The History of the Christian Transhumanist Association

Prehistory

Christian Transhumanism is a modern name for a stream of Christian thought that has existed for 2000 years. That stream of thought built the universities, gave us the scientific revolution, and inspired the space race.

Key thinkers who connect this ancient stream of thought to today include:

• Francis Bacon (16th century), formulated the scientific method, inspired the founding of The Royal Society, and pushed for radical longevity and other transhumanist scientific projects, inspired by his Christian faith, and his friends among the translators of the King James Bible.
• Nikolai Fedorov (1829-1903) (19th century), Russian Orthodox thinker, inspired the space race as part of his Christian eschatology.
• Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (20th century), Jesuit priest and paleontologist, who sought to reconcile evolution and Christianity, and ended up formulating a theory of the future, anticipating the internet and the Singularity, and—through his friendship with Julian Huxley—inspiring the modern secular transhumanist movement.
• Frank Tipler (20th-21st century), a cosmologist who inspired many in the 1980s-1990s secular transhumanist movement. In 1994, he published The Physics of Immortality (1994) in which he proposed a transhumanist view of God. Many early members of the CTA, such as Micah Redding and Neal Locke, read this book at the time, and became Christian Transhumanists. Tipler himself eventually became a Christian.

Overview of CTA history

• 2013 Interest group and initial community
• 2014 Formal organization
• 2015 501c3 status, infant warmer project, logo, membership
• 2016 Christian Transhumanist Affirmation adopted
• 2018 CTA Conference 2018
• 2019 CTA Conference 2019

Initial Interest Group (2013)

On June 6th, 2013, Micah Redding posted a signup form (archive) for those interested in forming a Christian Transhumanist Association.

On July 7th, 2013, Micah Redding published a Call for Interest in a Christian Transhumanist Association, and Giulio Prisco publicized it farther. That call led 24 additional people to sign a statement of interest. This culminated with the launch of a Christian Transhumanist Association discussion group on November 1, 2013.

Guiding Statements (2013-2014)

When we were in the process of formation, our small community used several guiding statements and concepts. These statements included:

Our Purpose: Participating with God in the redemption, reconciliation, and renewal of the world.

Our Understanding: We understand our Christian faith to affirm humans as scientific and technological creatures—creatures who create and discover, and who are commissioned to cultivate life, create new things, and renew the world. We further understand our Christian mission to charge us with healing, feeding, and restoring life—activities which provoke us to scientific and medical innovations, just as they have throughout Christian history.

Our Statement of Principle and Action: As part of our affirmation, we include a Statement of Principle and Action taken from Jesus himself: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength…and love your neighbor as yourself.

That contains our purpose, our defining focus, and our message. And when it comes to the application of those commands, we see three deep things:

1. We focus on that which is transcendent.
2. We pursue greater coherence of mentality, physicality, spirituality.
3. We seek the betterment of the world.

We think that these three elements define what it is to be a complete human being, and mark out the dimensions along which we should grow. They define what we hope to practice as an organization, what will shape our choices, and what we hope to convey in many ways and forms to the outside world.

Formal Organization (2014)

Over the next several months, we discussed purpose, direction, and plans, through both email and video chats, as new people joined in. On March 29, 2014, Christopher Benek joined the discussion.

On April 3, 2014, the group decided to form an organizational task force, and on April 11, 2014, we held a video hangout for those wishing to do the initial legwork to get the group going. Those attending were Micah Redding, Christopher Benek, and Dorothy Deasy.

The group determined that they should file for legal recognition, and we began working on that process. The association was formally recognized by the state of Tennessee on May 15, 2014, with Micah Redding as Executive Director, and board member positions as required by the state: Christopher Benek (chair), Dorothy Deasy (secretary), and Emily Redding (treasurer).

That was just state recognition, however, and so the long process of acquiring 501c3 status began.

On July 30, 2014, the first bylaws were adopted. What followed was further paperwork and preparation.

501c3 (2015)

In January 2015, the application for 501c3 status was officially filed with the IRS. In December 2015, we received official recognition from the IRS as a 501c3.

In February 2015, with the CTA Launch Announcement, a month-long membership campaign began. By the end of the month, approximately 14 people had signed up and contributed to the campaign, becoming founding members of the association.

In March 2015, we held elections for our first Membership Advisory Council, selected by the voting members.

First Donation and Logo (2015)

On October 6, 2015, the CTA announced its first major donation, with a $1200 gift to the Embrace Infant Warmer project, signifying our commitment to the combination of technology, compassion, and respect for human life.

Also announced was the first CTA Logo, selected by the membership campaign donors.

Over the next few months, in conjunction with pastors, academics, laypeople, and the Board and the Membership Advisory Council, we composed the Christian Transhumanist Affirmation, which was circulated for public signing on March 30, 2016.

Affirmation (2016)

Over the next few months, in conjunction with pastors, academics, laypeople, and the Board and the Membership Advisory Council, we composed the Christian Transhumanist Affirmation, which was circulated for public signing on March 30, 2016.

Humanity+ (2017)

In July 2017, Humanity+ affiliated with the Christian Transhumanist Association.

Conferences (2018-2019)

On August 25th, 2018, the first ever Christian Transhumanist Conference CTA Conference 2018 was held at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, with keynote speaker Aubrey de Grey.

On October 19th, 2019, the second Christian Transhumanist Conference CTA Conference 2019 was held at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, with keynote speakers Science Mike and Liz Parrish.

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Detailed history of People & Leadership

Formation (2013-2014)

On July 7th, 2013, Micah Redding published a Call for Interest in a Christian Transhumanist Association, and Giulio Prisco publicized it farther. That call led 24 additional people to sign a statement of interest. Those initial names include:

Micah Redding, Lincoln Cannon, James M Ledford, Jason Xu, Jordan Rastrick, Giulio Prisco, Ilia Stambler, Therese Price, Siddartha S Verma, David Hamilton, Thomas Nowell, Micko Hjort, Joe Nickence, Hanno van Tonder, Dorothy Deasy, Snooz, Richard Lyne, Vicky Beeching, John Jastrow, Dan Hegelund, Ryan Hogan, Pace Ellsworth, Andrés Gómez Emilsson, James Michael Moffett, Peter Tovarich

Over the next several months, we discussed purpose, direction, and plans, through both email and video chats, as new people joined in. On March 29, 2014, Christopher Benek joined the discussion.

On April 3, 2014, the group decided to form an organizational task force, and on April 11, 2014, we held a video hangout for those wishing to do the initial legwork to get the group going. Those attending were Micah Redding, Christopher Benek, and Dorothy Deasy.

The group determined that they should file for legal recognition, and we began working on that process. The association was formally recognized by the state of Tennessee on May 15, 2014, with Micah Redding as Executive Director, and board member positions as required by the state: Christopher Benek (chair), Dorothy Deasy (secretary), and Emily Redding (treasurer).

In February 2015, with the CTA Launch Announcement, a month-long membership campaign began. By the end of the month, approximately 14 people had signed up and contributed to the campaign, becoming founding members of the association. Those names include: David Winyard, Jack Zaleski, Josiah Redding, Dan Hegelund, Mark Waser, John Michael Maier, Jonathan Burchel, James Ledford, Lincoln Cannon, Carl Youngblood, R Michael Perry, Jonathan Gunnell .

Founding Members (2015)

In February 2015, a month-long membership campaign began. By the end of the month, approximately 14 people had signed up and contributed to the campaign, becoming founding members of the association. Those names include:

Micah Redding
David Winyard
Jack Zaleski
Josiah Redding
Dan Hegelund
Mark Waser
John Michael Maier
Jonathan Burchel
James McLean Ledford
Lincoln Cannon
Carl Youngblood
R Michael Perry
Jonathan Gunnell

Additional names that should be included here:
Christopher Benek
Dorothy Deasy
Emily Redding

Leadership (2015-2022)

In March 2015, we held elections for our first Membership Advisory Council, selected by the voting members. Our first membership council consisted of: James Ledford, Lincoln Cannon, Jonathan Gunnell, Dan Hegelund, Ryan Hogan.

In 2016, a new Membership Advisory Council was elected, consisting of Lincoln Cannon, Amy Henry Gaskin, Jonathan Gunnell, Ryan Hogan, Neal Locke. There was much discussion about how to continue the evolution of the CTA.

On July 18, 2016, the Board and the Membership Advisory Council were merged, creating an operating board consisting of: Christopher Benek, Dorothy Deasy, Emily Redding, Lincoln Cannon, Amy Henry Gaskin, Jonathan Gunnell, Ryan Hogan, Neal Locke.

In early 2017, Christopher Benek and Dorothy Deasy announced they would step down, to let others serve, and to focus on other activities that could be of help.

This led to the first full board election in March 2017, with 8 seats to be filled. The winners of that election: Lincoln Cannon, Emily Hogan Redding, Amy Gaskin, Jonathan Gunnell, Robert Walden Kurtz, James Ledford, Neal Locke, Gabriel Redding.

James Ledford later resigned, and Timothy Langer was appointed to fill the vacancy.

In March 2018, three board seats were up for re-election, and those elected were Jonathan Gunnell, Mark Russell, and Mike Morrell. In April, Agbolade Omowole, Jenne Erigero Alderks, and Heather Goodman were appointed to one-year officer positions.

In March 2019, three board seats were up for re-election, and those elected were Neal Locke, Lincoln Cannon, and Blaire Ostler .

In March 2020, three board seats were up for re-election, and those elected were

Omar Reyes,
Lorenzo Barberis Canonico (COO),
and Micah Redding (CEO). .

In March 2021, four board seats were up for election, and those elected were

Martha Bucaram,
Jonathan Gunnell,
Elias Kruger,
Mark Russell.

In March 2022, three board seats were up for election, and those elected were

Lincoln Cannon,
MacKenzie Fisher,
Caleb Strom.

Board Members & Officers (2014-today)