TECH-Forum interested persons, who will be attending this weekend's annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion in Atlanta, will meet to discuss the status of TECH-Forum and where we go from here. We'll meet Sunday (11/22) from 2:45-4 at Hyatt Regency "Chicago" E.  TECH-Forum platforms, including this blog site, are now in place and ready to be utilized for conversation about Christianity and human enhancement that includes all points of view. Email me (mercerc@ecu.edu) if you want to be on my email list for updates.  Calvin Mercer

Disability Acceptance and Access

NOTE: This post was originally published by The Transfigurist At almost any minute of any day, your life could change drastically. Our bodies are fragile, our destinies determined second-by-second. Snap your fingers. That’s how suddenly what you have come to expect for yourself, or a member of your family, could change as the result of an illness or accident. What would it mean in terms of work, mobility, relationship, identity? How quickly or slowly would you adapt to a drastically new state of reality?

Transhumanism and Theology: Recommended Journal

The journal Theology and Science has just published its May 2015 on the theme of Transhumanism and Theology.  Six articles are included, along with an introductory essay by Ted Peters entitled "Theologians Testing Transhumanism."

Calvin Mercer contributed "Whole Brain Emulation Requires Enhanced Theology, and a 'Handmaiden,'"  and my own entry to the list is entitled "Going Beyond the Human: Christians and Other Transhumanists."

Welcome to TECH-FORUM

Dear Colleagues:

I am delighted to add my words of welcome to Calvin's announcement.  After a lot of work on his part and quite a few emails exchanged over the months, we are now ready to launch this blog.

Well, almost...

TECH-FORUM Launched!

TECH-FORUM (Technology, Enhancement, and Christianity Forum) is here and now officially launched.

We who launch this platform generally agree on this description: TECH-FORUM is a forum for discussion of all points of view on Christianity and the use of technology for human enhancement.

While we expect and hope for thoughtful, engaging conversation, at present there is no monitoring of the posts.

Brief History:  In the beginning, growing interest in a forum for thoughtful conversation about Christianity and human enhancement led to the first organizational meeting in a Chicago hotel room, where on November 18, 2012, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR), the idea that has become TECH-FORUM was born. The first, tentative name was “Christianity and Human Enhancement Forum” (CHEF).

Calvin Mercer had names and email contact information of about 400 people--scholars and laypersons--with general interest in religion and human enhancement that he had collected over the years and used for occasional “postings.” It was Mercer’s communication to that list that drew specific interest in an organizational meeting from 35 people, nine of whom were able to attend the first meeting.

A second organizational meeting was held November 25, 2013, in Baltimore, also in conjunction with the AAR annual meeting. Due the meeting notice being sent out late, only two people attended. However, email correspondence with Mercer from about 50 people indicated interest was still strong for organizing.

A third organizational meeting was held November 23, 2014, in San Diego, also during the AAR annual meeting, and specific plans for creating a forum platform were laid.  Seventy-one people expressed interest and six of them were able to attend the meeting:  Ron Cole-Turner, Matthew Zaro Fisher, Noreen Herzfeld, Calvin Mercer, Ted Peters, and Tracy Trothen.

As TECH-FORUM goes live, thanks to all who attended organizational meetings and provided input via Mercer’s email list. Particular thanks go to Matthew Zaro Fisher and Ron Cole-Turner for preparing the technological platform.

Calvin Mercer