Book Launch Party with Dr. Arvin Gouw, Dr. Brian Patrick Green, and Dr. Ted Peters

Thursday, October 13th 2022, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
GTU Board Room, 2400 Ridge Rd Berkeley, CA 94709,

Registration Link for the Event (In-person attendees should register here)

Zoom Link for the Event for Remote Participants

 

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Arvin Gouw, Dr. Brian Patrick Green, and Dr. Ted Peters on their latest publications:

Religious Transhumanism and Its Critics (Lexington Books)

Edited by Arvin M. Gouw; Brian Patrick Green, and Ted Peters - Foreword by Aubrey Degrey

Contributions by Whitney A. Bauman; Lincoln Cannon; Levi Checketts; Ronald Cole-Turner; Celia Deane-Drummond; Ilia Delio; Francesca Ferrando; Brandon Gallaher; Elisabeth Gerle; Arvin M. Gouw; Brian Patrick Green; Noreen Herzfeld; Peter I-Min Huang; James Hughes; Jay Emerson Johnson; Nelson Kellogg; Heup Young Kim; Michael Latorra; Braden Molhoek; Markus Mühling, Ted Peters, Iris Ralph, Micah Redding, and Hava Tirosh-Samuelson

Why do representatives of different religious traditions find the transhumanist vision of the future not only theologically compatible but even inspiring? Transhumanism is a global movement seeking radical human enhancement. The trans in transhumanism marks the transition from the present stage in human evolution into the future, namely, post-human existence. Containing chapters written by adherents to a variety of religious traditions, Religious Transhumanism and Its Critics provides first-hand testimony to the value of the transhumanist vision perceived by the religious mind. In addition, the contributors critique both secular and religious transhumanism in light of realistic science and commitment to social justice.

 

Arvin Gouw is currently working in the field of theology and science at the University of Cambridge Faculty of Divinity. Arvin also co-founded a biotech company, Bacchus Therapeutics, developing targeted therapy against kidney and liver cancers based on his research and discoveries at Stanford University School of Medicine. Prior to Cambridge and Stanford, Arvin did his research fellowships on science and religion at Harvard Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary. Arvin received his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, master's degrees in philosophy from University of Pennsylvania, in theology from SMSU Ecumenical Institute of Theology, in endocrinology and neuroscience from UC Berkeley.

 

Brian Patrick Green is the director of technology ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. His work is focused on the ethics of technology, including such topics as AI and ethics, the ethics of space exploration and use, the ethics of technological manipulation of humans, the ethics of mitigation of and adaptation towards risky emerging technologies (including ones with catastrophic risk potential), and various aspects of the impact of technology and engineering on human life and society including the relationship between technology and religion (particularly the Catholic Church). Green teaches AI ethics in Santa Clara University’s Graduate School of Engineering and formerly taught several other graduate engineering ethics courses. More detailed information of Dr. Green can be found here.

 

Ted Peters is Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology and Ethics at PLTS and the GTU. Along with Robert John Russell he co-edits the journal, Theology and Science, published by CTNS. His edited book, AI and IA: Utopia or Extinction? (ATF 2019) explores technological and ethical scenarios that alert us for the need for public policy formulation before matters get out of hand. Ted hopes to publish a new book, The Voice of Christian Public Theology, with ATF before the end of this year. Visit his website, TedsTimelyTake.com and his Patheos blog site on Public Theology here.

 

Please email Matthew Hartman (mhartman@gtu.edu) or Chang In Sohn (ctns-info@gtu.edu) if you have any questions regarding the event.

 

This event is free and open to the public.

The event is sponsored by the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) at the Graduate Theological Union.