On January 9 2007, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone. Jobs stated, "We're going to make some history together today... Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone...We want to make a leapfrog product that is way smarter than any mobile device has ever been and super easy to use."
The advancement of smartphone devices has indeed altered the way those in affluent societies interact. Even as many recognize the dehumanizing aspects of being constantly connected, industry and culture press on with attempts to distort God-given brain physiology and design. Unfortunately, if millions had the opportunity to immerse themselves in technology, they would willingly give up their human identities and lose themselves in a vast sea of microprocessors and interfaces.
Men, women, and children are hardly able to look up from handheld devices as they dine in public restaurants or walk down streets. The addiction to small hand-held screens obliterates the human needs of eye-to-eye contact and building of real life relationships. Even as more studies show the negative impacts on the human brain and physiological make-up, high tech giants are pushing for the next step in the industry's evolution. No doubt, much of high tech's progress will be parlayed into continued consumerism. Children are already clamoring for VR headsets while manufacturers like AMD are promising microprocessors that will make virtual reality as good as real life.
However, the tech industry is not playing games with its dreams of recreating reality for humanity. According to many in high tech, technological singularity is the ultimate desired achievement of man. Technological singularity, in layman’s terms, is that time in the future when artificial intelligence becomes all knowing and unable to confine. As a result of this event, man may be able to “tag along” if he becomes one with his created god. According to advocates, no longer will man be limited, but he will benefit from the unsurpassable heights of his new creation. Dr. Ray Kurzweil, renowned inventor and futurist, believes that artificial superintelligence is about 30 years from being a reality. He is a proponent of transhumanism, the belief that man will elevate himself beyond his present biology with the aid of artificial intelligence.
Does this sound too much like science fiction? Well, attempts to merge the human mind with machines are already taking place. Elon Musk is making strides at his company, Neuralink, in creating brain and machine interfaces. While Musk sells his company’s efforts as creating technological wonders to help the common good, one can imagine the implications. Man's desire to create something better than himself is rampant in our time.
As all of this transpires, the world is conditioning people through daily use of technology and even through gender neutrality. Merging software with the human mind probably makes sense to many. Referencing God’s creation of man and woman, we see the acceptance of gender fluidity or gender neutrality in Western culture, already. The attitudes concerning distortion of God’s design and purpose for gender is a factor that will produce mass acceptance for man and machine integration. Satanic forces play all these cards, and the deck of cards support a central theme. Gender can be fluid, we can all identify as we desire, so why can’t we identify with augmented reality and machines? The "religion of non-binary" plays in every facet of our lives. The world is on a mission to corrupt all aspects of God’s design for His image bearers—physical, mental, and spiritual. Of course, the world's dream will end in absolute failure, but the road to defeat will take in a multitude of victims during the ill-conceived journey.
Christ-followers should not be alarmed, but we should be aware of the world’s path and its desires for humanity. Our sanctification road requires us to deny the flesh. Leaving this world with our minds intact is becoming an ever-increasing challenge. More and more, believers will have to decide how much technological connection is necessary and how much will lead to losing oneself in the world’s abyss. Moderation and wisdom are key. Pray to God for avoidance of technological addiction and keep vigilance.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 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.
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