# The Heresy of Christian Transhumanism: Why They Cannot Be Reconciled
**December 15, 2024**
*”Transhumanism is a Christian idea gone mad.”* — Comment attributed to various sources
There is a movement that claims to reconcile Christianity with transhumanism. They call themselves the **Christian Transhumanist Association (CTA)**. They argue that technology is God’s gift for human flourishing and that transhumanism is simply “participating with God in the redemption of the world.”
**This is heresy. And it is dangerous.**
## What is Christian Transhumanism?
The CTA, founded in 2014, holds that:
– Technology is a gift from God for human flourishing
– Human enhancement continues the work of redemption
– The “new creation” includes technological transformation
– Christ’s resurrection anticipates human transformation through technology
– Christians should lead transhumanist development ethically
Prominent voices include:
– **Ronald Cole-Turner** (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary)
– **Ted Peters** (Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary)
– **Micah Redding** (Executive Director of CTA)
– **Nancy Ellen Abrams** (philosopher of science)
## Why It Appeals
Christian transhumanism appeals to:
– Tech-savvy believers who want to reconcile faith and work
– Those troubled by the conflict between science and religion
– Progressives who see technology as social justice tool
– Young Christians seeking “relevant” faith expression
The CTA uses biblical language: redemption, resurrection, new creation, shalom. They frame transhumanism as Christian mission.
**This makes the error more insidious, not less.**
## The Fundamental Contradictions
Christianity and transhumanism share no common ground. They are antithetical at every essential point:
### 1. Anthropology
**Christianity:** Humans are created in God’s image (imago Dei). Our nature is given, not constructed. We are souls and bodies, unified. Death is an enemy, not a technical problem.
**Transhumanism:** Humans are evolved apes with buggy code. Our nature is plastic, editable, upgradeable. We are information patterns. Death is a challenge to overcome.
**Verdict:** Incompatible. Either humans have a given nature or we don’t.
### 2. Soteriology (Salvation)
**Christianity:** Salvation is rescue from sin and death through Christ’s atoning work. We are saved by grace through faith, not works. Eternal life is God’s gift.
**Transhumanism:** “Salvation” is technological transformation. We save ourselves through enhancement. Immortality is engineered, not granted.
**Verdict:** Incompatible. Either salvation is from God or from technology.
### 3. Christology
**Christianity:** Jesus Christ is the God-man, fully divine and fully human. His resurrection is the firstfruits of our resurrection—physical, bodily, transformative.
**Transhumanism:** Christ’s resurrection anticipates uploading, enhancement, or transcendence. The “body” is irrelevant or metaphorical.
**Verdict:** Incompatible. Christ’s resurrection body was physical, not uploaded.
### 4. Eschatology (End Times)
**Christianity:** History ends with Christ’s return, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the new heavens and new earth.
**Transhumanism:** History ends (or continues indefinitely) with the Singularity, human-AI merger, and posthuman existence.
**Verdict:** Incompatible. Either Christ returns or the Singularity arrives. Both cannot be ultimate.
### 5. The Body
**Christianity:** The body is created good, corrupted by sin, redeemed by Christ, and will be resurrected glorified. We are embodied souls.
**Transhumanism:** The body is limiting, flawed hardware to transcend. We are minds that happen to have bodies.
**Verdict:** Incompatible. Either the body is essential or disposable.
### 6. Death
**Christianity:** Death is the wages of sin, an enemy to be destroyed by Christ, the last enemy defeated at resurrection.
**Transhumanism:** Death is a technical problem to be solved by medicine and technology.
**Verdict:** Incompatible. Either death is theological or technical.
## Specific Errors of Christian Transhumanism
### Error 1: Technology as Redemption
The CTA claims technology “participates in redemption.” But redemption is exclusively Christ’s work:
*”For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”* — 1 Timothy 2:5
Technology does not redeem. Christ redeems.
### Error 2: Enhancement as Sanctification
Sanctification is the Spirit’s work making us like Christ. Christian transhumanists confuse this with technological enhancement.
But:
– Sanctification affects character, not just capability
– Sanctification produces love, joy, peace—not processing power
– Sanctification is received, not engineered
### Error 3: The New Creation as Technological
The CTA suggests the “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 21) includes or anticipates technological transformation.
But the new creation is:
– God’s work, not ours
– Cosmic in scope (all creation, not just humans)
– Physical but not technological
– Redemption of the existing creation, not replacement with engineered alternatives
### Error 4: Resurrection as Uploading
Some Christian transhumanists suggest resurrection is analogous to uploading—transference of consciousness to a new substrate.
But:
– Resurrection is transformation of the existing body, not transfer to a new one
– Thomas touched Jesus’ wounds—continuity of physical form
– Jesus ate food—physical needs continue
– Resurrection is miraculous, not technological
### Error 5: Imago Dei as Potential
The CTA often speaks of the imago Dei as something we achieve or develop through technology.
But Genesis 1:27 says we are created in God’s image. It is given, not achieved. It is status, not potential.
## The First Things Rebuttal
In November 2024, *First Things* magazine published “The Impossibility of Christian Transhumanism.” The article argued:
> “The problem with these efforts [Christian transhumanism] is that the transhumanist worldview contradicts Christianity at the most fundamental level: the nature of God, the nature of humanity, the means of salvation, and the hope of eternal life.”
The article concludes that Christian transhumanism is not a valid theological option but a confusion that undermines both faith and reason.
## Why It Matters
Christian transhumanism is not a harmless error. It:
### 1. Legitimizes Transhumanism
By baptizing transhumanism with Christian language, the CTA makes it palatable to believers who would otherwise reject it.
### 2. Corrupts the Gospel
The gospel of Christ—crucified and risen—becomes the gospel of technology—enhanced and uploaded.
### 3. Destroys Hope
True hope is resurrection in Christ. Christian transhumanism offers technological transcendence—a false hope that leads to destruction.
### 4. Opens to the Mark
Those convinced that technology participates in redemption will be first in line for the mark of the beast system.
## The Orthodox Alternative
We do not reject technology. We reject **technological salvation**.
Technology is a tool—morally neutral, useful for good or evil. But it cannot:
– Save souls
– Redeem creation
– Defeat death
– Make us gods
Only Christ does these things.
## Responding to Christian Transhumanists
### 1. Be Clear
Do not suggest Christianity and transhumanism are compatible. They are not.
### 2. Be Compassionate
Many in the CTA are sincere believers trying to reconcile faith and modernity. They need teaching, not condemnation.
### 3. Be Biblical
Show from Scripture:
– The nature of humanity
– The means of salvation
– The hope of resurrection
– The error of Babel (Genesis 11)
### 4. Be Alternative
Offer a vision of Christian faithfulness that is:
– Intellectually rigorous
– Technologically informed
– Biblically grounded
– Hopeful about the future (through Christ, not tech)
## Conclusion
Christian transhumanism is the spirit of Babel baptized. It is the serpent’s promise—”you will be like God”—wrapped in Christian language.
But we are not gods. We are image-bearers. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot redeem creation. We cannot defeat death.
**Christ has done what we cannot.**
He has saved us. He will redeem creation. He will raise us from death.
That is the gospel. That is our hope. That is worth believing—and worth dying for.
Do not exchange it for silicon and code.