Research

10 pages, 253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life Extension Technologies and Pregnancy: Practical and Theological Considerations

by Myriam Renaud

Religions 2022, 13(8), 713; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13080713 - 04 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1092

As biotechnologies emerge that halt or slow aging, what significance will these have for pregnancy? I argue in favor of life extension technologies based on their benefit for cis-gendered women who wish to become pregnant. After age 27, fertility decreases, and risks associated [...] Read more.

As biotechnologies emerge that halt or slow aging, what significance will these have for pregnancy? I argue in favor of life extension technologies based on their benefit for cis-gendered women who wish to become pregnant. After age 27, fertility decreases, and risks associated with pregnancies increase. At the same time, women’s twenties and thirties are often key years in their working life. If aging is stopped or slowed, women can delay pregnancy past those years. Though Martin Luther may seem an unlikely resource for theological reflection on this issue, his biblical commentaries on pregnancy lend support for these technologies. Luther emphasized how the pregnant Mary, though of lowly status, was essential to the embodiment of God and a testament to the blessings God may visit upon anyone. Luther also emphasized how Eve and other pregnant women help advance God’s promise to sustain God’s creation of humankind. I acknowledge that lengthening the window of fertility could exacerbate overpopulation on the Earth but show that solutions typically advanced, such as John K. Davis’ “Forced Choice” proposal, almost always rely on controlling women’s bodily autonomy and must be rejected. I also show that fears of a Malthusian crisis are likely not only overblown but incorrect given predicted declines in fertility rates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

10 pages, 253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mental and Spiritual Health Needs of Cognitively Enhanced People: A Therapeutic and Spiritual Care Model for Responding

by Calvin Mercer

Religions 2022, 13(8), 701; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13080701 - 29 Jul 2022

Viewed by 1288

Abstract

Cognitively enhanced people will have mental and possibly spiritual health needs that merit therapeutic and spiritual care response. This article addresses people who, although significantly enhanced, overlap with ordinary or “normal” (i.e., non-enhanced) people such that their status as humans is not questioned. [...] Read more.

Cognitively enhanced people will have mental and possibly spiritual health needs that merit therapeutic and spiritual care response. This article addresses people who, although significantly enhanced, overlap with ordinary or “normal” (i.e., non-enhanced) people such that their status as humans is not questioned. Effective therapeutic and spiritual care approaches for these cognitively enhanced individuals will have a strong cognitive component. Cognitive therapy, originated by Aaron Beck, is an example of a therapeutic model that could prove useful with people cognitively enhanced. Four relevant elements of the cognitive therapy modality are explored: a developed cognitive structure, little consideration to unconscious factors, minimum attention to family of origin, and collaboration. Two psychological challenges with religious dimensions and import, which could be faced by individuals as a consequence of their cognitive enhancements, are concerns about physicality and fitting into community with ordinary humans and other enhanced humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

10 pages, 248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

To Tend or to Subdue? Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and the Catholic Ecotheological Tradition

by Cory Andrew Labrecque

Religions 2022, 13(7), 608; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13070608 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1582

Abstract

In February 2020, the president of Microsoft, the executive vice president of IBM, the director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and the former Italian Minister of Innovation joined the president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for [...] Read more.

In February 2020, the president of Microsoft, the executive vice president of IBM, the director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and the former Italian Minister of Innovation joined the president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life in Rome to sign The Rome Call for AI Ethics. In doing so, they promoted a shared sense of responsibility and commitment—by industry, government, and Church—to uphold certain ethical standards in the areas of digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and technological progress. In this article, I discuss The Rome Call for AI Ethics in conjunction with Pope Francis’ rendering of integral ecology and the technocratic paradigm in Laudato Si’. My aim here is to link Catholic teaching on technology (using AI as a starting point) to the environment and the ecological crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

10 pages, 210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sparking Religious Conversion through AI?

by Moira McQueen

Religions 2022, 13(5), 413; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13050413 - 04 May 2022

Viewed by 1586

Abstract

This paper will take the stance that cognitive enhancement promised by the use of AI could be a first step for some in bringing about moral enhancement. It will take a further step in questioning whether moral enhancement using AI could lead to [...] Read more.

This paper will take the stance that cognitive enhancement promised by the use of AI could be a first step for some in bringing about moral enhancement. It will take a further step in questioning whether moral enhancement using AI could lead to moral and or religious conversion, i.e., a change in direction or behaviour reflecting changed thinking about moral or religious convictions and purpose in life. One challenge is that improved cognition leading to better moral thinking is not always sufficient to motivate a person towards the change in behaviour demanded. While some think moral bioenhancement should be imposed if necessary in urgent situations, most religions today see volition in conversion as essential. Moral and religious conversion should be voluntary and not imposed, and recent studies that show possible dangers of the use of AI here will be discussed along with a recommendation that there be regulatory requirements to counteract manipulation. It is, however, recognized that a change in moral thinking is usually a necessary step in the process of conversion and this paper concludes that voluntary, safe use of AI to help bring that about would be ethically acceptable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

13 pages, 315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Will Superintelligence Lead to Spiritual Enhancement?

by Ted Peters

Religions 2022, 13(5), 399; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13050399 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2420

Abstract

If we human beings are successful at enhancing our intelligence through technology, will this count as spiritual advance? No. Intelligence alone—whether what we are born with or what is superseded by artificial intelligence or intelligence amplification—has no built-in moral compass. Christian spirituality values [...] Read more.

If we human beings are successful at enhancing our intelligence through technology, will this count as spiritual advance? No. Intelligence alone—whether what we are born with or what is superseded by artificial intelligence or intelligence amplification—has no built-in moral compass. Christian spirituality values love more highly than intelligence, because love orients us toward God, toward the welfare of the neighbor, and toward the common good. Spiritual advance would require orienting our enhanced intelligence toward loving God and neighbor with heart, mind (or intelligence), and soul. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

16 pages, 290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychedelic Mystical Experience: A New Agenda for Theology

by Ron Cole-Turner

Religions 2022, 13(5), 385; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13050385 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6456

Abstract

When the link between psychedelic drugs and mystical states of experience was first discovered in the 1960s, Huston Smith challenged scholars in religion and philosophy to consider the implications. Very few took up his challenge. Beginning in 2006, hundreds of studies have linked [...] Read more.

When the link between psychedelic drugs and mystical states of experience was first discovered in the 1960s, Huston Smith challenged scholars in religion and philosophy to consider the implications. Very few took up his challenge. Beginning in 2006, hundreds of studies have linked psychedelics not just to mystical states of experience but to potential treatments for many mental health disorders. Regulatory approval for therapies is on the horizon, and hundreds of millions of people worldwide could be treated. Research findings challenge the underlying rationale of the War on Drugs, leading to decriminalization of specific psychedelic drugs or to authorization of their use in mental health contexts. Religious institutions are slowly adapting, with some referring to psychedelics as sacraments or as pathways to deeper spirituality. Religious leaders are also beginning to speak out publicly in support of careful use of these drugs, and some are training to become “psychedelic chaplains” to work alongside mental health professionals administering these drugs. Scholars in theology and religion are encouraged to engage these trends, to explore challenging philosophical and theological issues surrounding mystical states of experience in general, and to consider the long-term cultural impact of the most recent psychedelic research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

19 pages, 283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Faster, Higher, More Moral: Human Enhancement and Christianity

by Michael Buttrey, Moira McQueen and Tracy J. Trothen

Religions 2022, 13(4), 354; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13040354 - 13 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2981

Abstract

The three authors of this article explore the intersection of moral enhancement, ethics, and Christianity. Trothen reviews the meaning and potential of moral enhancements, considering some of the risks and limitations. Trothen identifies three broad ethical questions, which all three authors agree upon, [...] Read more.

The three authors of this article explore the intersection of moral enhancement, ethics, and Christianity. Trothen reviews the meaning and potential of moral enhancements, considering some of the risks and limitations. Trothen identifies three broad ethical questions, which all three authors agree upon, that arise from a Christian theological perspective: what it means to be human, choice, and social justice. Trothen concludes that respect for human dignity and social justice requires rejecting a reductive view of moral improvement as purely biochemical. Buttrey then argues that biomedical moral enhancement (BME) is simply one in a series of attempts to morally improve human beings and can be compared to other efforts such as neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics. He argues that BME cannot be simultaneously more reliable than moral education in virtue and no more restrictive of human freedom. He concludes by suggesting that tensions between BME and Thomistic virtue are even stronger due to Christian conceptions of martyrdom and radical self-denial. Finally, McQueen argues that Christianity emphasizes the common good and social justice as essential for human flourishing. Building on the foundation established by Trothen and Buttrey, McQueen insists that accurate cognitive knowledge is needed to make good conscience decisions, but emphasizes that right human action also requires the exercise of the will, which can be undermined by AI, automation, and perhaps also BME. She concludes by encouraging further attention to the true nature of human agency, human freedom, and wisdom in debates over AI and biomedical enhancement. The authors conclude that BMEs, if they become medically safe, may be theologically justifiable and helpful as a supplement to moral improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

12 pages, 234 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modern Warfare, Spiritual Health, and the Role of Artificial Intelligence

by Joyce Ann Konigsburg

Religions 2022, 13(4), 343; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13040343 - 11 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2823

Abstract

Modern warfare utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) combined with remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to enhance battlefield strategy and create advantages against adversaries. Military drones extend the range of combat, which limits risks, thereby minimizing casualties and loss of human life. With onboard AI systems, [...] Read more.

Modern warfare utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) combined with remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to enhance battlefield strategy and create advantages against adversaries. Military drones extend the range of combat, which limits risks, thereby minimizing casualties and loss of human life. With onboard AI systems, drones provide more data and facilitate rapid decision-making for greater situational awareness during conflicts. Military leaders also theorize that remote missions would be physically, emotionally, and psychologically easier for drone pilots, thus reducing mental health issues that plague fighter pilots. However, the intersection of AI with military drones creates unique situations of stress and trauma. RPA personnel manifest symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that adversely affect their spiritual health and well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

12 pages, 266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Artificial Intelligence, Deep Aging Clocks, and the Advent of ‘Biological Age’: A Christian Critique of AI-Powered Longevity Medicine with Particular Reference to Fasting

by Todd T. W. Daly

Religions 2022, 13(4), 334; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13040334 - 08 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3084

Abstract

I argue that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in longevity medicine to slow human aging encourages individuals to see themselves as managers of their own biology. While such a stance is not entirely unwarranted, it may nevertheless preclude other perspectives of the [...] Read more.

I argue that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in longevity medicine to slow human aging encourages individuals to see themselves as managers of their own biology. While such a stance is not entirely unwarranted, it may nevertheless preclude other perspectives of the body as it relates to spiritual formation: namely, the Christian discipline of fasting. Using a christological anthropology informed by Karl Barth, I explore the potential impact of AI-fueled markers such as deep aging clocks (DACs) and the related technological construct of “biological age” (as distinct from chronological age) and how this construct might impact the Christian practice of fasting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

9 pages, 250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabulation, Machine Agents, and Spiritually Authorizing Encounters

by J. Loewen-Colón and Sharday C. Mosurinjohn

Religions 2022, 13(4), 333; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13040333 - 07 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1772

Abstract

This paper uses a Tavesian model of religious experience to make a modest theorization about the role of “fabulation”, an embodied and affective process, to understand how some contemporary AI and robotics designers and users consider encounters with these technologies to be spiritually [...] Read more.

This paper uses a Tavesian model of religious experience to make a modest theorization about the role of “fabulation”, an embodied and affective process, to understand how some contemporary AI and robotics designers and users consider encounters with these technologies to be spiritually “authorizing”. By “fabulation”, we mean the Bergsonian concept of an evolved capacity that allows humans to see the potentialities of complex action within another object—in other words, an interior agential image, or “soul”; and by “authorizing”, we mean “deemed as having some claim to arbitration, persuasion, and legitimacy” such that the user might make choices that affect their life or others in accordance with the AI or might have their spiritual needs met. We considered two case studies where this agency took on a spiritual or religious valence when contextualized as such for the user: a robotic Buddhist priest known as Mindar, and a chatbot called The Spirituality Chatbot. We show how understanding perceptions of AI or robots as being spiritual or religious in a way that authorizes behavioral changes requires understanding tendencies of the human body more so than it does any metaphysical nature of the technology itself. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

14 pages, 255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Replika: Spiritual Enhancement Technology?

by Tracy J. Trothen

Religions 2022, 13(4), 275; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/rel13040275 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5089

Abstract

The potential spiritual impacts of AI are an under-researched ethics concern. In this theoretical essay, I introduce the established spiritual assessment tool, the Spiritual Assessment and Intervention Model (Spiritual AIM). Next, I discuss some existing and probable AI technologies, such as immersive tech [...] Read more.

The potential spiritual impacts of AI are an under-researched ethics concern. In this theoretical essay, I introduce the established spiritual assessment tool, the Spiritual Assessment and Intervention Model (Spiritual AIM). Next, I discuss some existing and probable AI technologies, such as immersive tech and bots that have impacts on spiritual health, including the chat-bot Replika. The three core spiritual needs outlined in the Spiritual AIM are then engaged in relation to Replika—(1) meaning and direction, (2) self-worth/belonging to community, and (3) to love and be loved/reconciliation. These core spiritual needs are used to explore the potential impacts of the chat-bot Replika on human spiritual needs. I conclude that Replika may be helpful only as a supplement to address some spiritual needs but only if this chat-bot is not used to replace human contact and spiritual expertise. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethics, Religion, and Spiritual Health: Intersections With Artificial Intelligence or Other Human Enhancement Technologies)

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