Madang Journal [Vol 6, December 2006]

Institute for the Study of Theology, Sungkonghoe University

Publication

Madang Journal [Vol 6, December 2006]

Institute for the Study of Theology, Sungkonghoe University

Abstract

"Theology and Science/Technology in Asia There emerge new signs of times on the horizon of 21st century. The global signs of times are a symbiosis of global economic regime (globalization) and the global empire. This symbiosis is penetrated by the convergence of advanced sciences and technologies at the core. To meet challenges of these global powers, it is necessary to do a fresh theological construction. This is understood as a task of Asian Christian intellectual community. What is new is not only the global market regime and the global empire, but it is also advanced science/technologies, which are about to change radically the future of the global civilization. One example is the convergence of advanced technologies, as we find in the nanotechnology. The term‘ nanotechnology’was used first to describe a way to manufacture something from atomic molecules (such as the food replicator in many science fiction films where one says, for example,“ coffee”and the machine builds, synthesizes the coffee molecule by molecule). The term nanotechnology has since then evolved into a different meaning. Today, nanotechnology is used to mean ‘nanoscale technology’and nanoscale sciences covering ‘nanotechnology’research and development products, ideas and processes with controlled size below 300nm. The original meaning of the term is now generally known as molecular manufacturing or molecular nanotechnology Nanotechnology in all its meanings allows for, among other things, the manipulation of materials on an atomic or molecular scale and enables a new paradigm of science and technology that sees different technologies converging at the nanoscale namely: a. nanoscience and nanotechnology; b. biotechnology and biomedicine, including genetic engineering; c. information technology, including advanced computing and communications; d. cognitive science (neuro engineering) e. synthetic biology. Hence, the designation “NBICS”(nano-bio-info-cogno-synbio) has emerged. Many lists of anticipated Nanoproducts exist (5;6). The National Nanotech Initiative (USA) envisions applications for NBICS products in areas such as the environment, energy, water, weapons and other military FOREWORD 5 applications, globalization, agriculture, health (more efficient diagnostics and genetic testing, cognitive enhancement; life extension, enhancing human performances in general) each of which come with their own sales pitches, social consequences, problems and implications. Others such as the social group of transhumanist believe that advances in NBICS hold the key for extreme life extension to the level of immortality and the achievement of morphological, ‘full reproductive’(see e.g. artificial womb research and genomic freedom. Other areas which impact and are impacted on Nanotechnology are synthetic biology. There are two trends of this process that draw our attention. One is the convergence of advanced technologies; and the other is that such technological convergence leads into the process of transhumanization, breaking the boundaries of human species. The technological convergence pushes human capacity of performance beyond any limit; and now transhumanization gains messianic ideology."(pg 4-5)

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2006-12

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Madang Journal [Vol 6, December 2006]

Institute for the Study of Theology, Sungkonghoe University

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