritually and began dying physically.

The Advent of a New Temptation

In the 21st century we have seen technological advancements beyond our wildest dreams.  Much of technology that was seen only in science fiction movies in mid-late 20th century has become a reality.  And more advancements are looming large on the horizon.  Significant is the advent of far and wide-reaching artificial intelligence (AI) — a technology that can bring about Transhumanism.  I suggest that both are not a blessing, but rather a curse.  

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

A simple definition from Wikipedia defines AI as “intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by non-human animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech recognition, computer vision, translation between (natural) languages, as well as other mappings of inputs.”

Therefore, we could say that AI in inanimate intelligence.  Although some would argue that AI has a “life” of its own.

What is Transhumanism?

Again, Wikipedia gives a simple definition:  Transhumanism is “a philosophical and intellectual movement which advocates the enhancement of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies that can greatly enhance longevity and cognition.”

While Wikipedia defines Transhumanism as “a movement which advocates the enhancement of the human condition,” it should be noted that this movement has became a reality.  In July of 2022, a chip using AI was implanted in the brain of a human for the purpose of overcoming severe paralysis.  (Read: Synchron Announces First Human U.S. Brain-Computer Interface Implant) Therefore, we should think of Transhumanism as more than just a movement.  We should think of Transhumanism as the result of transcending the human condition through AI.

Why Should We Fear AI and Transhumanism?

I would suggest that AI and Transhumanism will lead to mankind’s second fall. Why do I say that?  Because in the fall of Adam and Eve, they were disobedient to God’s will and ways and they…

1. desired to have something God had not given them (the forbidden fruit), 
2. did something God had told them not to do (ate the fruit), and 
3. desired to be something God had not intended them to be (desired to transcend their human condition to be like God).

Leaders in the AI and Transhumanism Movement

In an article from the Christian Post, Dr. Yuval Noah Harari, top advisor to Klaus Schwab, WEF founder and leader, is quoted from his speech at the WEF in Davos, Switzerland  in January 2023: 

“We are no longer mysterious souls; humans are now hackable animals … replacing evolution by natural selection with intelligent design. Not the intelligent design of some God above the clouds, but the intelligent design of our clouds, the IBM cloud, the Microsoft clouds. These are the new driving forces of evolution … the idea that humans are spiritual beings having free will is over … through Transhumanism, we become the Gods. It’s a religion coming from silicon valley.” 

In the same article, Ray Kurzweil, head of engineering at Google, is quoted as having predicted humans would be transformed into “Spiritual Machines” because they will “resurrect” our minds onto supercomputers, potentially extending our lifespan indefinitely. He predicted that technological advances could make our bodies incorruptible, preventing diseases and decay. People would acquire knowledge by uploading it to their brains stored on a supercomputer. Nanotechnology would allow us to remake Earth into a paradise and expand into space to inhabit other planets. This hybrid human creature would have limitless power. 

Consider Harari’s Words

In essence Harari said, humans are animals who can be intelligently designed (hacked) as a means of natural selection.  That sounds like darwinian theory and Hitler’s manifesto (Mein Kampf).  

Clearly the agenda behind this is to create a superior race of people, engineered by man not born of man.  This is a re-creation of man and rejection of God’s design. God designed reproduction or procreation by husband and wife.  If people are “designed” or “re-designed” by Artificial Intelligence, they will not have, or they will lose, that which God designed — being born in the image of Adam (Gen 5:3) who was created in the image of God (Gen 1:27).

Consider Kurzweil’s Words

Kurzweil thinks the following can be done:

1. humans transformed into “Spiritual Machines” 
2. “resurrect” our minds onto supercomputers, 
3. extending our lifespan indefinitely. 
4. make our bodies incorruptible
5. preventing diseases and decay. 
6. acquire knowledge by uploading it to their brains stored on a supercomputer. 
7. remake Earth into a paradise and expand into space to inhabit other planets.
8. and this hybrid human creature would have limitless power.

Be Like God?

Remember what Satan said, “you will be like God?” Compare that to Kurzweil’s Words:

#2. “resurrect” our minds onto supercomputers,
#6. acquire knowledge by uploading it to brains stored on a supercomputer.
#8, a hybrid human creature would have limitless power.

Reversing the Curse

Remember what God said:  there will be pain in childbirth, labor for food, and death, both spiritually and physically. Compare that to Kurzweil’s Words:

#1. humans transformed into “Spiritual Machines”
#3. extending our lifespan indefinitely.
#4. make our bodies incorruptible and
#5 preventing diseases and decay. 

Finally, remember that God pronounced a curse on the earth (Gen 3:18) that brought forth thorns and thistles.  Compare that to Kurzweil’s Words:  #7. remake Earth into a paradise and expand into space to inhabit other planets.

AI and Transhumanism is an attempt to elevate mankind to be like God, and reverse the curse on both man and earth.  

“Morphological Freedom” — Wake Up America (and the World), “We Have a Problem”

The WEF stated, “We favor morphological freedom — the right to modify and enhance one’s body, cognition, and emotions.”  That’s a HUGE problem. And I suggest it could just be the second “fall” of mankind. 

In the fall (Gen 3), God promised to send a Rescuer and He was faithful to do so.  He sent us Jesus!  

In the second “fall,” when man is truly “playing” God and putting himself on the “throne” of the earth, God will do the same.   He will judge the world and He will send Jesus to clean up the mess (Rev 19:11ff).  Blood will be shed, but it won’t be the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. Sadly, it will be the blood of sinful people who rejected the saving grace of Jesus.  And finally, Jesus will set up His earthly kingdom of righteousness and peace,  thereby reversing the curse according to God’s perfect purpose and plan.

What Can You Do?  Pray!  And…

1. Remember, mankind was created in the image of God. And just as God is volitional, ie. He has free will to choose, so also doe man.  Therefore…

“choose this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh 24:15)

2. Believe that the curse is real. It cannot be reversed, no matter how hard man might try.  But it can be overcome by the blood of the Lamb.  Trust in Jesus, who paid the penalty for the sins of the world and offers forgiveness to all who come to Him in faith.

Tell all people about the love and saving grace of Jesus — call the lost to repent and be saved, and call believers to return and be sanctified.

3. Know that man can never be like God. It can not happen, not even with AI.  Man is a finite, fallen, and imperfect in all his ways.  Even forgiven sinners, saved by Jesus and promised eternal life, are finite and continue to sin. God is an infinite being, perfect in all His ways.  Love and serve only God. 

Isa 42:8  I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another…
Isa 48:11  … And I will not give My glory to another.

<*}}}><