Constructing Religion and Secularism in Public Transhumanist Discourse

• In Event: 50461 - Section on Sociology of Religion Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1: Culture, Belief, and Politics

Abstract

Transhumanism is a contemporary social movement predicated upon the idea that human nature is inherently malleable and should, through technological means, be radically altered to enhance human lifespans, cognitive and physical abilities, and overall health and well-being. Considering the grand potential that lies ahead, no stone may be left unturned in the pursuit of progress and transcendence. Such a mindset is critical of the status quo and strictures or limitations on progress, and leery of institutions (like many organized religious bodies) that advocate for the sacral status of human nature. As such, much of the foundational theory and philosophy within the transhumanist movement is explicitly secular, disavowing religion as premodern, puerile superstition wedded to social and technological conservatism. Transhumanism is often framed in a way that makes it appear to be in direct conflict with religion, echoing the “conflict paradigm” or “warfare narrative” that presumes inherent divisions between science and religion; however, oft-perceived eschatological echoes of dogmatics and religious functions inherent within transhumanism raise an important (and ongoing) question: Is transhumanism religious or secular? I approach this question from a sociological perspective, illuminating the relational aspects between definitions of “religion” and the “secular”. To do so, I treat religion and secularism as socially constructed categories and qualitatively analyze the writings and statements of thought leaders and lay members from five subfields of the broader transhumanist movement. Out of this data, I propose a new concept of instrumentalization of religion that focuses upon how actors construct the category of religion and then allow their creation to “do work” towards establishing their proximity relative to religiosity or secularism in the field. This concept helps explicate the intersubjective, pragmatic ways in which religion is spoken of and manipulated as a utilitarian construct to further social movement aims.

Author

• Corey Resweber, Purdue University