Futurism, Spirituality, and Faith

September 16, 2013

How should rationalist futurists regard movements promoting religion, spirituality, and faith?

Rationalist futurists share a profound respect for the potential of science, engineering, and critical thinking to improve the human condition. New technology places power in our hands which formerly would be regarded as miraculous, divine, or the preserve of gods.

But rationalist futurists differ markedly among themselves in their attitudes towards movements that promote religion, spirituality, and faith.

Given the power and influence of these movements, some critically important questions deserve attention:

— Should rational futurists ignore, sidestep, oppose, imitate, collaborate with, reason with, or seek to merge with or transform those movements?

— Are there elements of religion, spirituality, and faith which can (and perhaps should) usefully be combined into futurist, techno-progressive, and transhumanist projects?

— Or are the notions of religion, spirituality, and faith too tied up with irrationalism and the denial of personal responsibility?

This London Futurists meeting will hear a number of short presentations from panelists – Carl Youngblood, Gennaro Giannini, Imtiaz Salam, and Giulio Prisco – who cover a range of key opinions. There will then be time for contributions from the floor, Q&A, and group discussion.

Futurism, Spirituality, and Faith
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, WC1E 7HX, LONDON (U.K.)