Posts from our diverse community
Dear Millennials
October 18, 2018
Dear Millennials,Our generation is technologically connected in ways our parents never imagined. Social media allows us to hear what’s happening around the world in a matter of seconds. We watch videos of cops shooting black men only moments after...
Are Cell Phones and Drones Foiling Satan’s Nefarious UFO Deception?
by Tony Breeden
October 17, 2018
Christian UFO experts espousing the Demonic Hypothesis of UFO assure us that UFOs are a Satanic deception, yet, if this is the case, why are UFO reports in such a steep decline? The fact that they are statistically in decline is undeniable at this...
The Garden and the Stream: A Technopastoral
by Ryan Hauck
October 16, 2018
Originally posted on Hapgood: Opening keynote for dLRN 2015. Delivered October 16th @ Stanford. Actual keynote may have gone on significant tangents… 1 | a year in the garden A week or so ago, I was reading about the Oregon shooting. I’m a pretty ...
Queer, Mormon, and Transhuman: Part IV
October 15, 2018
I’ve received a bit of feedback from peers about my work not being relevant enough to transhumanism and that I focus more on the “queer” and “Mormon” than “transhumanism.” A casual reading of my work might understandably lead someone to this concl...
Tales of the Turing Church: Public draft
October 13, 2018
Response to Dr John Lennox at RZIM on AI and the church #TrendingQuestions
by Mark Russell
October 11, 2018
A response of Hope to dr. John Lennox's sermon at Ravi Zacharias Ministries, asking the question if we should fear artificial intelligence. The post Response to Dr John Lennox at RZIM on AI and the church #TrendingQuestions appeared first on The...
Is Transhumanism a Challenge or an Opportunity for the Christian Faith?
by Elias Kruger
October 11, 2018
This week, Ravi Zachariah’s Institute here in Atlanta hosted an event entitled: “Should we fear Artificial Intelligence?” In it, British Mathematician and Christian Apologist John Lennox gave a lecture on the challenge of AI and Transhumanism to t...
This is Heaven
October 10, 2018
William: You know how I was dead when I was a baby and then the doctors brought me back to life?Me: Yes. It was very scary. William: Well, if I died and now I’m alive this is heaven right now.Me: Huh. I never thought of it that way.William: But wh...
Gratitude and Reality
by Ryan Hauck
October 09, 2018
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero Richest Blessings to all of my readers. If you are Canadian, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that the long weekend was a fruitful one...
49 Thoughts on October 2018 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
October 08, 2018
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="844" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYEXJtWMB4c/W7uLNCu336I/AAAAAAACG0E/xEGLzU6omeU9RZi-NUDOHyVtUI66S7SawCLcBGAs/s1600/general-conference-2018-oct.png" /><br /><br /&g...
The Valley of Dry Bones in light of Artificial Intelligence.
by Mark Russell
October 07, 2018
In my Christian walk, the valley of dry bones has always been one of those stories that didn’t make a lot of sense. Yesterday I was able to see that story in a completely new perspective that I would like to share. However, before we go there, I h...
No Gospel for Aliens? Creation.com’s Interpretive Overreach Reveals a Major Misunderstanding of the Fall
by Tony Breeden
October 07, 2018
Shaun Doyle recently fielded an alleged letter to Creation Ministries International which cautioned against interpretive overreach on the subject of extraterrestrial life, lest we repeat the historical embarrassment of hitching our star to geocent...
Thinspace
October 05, 2018
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Isaac Watts, Extraterrestrials and Isaiah 45:18
by Tony Breeden
October 02, 2018
Dr. Danny Faulkner has written a post in which he takes issue with the pro-extraterrestrial opinion of Isaac Watts, the “Godfather of English Hymnody.” In his lifetime, Watts composed around 750 hymns, including “Joy to the World,” “Alas! and Did ...
Why Do You Hate Men?
October 01, 2018
He asked me, “Why do you hate men?”The question took me off guard. I scanned through my mental rolodex of people I love. Many of the closest people in my life are men. My best friend is a man. I am raising two men whom I would live and die for. I’...
The 45th Parallel: What Alien Abductions and Satanic Ritual Abuse Have In Common
by Tony Breeden
September 29, 2018
Some proponents of the Demonic Hypothesis of UFO have made a big deal about a study presented on the third night of an MIT (yes, THAT MIT) alien abduction conference held June 13-17, 1992. During that conference, California therapist Gwen Dean not...
The Fermi Paradox: Looking for Smoke Signals in a Cell Phone Universe
by Tony Breeden
September 29, 2018
The Fermi Paradox has plagued folks who ponder the possibility of intelligent extraterrestrial life ever since Enrico Fermi asked the question, “Where is everybody?” I think it’s time we admit how presumptuous his question is. Recently, I read ano...
Stay Safe Out There
September 29, 2018
I compiled a list of 20 preventative measures for men who have expressed their concerns about being falsely accused of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct.1. Don’t put yourself in compromising situations.2. Stay alert and...
Making All Things Whole through Love | Ryan Kuja (From the Inside Out)
by Mike Morrell
September 28, 2018
The following is an excerpt of From The Inside Out: Reimagining Mission, Recreating the World, Ryan Kuja’s potent critique of missionary colonialism envisions a hope-filled future. It’s a Speakeasy selection, and there are still ...
Concerning God
September 26, 2018
*This post is an extension of a previous post, Concerning Theism. I will begin by acknowledging that the God I will describe to you is not an esthetic of God regularly discussed in common LDS settings. We tote around these ideas without fully embr...
Dear Fundamentalist Christians
September 22, 2018
Dear Fundamentalist Christians,We don’t know each other very well, but you have been saying some bizarrely inaccurate things about two organizations I belong to: the Mormon Transhumanist Association and the Christian Transhumanist Association. I r...
This Post Is Brought to You by Fundamentalist Christianity
September 21, 2018
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="844" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQ2dKRWenOI/W6UjLHY3vUI/AAAAAAACGwc/Ig2eWMqNQ_UFIEPO3nf8lgUXMD0nZUzNACLcBGAs/s1600/fundamentalist-christians.png" /><br /><br />...
Mormon and Queer
September 21, 2018
*This is a copy of my profile for Faces of Affirmation. Hello. I’m Blaire Ostler. I’m a born and raised Mormon. I come from nine generations of Mormon pioneers. I often joke that if there is a Mormon gene, I have it. I’m also a gender variant, se...
Concerning Theism
September 20, 2018
I’ve recently been asked by several friends about my conception of the divine, and how I maintain my faith in God as a theist, philosopher, and intellectual. Many of my Mormon friends who experience a faith crisis or faith transition often turn to...
What Does Beyonce, AI and Democracy All Have in Common?
by Elias Kruger
September 14, 2018
Answer: they are all mentioned in the Superposition Magazine. As some of you may not know, besides keeping this blog I am also writing for a newly launched SuperPosition magazine. I am excited to be part of this new endeavor that aims to broaden ...
Finding Unity in Diversity Through Christ
September 12, 2018
*This is the text of a talk I gave at the Provo Pride Interfaith Night at the Provo Community Congregational United Church of Christ. One of my favorite examples of finding unity in diversity is through Christ.The word Christ comes from the Greek ...
Scripture and The Evolving Mind
by Ryan Hauck
September 11, 2018
I just finished watching an absolutely wonderful movie called “Come Sunday“, which is a movie about internationally-renowned pastor Carlton Pearson, who has a crisis of faith when he receives guidance from God that contradicts scripture and puts h...
More Than a Statistic
September 11, 2018
I’ll begin by acknowledging this post might be too much, too intimate, too real, too vulnerable. I have learned genuine intimacy and vulnerability can leave people uncomfortable or frightened. Honesty, genuine honesty, isn’t always wanted. Even so...
Why Turing Church is a space religion
September 11, 2018
Our Roles in Education and Learning
by Ryan Hauck
September 06, 2018
Greetings, Today I wanted to take some time and touch on an important element of society; education. Specifically, I wanted to address the various roles that exist in each sphere of identity in terms of education, and how best those roles can be f...
My Funeral (God Forbid)
September 06, 2018
<img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="844" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OLE7JGvaOxg/W5GWni1rY8I/AAAAAAACGWc/eZusCqlTEo0vgF_It6gEZY6Nu152HcCGQCLcBGAs/s1600/white-oriental-lilies.png" /><br /><br />One ...
Gatekeeping Trans and Intersex Bodies
September 05, 2018
Trans and intersex bodies have been the battleground of gender essentialist gatekeeping. Our bodies have been questioned, scrutinized, examined, dissected, and cut while being met with skepticism, fear, and even hatred. The gatekeepers have assign...
God of SuperPosition – Part 1: Seeing Miracles
September 03, 2018
Two unlikely miracles happen in Matamoros, Mexico. The post God of SuperPosition – Part 1: Seeing Miracles appeared first on ChristopherBenek.com.
The ‘Lost’ Colony of Roanoke: A 400-Year Coverup? | Andrew Lawler
by Mike Morrell
September 01, 2018
In 1587, 115 men, women, and children arrived at Roanoke Island on the coast of North Carolina. Chartered by Queen Elizabeth I, their colony was to establish England’s first foothold in the New World. But when the colony’s leader...
Facebook Hosts Posts Encouraging You to Fight So That They Can Make More Money
September 01, 2018
Does your Facebook feed feel like digital Fight Club? Let's break the First Rule and talk about it. The post Facebook Hosts Posts Encouraging You to Fight So That They Can Make More Money appeared first on ChristopherBenek.com.
The Christian Post – Can a Video Game Church Advance the Kingdom of God?
August 29, 2018
The Christian Post interviews the Rev. Dr. Christopher Benek inquiring as to his thoughts on ministry that seeks to serve video gamers. Read the full article HERE. The post The Christian Post – Can a Video Game Church Advance the Kingdom of God?...
The Power of Decision
by Ryan Hauck
August 29, 2018
The power of decision is my own. Let us today be truly humble, and accept what we have made as what it is. 2 The power of decision is our own. 3 Decide but to accept your rightful place as co-creator of the universe, and all you think you made wil...
Tales of the Turing Church: Book draft for early readers
August 28, 2018
Emergent Christianity Blog Series: What is it?
by Ryan Hauck
August 27, 2018
One of the central themes of this blog is about changing our mind. It may seem at first to be an ambiguous statement, but in truth, it is the most essential decision a person can make in their life. It can be very easy for people to fall into repe...
Faith, Works, Grace, and Tacos
August 25, 2018
In my work at the Mormon Transhumanist Association, I am often asked, “Where does faith fit into Mormon Transhumanism? Are religious transhumanists just faithless, closeted-atheists with no trust in God? What about grace? Are faith and grace relic...
On Being a Healing Presence
by Ryan Hauck
August 23, 2018
I receive newsletters from Unity every so often, and today I received a letter reminding me of the upcoming 25th anniversary of World Day of Prayer. I have always appreciated the altitude of thinking of the Unity faith, built on the teachings of C...
Theological Maturity
August 23, 2018
Many of my fellow Mormons have become complacent in theological certainty, and apathetic to theological responsibility. Many sit in pews awaiting revelation they have not actively sought for. I see theological immaturity, arrogance, and ignorance,...
Intelligence for Leadership: AI in Decision Making
by Elias Kruger
August 22, 2018
Kings have advisors, presidents have cabinets, CEOs have boards and TV show hosts have writers – every public figure relies on a cadre of trusted advisors for making decisions. Whenever crucial decisions are made, an army of astute specialists h...
Things I have (sort of) changed my mind on (3): Tabloid transhumanism
August 21, 2018
Forgiveness – The Relinquishment of Error
by Ryan Hauck
August 21, 2018
“Forgiveness recognizes what you thought your brother did to you has not occurred. 2 It does not pardon sins and make them real. 3 It sees there was no sin. 4 And in that view are all your sins forgiven. 5 What is sin, except a false idea about Go...
Christ is Transformative
by Ryan Hauck
August 20, 2018
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. It seems that nowadays it doesn’t take much to identi...
A Crises of Identity Politics or A Crises of Identity?
by Ryan Hauck
August 19, 2018
I’ve never been a huge fan of the political world, mainly due to the fact that it’s abundantly clear to me that greed and corruption are two of the main corner-stones to the entire system as it is practiced in most of the world. Real progress is s...
The Three Ascending Plateaus of Christianity
by Ryan Hauck
August 18, 2018
Following my previous post, I wanted to offer some thoughts surrounding what I perceive as the three plateaus of Christianity. This is an important topic for me due to the fact that Christianity has received a lot of flak from reputable (yet misgu...
Checking In – A Practice in Mindfulness
by Ryan Hauck
August 17, 2018
When asked the question, “Who are you?”, we might respond with some obvious things, like our name, our gender, our occupation, our likes and dislikes, political affiliations, etc.. If we are capable of a deeper sense of reflection, a question of t...
Olaf Stapledon and the possibility of technological resurrection
August 15, 2018