Ray Kurzweil, the brilliant inventor, predicts that in the next 2 decades the bio-tech and nanotech revolution will enable us to live as long as we choose in good health . Without the fear of fire and brimstone, can religion survive? ( Ray Kurzweil: The Singularity: When Humans transcend Biology).
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2006-10-29 06:02:57 · 17 answers · asked by theagitator@sbcglobal.net 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The other answerer's above me haven't read Kurzweil's book (or didn't understand it). I think Kurzweil's basic thesis is correct, although the specific time frame of 20 years might be off by as much as 2x.
The big problem is that the technological changes that will happen over the next 30 years will be so shocking to people whose world views are still rooted in 3000 year old myths that the most likely outcome is chaos and war. I'd argue that radial Islam extremism is just the first wave of this trend.
If the human race survives the next 50 years we will transcend the 3000 year old myths, even if we haven't completely transcended our biology.
2006-10-29 07:28:20 · answer #1 · answered by Jim L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm... interesting. Okay, someone else on this site today predicted human beings will all be extinct by 2016. He must have read that same garbage. Well, I guess 20 years is better than 10 for humans to transcend biology, whatever the heck that means. The most we can expect in the future realistically is that stem cell research will enable people to live longer and enjoy lives free of the scourge diseases of mankind. As far as transcending biology, that makes no sense. What are you saying, that people will just materialize in thin air?? You seem to have all the answers, so why ask us biological mortals about religion and the fear of death? In such a world as you and Kurzweil describe, death would be preferable.
2006-10-29 14:12:06 · answer #2 · answered by gldjns 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ha,wow, well I figured science would transcend death eventually. Uhh well first off, will this even be allowed. There's way too man Republicans in this country right now for something like that to pass.
If it did there would no doubt be a religious outcry all over the world, but at the end of the day yea religion over time would largely deteriorate. But as my brother Mario just pointed out, there is the obvious problem with population control.
2006-10-29 14:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by SoulUltima597 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think science can stop death.
Suppose they can clone perfectly a person with the same memory, etc(huh?). Would you consider your clone as yourself? f your body dies and that of your clone survives,would you consider it as if you were still living?
Suppose, they can stop a human organism's aging process completely or reverse it so you can live as long as you like (huh?). Technically, there will still be thousands of way you can die. Everyone is afraid of natural death but how many people are lucky (or unlucky) enough to live to that stage?
You seem to not like Christians. Even if all religions that we know today became extinct, I am sure there will be more coming.
Some people believing Christianity has a lot of dogmas and rituals that make no sense abandoned Christianity, but look at the world now. If you noticed some new age groups, they engage in activities that an objective rational person would claim to surpass Christianity in abundance of dogmas and illogical immoral beliefs and rituals.
Pseudoscience is very different from science.
2006-10-29 14:16:09 · answer #4 · answered by mirbeksm 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ray Kurzweil is brilliant, but dying being eliminated within the next 2 decades?
He likes to make shocking predictions, but this one is just crazy and impossible to take serious. Anyone who has studied death (we'll call it by 'old age') knows it is a *massive* failure of the body.
2006-10-29 14:13:16 · answer #5 · answered by Bad Buddhist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you will still have people trying to kill people - by doing whatever that entails, and other people extorting to "join forces" with them - by giving them their money and allegiance - so they can be "protected" from the harm-doers.
You would just have warring sects and factions within sects pushing their religion. Oh, and basically staging preemptive strikes, giving some credence to the threats.
I just realized, I cannot think of a single religion that does/has not concerned itself greatly with death.
Some religions might even be against the impossibility of death, calling it "immoral" and saying there was nothing endorsing it in their ancient texts.
2006-10-29 14:11:35 · answer #6 · answered by John C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are basing your question on a misconception. People do not turn to Religion because of a fear of dying. They turn to Religion because of a fear of living. When Man transcends Biology, he will have already died.
2006-10-29 14:07:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's a recent study that says 1 out of every 1 person dies....
Last time I checked, that will always be the case
2006-10-29 14:24:49 · answer #8 · answered by Courtney B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jaread points out a simple truth. If you put it to most of the religious that they were to live in the real world and that there was no Sky-Daddy Heaven coming, they would commit suicide.
2006-10-29 14:14:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way to living longer is in what you eat, what you put in and on your body; sometimes I think science is going to be the death of us all: got some people trying to create these super smart robots that they think will eventually overun us
2006-10-29 14:05:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋