Shalom Rachel and thank you for your question! Your assessment of the movement sounds quite accurate to me. I definitely see it as void of TRUE spirituality and potentially dangerous. I can offer you the ‘Jewish’ take based only on sources that I am familiar with from among many sources. Transhumanism is defined as a movement which involves utilizing technology to ‘enhance’ human function, and it involves a background philosophy. There is even an idea that artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence. Traditional ideas such as religion, marriage and child-rearing are considered by some proponents of the movement as something which holds back the proper advancement of humanity. Very revolutionary it seems, but not new.
Let’s firstly relate to the medical technology aspect. A rabbi who heads an institute for fertility and gynecology in accordance with Halacha, has touched on various issues concerning genetic engineering in humans. He bases his approach on the opinions of various well-known Halachic authorities. He expresses the general consensus that not only Rabbinic authorities but secular medical experts concur in their belief that there must be a limit to the use of medical technology. If a procedure has been tested and approved as truly beneficial in helping with a specific medical issue of health or fertility, it can be considered. If its use is more related to personal preference such as determining the gender of one’s baby or the color of its eyes, that is a much more precarious decision, especially when the efficacy and safety of such technology has not been thoroughly tested. Even ‘secular’ experts are reluctant to ‘play G-d’. The approach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneerson to such issues as vaccination, is well-known. (This relates back to the Salk vaccine against polio and not to current issues.) If it has been thoroughly tested over time and there are no known side effects, it is worthwhile. The approach of the Rebbe to GENERAL health matters is to consult with medical experts and go according to majority opinion in case of doubt. The Rebbe also emphasizes the importance of regular times for eating and sleeping, and constructive recreational activities. It goes without saying that the family unit is sacred and must be nurtured and protected, and that the Torah should be studied and followed, according to the Rebbe’s position. All of this points to a practical approach for enhancing quality of life, shying away from ‘advances’ that have not yet been proven to be beneficial, or do not have sufficient justification for taking the risk.
Now let’s examine the philosophical aspect. Let’s go back to the Chanukah story. In tractate Shabbat 21b of the Talmud we learn that the Maccabbees re-entered theTemple after their victory over the Assyrian-Greeks and discovered ‘pure’ oil. This idea of spiritual purity is what the Greeks opposed. Why did the Greeks oppose the study of Torah as a G-dly activity, a Mitzvah? They didn’t oppose it as an academic pursuit, but rather as a pursuit which influences people to lead a more spiritual life. They worshipped intellect and beauty – especially of the human body. They forbade circumcision, and at one point removed the doors to the Jewish homes so that Jewish couples could not live together modestly as husband and wife! Many fled to the mountains and hid in caves. Jewish brides had to be brought to the Greek rulers to be ‘deflowered’ of their virginity the night before their wedding. (That brutal practice was also done before the flood in the times of Noah and even in more recent history.) They forbade many other Jewish practices. There were Jews who went along with the flow of Greek culture, Hellenists. The Communists of the former Soviet Union tried to remove religion. ‘Opium of the masses’ they dubbed it. Cities that had been named for Christian saints were renamed and anybody teaching young children religion or practicing mitzvot openly was brutally persecuted. They did not succeed. There is no longer an Assyrian-Greek empire or a Soviet Union. Houses of religious worship have sprung up again and Russian officials are photographed smiling alongside Rabbis in front of the Kremlin where Rabbis used to be incarcerated!
In Israel of the twentieth century the kibbutz movement was modeled on socialist values. Children were put in dormitories and only visited their parents as opposed to being raised by them. Some kibbutzniks report having enjoyed that structure of life, but others suffered. Where is it today? Most of the kibbutzim are privatized, and the children are at home with their parents, or the families have left the kibbutz.
In other words, history is replete with efforts to ‘reinvent the wheel’ of religion and institute better systems – by the people for the people. Unfortunately these systems do not work. It sounds like transhumanism is yet another attempt. I suggest looking up the books ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘Brave new World’ if you are not already familiar with them. These are satirical works on Communism written more than half a century ago. Much of what they foretold came true one way or another.
We cannot ignore the fact that many atrocities have been committed in the name of religion. It is understandable that people search for a ‘better’ way. Over the centuries it has become politically correct to respect human rights and this is a good thing. We cannot however, throw out the baby with the bathwater. The fact that religion has often been misunderstood, misused and thus abused, does not mean that it is not valuable! To ‘reinvent the wheel’ of religion, as I pointed out before, is unnecessary and not constructive. Way back thousands of years ago people tried to build a tower that would reach the Heavens and either protect themselves from another flood, according to various interpretations, or, according to the commentary of the Netziv, a 19th century scholar, they wished to create a controlled centralized utopian society!! Sounds familiar? People are still trying. I believe that many of these people have excellent intentions. They really want a better society. Today’s digital society seems like a time bomb. Our children have dexterous thumbs and poor concentration.
Do you remember the Y2k scare concerning the year 2000? Perhaps you were young. It was said that all the computer systems worldwide were going to crash and G-d forbid very bad things would happen. I randomly opened a book of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s letters at that time and came across a letter that one must not generate fear amongst people. Nothing happened with that scare thank G-d!
It is my sincere hope and prayer that humanity will muster the strength to remain loyal to true Torah values (including the Seven Noahide Laws for non-Jews) and instead of going along with today’s ‘Hellenist’ ideas, we will work hard to rectify the world to the point where we merit the true and complete Redemption, speedily in our days!
