Humanism or Trans-humanism?

2.  Being human, is what some people today would like
to move beyond. Transhumanism is a movement
that seeks to enhance humans using technology far
beyond the limits of their current physical and
intellectual capacities. Transhumanists look to future
developments in nano-technology, genetics, biology,
computing, robotics and neuroscience to accomplish
this. By augmenting and even changing human
biology, they look to a day when humans can evolve
beyond our current form into something better.

3.  Many transhumanists subscribe to the
“Transhumanist Declaration,” which states “that
humanity’s potential is still mostly unrealized.”
Future humans might enjoy anti-aging techniques,
enhanced senses, memory augmentation, amplified
intelligence and many other “bio-hacks.”

4.  In a sense, we already use technology to augment
human capabilities. To give a specific example,
glasses are a technology meant to correct for poor
vision. Pacemakers, artificial limbs and cochlear
implants also meld with the human body. The goal of
these technologies is to restore normal human
capacities that have been lost or damaged due to
disease or accidents. Even clothing is a type of
human augmentation, designed to help us in our
fallen state.

5.  Technology is not neutral and the key is to direct it in
ways that show love for our neighbour and bring
healing and restoration. Various other technologies
help us unfold the possibilities in creation:
calculators for speed, telescopes to see further and
vehicles to travel faster. But these developments are
outside of ourselves – they have not changed what it
means to be human.

6.  In contrast, the goal of transhumanists is to direct
technology towards ourselves. The term
“posthuman” has been coined to describe future
humans who have gone so far beyond present
capacities that they may no longer be considered
human. The word “cyborg” refers to organisms who
have become part human and part machine.

7.  Such a view assumes a profoundly mistaken notion
of what it means to be human. It reduces being
human to simulating the interaction of particles in
the human brain. As the Qur'an suggests all who
make and trust in idols will become like them.

8.  Such a view assumes a profoundly mistaken notion
of what it means to be human. It reduces being
human to simulating the interaction of particles in
the human brain. As the Qur'an suggests all who
make and trust in idols will become like them.

9.  "The majority of those who believe in GOD do not do
so without committing idol worship [12:106]."
 In the case of the “rapture of the geeks,” the end
goal is literally to become like a computer.

10.  The way we become what we were meant to be is not
primarily through technology, but through the sacred
Book of Good conveyed via Prophet Mohammed, who
had the most beautiful character and hence was an
example for mankind throughout the history.
 As we are bombarded each day with messages about
machines taking over it’s helpful to remember the value
God places on our physicality and humanity. We should
not be so eager to shed our current humanity.