As Featured in The Christian Post
One of the goals of life-extension advocates is the ability to ultimately make humans immortal through technological means. Numerous technologists and scientists have promoted various pathways and initiatives toward these ends. But, from a theological perspective, if technological immortality can be achieved will people still follow Jesus?
While most people believe that they will ultimately die, there are increasing efforts to extend human life and ultimately achieve human immortality. Aubrey de Grey, for example, is a biomedical gerontologist who cofounded the SENS Research Foundation which focuses on research aimed at repairing the cellular and molecular damage that accumulates with aging. In the book Ending Aging, de Grey outlines his theories on how science can be used to halt the aging process, making it possible for humans to live indefinitely.
In a similar vein, billionaire entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Peter Thiel, is interested in extending human life and has invested in various technologies aimed at achieving this goal. While not as publicly focused on immortality as others, his investments reflect a commitment to pushing the boundaries of human lifespan. Thiel has invested in companies like Calico (Founded by Google/Alphabet) and the Methuselah Foundation, which supports research into extending human life. Thiel has publicly stated that he views death as a problem that can and should be solved through technology, and he has used his wealth to support initiatives aimed at radical life extension.
Likewise, Dmitry Itskov, is a Russian entrepreneur who founded the 2045 Initiative, a movement dedicated to achieving immortality through the creation of cybernetic avatars, mind uploading, and artificial bodies. Launched in 2011, the initiative aims to develop technologies that will allow humans to transfer their consciousness into non-biological carriers by the year 2045. This includes creating advanced robotics, brain-computer interfaces, and ultimately, digital immortality. The initiative includes milestones such as creating robotic avatars controlled by the brain, followed by transferring human consciousness into artificial carriers.
Additionally, most people know that Elon Musk has expressed interest in extending human life and enhancing human capabilities, seeing his company Neuralink as a potential bridge to more advanced forms of human-machine integration that could one day lead to digital immortality.
But these names are just a few among many. The list goes on… Kernel, founded by Brian Johnson, is developing non-invasive brain-computer interface technologies that aim to better understand and interact with human cognition. This technology could one day be used to enhance cognitive functions and possibly contribute to the preservation of human consciousness.
Nectome, founded by Robert McIntyre and Michael McCanna, is working on a technology that could preserve the brain in such detail that the memories and consciousness stored within could potentially be revived in the future. Their work is based on a technique called aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation, which they hope could eventually lead to mind uploading.
The Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a nonprofit organization that specializes in cryonics, the preservation of human bodies and brains at low temperatures after death, with the hope that future technology will be able to revive and restore them, potentially leading to digital immortality. This is of course not even mentioning AI like DeepMind (Alphabet/Google), OpenAI, Watson (IBM), Gemini (Google again) etc… not to mention advances in 21st Century Medicine that all may indirectly add to the exponential possibility of human immortality becoming a reality.
In his book Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity – Jamie Metzl lays out the logical case for how what seems like Sci-Fi now could very-well one day become a reality for humanity.
But again, all this leads back to the initial question: From a theological perspective, if technological immortality can be achieved, will people still follow Jesus?
Of course. Because what none of the above offer is a systemic underlying ethic that makes humanity and the cosmos significantly better. Imagine living forever but the world doesn’t get substantially better? That might be a physical manifestation of hell itself.
A great example of this comes in the person of Elon Musk – who for all his ingenuity and brilliance – hasn’t shown the ethical maturity to lead humanity anywhere but into further division (so far – I’m still holding out hope). We might end up living for forever and exploring the cosmos but if we are still fighting each other in politics, on X, in life with hatred and vitriol – is that really a life worth living for eternity?
Christ on the other hand offers a different technological hermeneutic. The resurrected Jesus, (Jesus 2.0) shows us what an upgraded human form might look like.
And Jesus’ teachings model how we are to care for and steward the divine technological world that we are called to cocreate in, renew, and redeem. This necessarily includes our own improvement and care.
Of course, technologists participate in these redemptive purposes of Christ when they bring about that which is truly good (of God). But, without the underlying ethics of Jesus guiding their way, these technologists and the tech they create often act as rockets without guidance systems.
So, will we need Jesus if we technologically achieve immortality?
Of course. Maybe then, more than ever.
