Deconstructing Transhumanism: A Religion Without Religion challenges the widely held view that transhumanism—a movement advocating for the enhancement of human life through technology—is purely secular and scientific. Instead, this groundbreaking study reveals how transhumanist thought remains deeply shaped by religious ideas, particularly those rooted in Christianity. Drawing on the philosophy of Jacques Derrida, Michael G. Sherbert explores how religious concepts like the sacred, messianism, salvation, and transcendence quietly persist within transhumanist visions of the future—often without reflection on the potential dangers they carry.
From artificial intelligence to the dream of digital immortality, this book uncovers how technological aspirations often mirror age-old religious hopes. Through a careful analysis of leading figures such as Ray Kurzweil, David Pearce, and Nick Bostrom, Sherbert shows that even the most futuristic goals often retain hidden religious structures—what Derrida calls a “religion without religion.”
Spanning philosophical inquiry, ethical reflection, and cultural critique, Deconstructing Transhumanism invites readers to rethink the assumptions behind some of today’s most influential ideas about technology, progress, and the future. It offers a timely examination of the religious undercurrents shaping Western technological imaginaries—urging greater awareness of the powerful, and sometimes perilous, narratives we carry into our increasingly high-tech future.
Deconstructing Transhumanism: A Religion Without Religion challenges the widely held view that transhumanism—a movement advocating for the enhancement of human life through technology—is purely secular and scientific.
Acknowledgments Introduction Transhumanisms Religious Structures:
Rethinking Secular Narratives,
Chapter One: Sacrifice: The Autoimmune
Death-Drive in Transhumanism,
Chapter Two: Sacrificing Human Life: The
Transhuman Sacred (Without Sacred),
Chapter Three: From Religion to
Transhumanism: Anthropocentrism as Anthropotheism,
Chapter Four: Messianic
Machines of Faith: The Singularity as Event, Conclusion: The Dangers of a
Transhumanist Religion without Religion, Bibliography, Index.
Dr. Michael G. Sherbert is an Algonquin of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation whose interdisciplinary scholarship explores the intersections of religion, culture, and technology, with a particular focus on the future development of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies. Dr. Sherberts recent work bridges traditional Indigenous perspectives with contemporary technological developments, offering a unique lens through which to understand the ethical, cultural, and religious implications of AI. Through his scholarship, he advocates for a more inclusive and culturally informed approach to technological innovation.
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