Cybertheology and the Ethical Dimensions of Artificial Superintelligence: A Theological Inquiry into Existential Risks

Purpose: This study explores the role of cybertheology in addressing the ethical and societal challenges posed by Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), which has the potential to surpass human cognitive capabilities, heralding a profound cultural and existential crisis. It integrates theological anthropology to assess the implications of a posthuman future. Methodology: Utilising a comprehensive literature review, the research examines technological, philosophical, and theological perspectives through primary and secondary sources, including influential works by futurists and ethicists. The methodology aims to uncover the nuanced discourse surrounding the development of ASI and its potential impacts. Findings: The analysis reveals a narrative marked by speculative optimism and significant existential concerns regarding ASI. A critical gap in the existing ethical discourse is identified, highlighting the necessity for a grounded ethical framework that addresses the profound implications of superintelligent entities on human dignity and societal norms. Research Implications: The findings emphasise the urgent need to incorporate robust ethical considerations into the development and deployment of ASI. Cybertheology is presented as a vital framework for ensuring that ASI technologies align with human values and theological insights, thus providing a valuable lens through which to view the integration of superintelligence into society. Originality/Value: This paper contributes to academic and policy discussions on ASI by promoting cybertheology as a crucial perspective in ethical deliberations. It enriches scholarly dialogues by linking technological advancements with theological and ethical evaluations, proposing that cybertheology can play a pivotal role in shaping policies that govern ASI technologies. This approach ensures that technological progress is compatible with humanistic values, fostering a holistic understanding of ASI's potential impact on humanity

Evolution, Evil, and the Theology of the Cross

The theodicy question within the dialogue between the Darwinian model of evolution and Christian theology is the focus of this essay: where do we find divine action in an evolutionary world? The central principle of sociobiology and evolutionary psychology — the selfish gene drives evolution through DNA replication — challenges theistic evolutionists: did God create the selfish gene? Is God responsible for the struggle in the animal world that leads to evil in the human world: violence, war, and genocide? Three alternative answers to the question of evolving evil are examined: (1) atheism and altruism; (2) the free will defense of God combined with divine kenosis; and (3) the Theology of the Cross combined with the promise of eschatological new creation. Rather than blessing the victors in the survival of the fittest, a Theology of the Cross places God present to the suffering of the unfit, the victims of predation and of species having gone extinct. Rather than bless nature blood «red in tooth and claw» (Tennyson), a theology of new creation hopes for a divine transformation of not only the human reality but of nature as well

Astrotheology’s contribution to public theology : from the extraterrestrial intelligence myth to astroethics

Public theology is conceived in the church, reflected on critically in the academy and addressed to the world for the sake of the world. The development of a theology of nature is included in the public theologian’s list of tasks of nature that is scripturally based and heavily informed by the natural sciences. Astrotheology is one product. Astrotheology engages astrobiology and other space sciences, firstly, by critically exposing the extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) myth at the heart of science and secondly, by partnering in thinking through public policy proposals with astroethicists. CONTRIBUTION : The HTS collection on ‘Theology and Nature’ sparks theological discussion both within and beyond the church. By developing the fields of astrotheology and astroethics, this article contributes to a ‘Theology of Nature’ as an exercise in Public Theology.This research is part of The research project ‘Understanding Reality (Theology and Nature)’, directed by Prof. Dr Johan Buitendag, Department of Systematic and Historical Theology, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria.Special Collection: Theology and Nature, sub-edited by Johan Buitendag (University of Pretoria).http://www.hts.org.zaam2022Dogmatics and Christian Ethic

Can we locate our origin in the future? Archonic versus epigenetic creation accounts

Myths of origin in archaic culture - including the Hebrew Scriptures - locate reality at the point of origin. The Greek term, αρχη, means both origin and governance. How something originates governs its definition; it was assumed by our ancestors. Hence the term archonic. Until we get to Christian eschatology and the promise of the new creation. In the New Testament, we find that God's eschatological consummation will retroactively define what has always been. God's redemption will epigenetically redefine what occurred at our genesis. Who you and I really are as creatures will be determined by our completion in the Kingdom of God. The new creation, Omega, determines what was true at the point of origin, that is, at Alpha. CONTRIBUTION: This article develops a theology of nature that incorporates natural science and augments the journal series in this subject area. Furthermore, this article develops a retroactive ontology based on the New Testament promise of an eschatological new creation.http://www.hts.org.zaDogmatics and Christian Ethic

Proleptic Ethics vs. Stop Sign Ethics. Theology and Future of Genetics

Proleptic ethics begins by projecting a vision of a preferred future; then it seeks creative opportunities to actualize the vision. Grounded in God’s eschatological promise of transformation and new creation, proleptic ethics projects a vision of a just, sustainable, and healthy society. This approach is contrasted with the ethical task according to stop sign ethics, which is to identify limits and put up barriers to scientific and technological advance. Stop sign ethics currently dominates the field of bioethics; and it can be identified by its commandment to «stop playing God.» In this essay, which advocates the approach of proleptic ethics, middle axioms connecting the projected vision of a preferred future with present choice and decision making are proposed for four scientific domains: genomics, life extension, stem cell research, and nanotechnology

The Ebullient Transhumanist and the Sober Theologian

The worldwide transhumanist (H+) movement upgrades technological hopes and expectations to a level of spiritual fervor. When looking through the eyes of the public theologian, we see in H+ a disguised religion replete with faith in techno-salvation and even immortality. This is unrealistic. Whereas H+ assumes enhanced intelligence has redemptive power, the more realistic theologian avers that it is love and love alone that has transformative power. The implicit Gnostic assumptions of H+ are too weak to redeem the human condition; they need fortification by a hard-nosed sinand- grace dialectic. Apologetic public theologians can offer the wider public a more realistic assessment of technology’s potential while providing genuine hope in a future vision based on divine promise

Developing and Testing Visual Privacy Metrics

The dense redevelopment of inner cities (intensification) has been accompanied by a dramatic surge in the development of multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) within ever shrinking proximities to one another. Modern multi-unit residential building design often embodies conflicting desires for daylighting and visual privacy, or designers simply do not consider collective occupant discomfort factors. Thus, the focus of this project was to develop and validate conceptual and quantitative variables influencing visual privacy, such that future and existing residential designs can be analyzed from a visual privacy perspective. This paper formulates an approach that combines building physics (visual angles and relative brightness) with social and psychological factors to avoid conflicts between competing aspirations for sustainable and resilient buildings that promote occupant wellbeing

NASA Land Information System (LIS) Water Availability to Support Reclamation ET Estimation

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation identified the remote sensing of evapotranspiration (ET) as an important water flux for study and designated a test site in the Lower Colorado River basin. A consortium of groups will work together with the goal to develop more accurate and cost effective techniques using the enhanced spatial and temporal coverage afforded by remote sensing. ET is a critical water loss flux where improved estimation should lead to better management of Reclamation responsibilities. There are several areas where NASA satellite and modeling data may be useful to meet Reclamation's objectives for improved ET estimation. In this paper we outline one possible contribution to use NASA's data integration capability of the Land Information System (LIS) to provide a merger of observational (in situ and satellite) with physical process models to provide estimates of ET and other water availability outputs (e.g., runoff, soil moisture) retrospectively, in near real-time, and also providing short-term predictions

Pedagogical self-efficacy improves student evaluations: defining new sub-categories across faculty gender in management education

Pedagogical self-efficacy is the self-confidence that faculty members hold for their own ability to teach. This project used mixed method data from 20 interviews with faculty members, 85 self-assessments from professors, and 20,000 course evaluations from students to conclude that male professors show higher scores in three aspects of self-efficacy – designing a course, managing a classroom full of students, and providing feedback to students – than female professors. The data also show higher scores for male professors in student evaluations. Despite the gender differences, faculty self-efficacy for these three activities each predicted student evaluations for both male and female faculty members, with one exception. Male professors who reported higher confidence in their ability to design a course received lower evaluations from students. The distinctions have clear implications for both male and female professors, as well as for academic institutions seeking to develop their faculty and for researchers exploring pedagogical psychology

Vaccination with DNA plasmids expressing Gn coupled to C3d or alphavirus replicons expressing Gn protects mice against rift valley fever virus

Background: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an arthropod-borne viral zoonosis. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an important biological threat with the potential to spread to new susceptible areas. In addition, it is a potential biowarfare agent. Methodology/Principal Findings: We developed two potential vaccines, DNA plasmids and alphavirus replicons, expressing the Gn glycoprotein of RVFV alone or fused to three copies of complement protein, C3d. Each vaccine was administered to mice in an all DNA, all replicon, or a DNA prime/replicon boost strategy and both the humoral and cellular responses were assessed. DNA plasmids expressing Gn-C3d and alphavirus replicons expressing Gn elicited high titer neutralizing antibodies that were similar to titers elicited by the live-attenuated MP12 virus. Mice vaccinated with an inactivated form of MP12 did elicit high titer antibodies, but these antibodies were unable to neutralize RVFV infection. However, only vaccine strategies incorporating alphavirus replicons elicited cellular responses to Gn. Both vaccines strategies completely prevented weight loss and morbidity and protected against lethal RVFV challenge. Passive transfer of antisera from vaccinated mice into naïve mice showed that both DNA plasmids expressing Gn-C3d and alphavirus replicons expressing Gn elicited antibodies that protected mice as well as sera from mice immunized with MP12. Conclusion/Significance: These results show that both DNA plasmids expressing Gn-C3d and alphavirus replicons expressing Gn administered alone or in a DNA prime/replicon boost strategy are effective RVFV vaccines. These vaccine strategies provide safer alternatives to using live-attenuated RVFV vaccines for human use. © 2010 Bhardwaj et al