Transhumanism, Faith, and the Dangerous Religion of Technology

Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than ever, but beneath the headlines lies a much deeper question:What happens when technology begins to imitate humanity?Tonight, Joe welcomes author Andrew Gillsmith for a thought-provoking conversation exploring artificial intelligence, consciousness, Christianity, and the growing philosophy of transhumanism. Together, they examine the difference between intelligence and consciousness, whether AI could ever possess free will—or even a soul—and why the spiritual questions surrounding technology may prove more important than the technological ones.The discussion also explores Andrew's journey from religious studies into science fiction and the inspiration behind his novel, Our Lady of the Artilects. Along the way, Joe and Andrew examine how speculative fiction can prepare us for real ethical dilemmas, why many modern stories have lost their spiritual foundation, and how faith provides an essential framework for navigating a future increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.In this episode: Artificial Intelligence and machine consciousness  Can AI ever have a soul?  Christianity and emerging technology  The philosophy of transhumanism  Human identity, free will, and personhood  Ethics of advanced AI  Science fiction as a window into the future Our Lady of the Artilects Faith in an increasingly technological world Whether you're fascinated by artificial intelligence, intrigued by the intersection of science and theology, or simply wondering where today's technology may lead tomorrow, this conversation asks the right questions before the future arrives.Guest Links• Andrew Gillsmith: https://www.incensepunk.com/about• Our Lady of the Artilects: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61306548-our-lady-of-the-artilects• The Deserted Vineyard Series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/381733-the-deserted-vineyard Watch Live 7PM CT Watch on Rumble: https://rumble.com/JoeRooz▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JoeRooz Website: https://joerooz.com Special thanks to:Executive Producer Wayne RankinExecutive Producer Rosanna RankinExecutive Producer Carolina JimenezExecutive Producer Angela WetuskiExecutive Producer John SeeleyWant to be a guest on The Joe Rooz Show?Send Joe a message on #PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/joeCheck out our partners:Podhome.fmCreative EdgeGet MasterPeace https://masterpeacebyhcs.com/767e544f93fd74ce(00:01:13) Joe opens the show and frames the AI discussion(00:05:42) Introducing Andrew Gillsmith and his novel(00:07:03) From religious studies to science fiction(00:13:50) Why science fiction needs faith and meaning(00:18:57) Cyberpunk, incense punk, and human struggle(00:21:41) AI, language models, and the illusion of mind(00:30:03) Transhumanism, morality, and the soul(00:44:48) Inside Our Lady of the Ardilex and its future world(00:58:07) Joe reflects on technology, humanity, and the future - Joe "Rooz" Russiellohttps://www.joerooz.com/supporthttps://www.joerooz.com