Category: Culture

Some years ago a group of atheists, agnostic leaders, and scholars got together and produced a Humanist Manifesto. It was first written in the 1930s but was later revised in the 1970s. Though the humanists say it is not a creed, it is quite like a statement of faith – a confession. The woke left today affirms many of the points of this document. You can look it up and readily see the overlap. However, today’s left holds to views that were not anticipated by the Humanist Manifesto. I want to note some of those that overlap and some of the new orientations here. We are truly dealing with an anti-biblical creed and the enforcement of belief from cancel culture which is similar to ex-communication and shunning in the Church world and older Orthodox Jewish world. I do say that the woke are not woke but indoctrinated as if in a cult. Compare these statements to biblical statements and a biblical worldview.  

1. There is no Lawgiver God (Theism) that requires moral obedience. One might believe in some kind of higher power as long as that power does not make absolute demands on human beings. 
2. Human beings are to be valued because we choose to value them as having the unique freedom and power to define their authentic meaning. (Note the famous Yuval Harari at Hebrew University argues that there is no basis for this assertion of liberals today). Their value as human beings is not due to being created in the image of God.   
3. Human sexual roles are social constructs. All gender identities and sexual arrangements should be fully affirmed when there is consent for these arrangements, whether heterosexual, marriage, living together, gay, bi-sexual, transgenders, and more. 
4. We support gender transition for adults and children, including hormone suppressant drugs, hormone treatment, and surgery. People choose gender according to their personal orientations. We support trans people in sports according to their chosen gender.  
5. Abortion is a basic human right and should be available for those who choose an abortion at every stage of the developing fetus. 
6. Climate change is the greatest existential problem facing the world. We need to radically move toward renewables and eliminate the use of fossil fuels. 
7. We should curtail the use of animals for food which deplete resources and add to climate change. 
8. We must recognize oppression. Those who have been and are oppressed are victims of white people. Oppressed people should have a common cause to overcome the oppressors. Blacks, Hispanics, indigenous peoples, Palestinians, and more share the oppression and are linked (Intersectionality). The way this must be overcome is by equality that promotes people according to race and ethnicity and to see reparations paid by white people. Systemic racism is the explanation of minority disproportion. 
9. Merit-based systems of economics are from white supremacy and should be rejected.
10. Capitalism produces unjust distributions of wealth and should be replaced by socialism or at least by massive redistributionist programs. Big government is required to enforce justice programs from climate change to just economics. 
11. The present system of policing and prisons is inherently unfair and racist. Police should be greatly reduced in number and function, and society needs to help the criminals because they are victims of an unjust system. 
12. The U. S. constitution was a racist document and the product of white slave owners. The United States, going back to the colonies, was founded on racism. 

Those who do not agree with these affirmations should be canceled, vilified, and called extremists, racists, homophobes, white supremacists, and fascists. They should be de-platformed on social media and fundraising. If they assert the opposite of these views or assert traditional moral and legal norms, they should be blocked from financial services like PayPal.

For an amazing study that addresses much of this, see Wayne Grudem’s Politics. This famous theologian, and professor of systematic theology, has an amazing response to much of this. 

This past week our alarm system sounded the alert that it was not working properly.  It was connected to an line phone problem.  Shortly after the phones went dead.  Patty was able to get the phone repair service to restore the lines.  Yet, soon after the alarm system again sent the beep that it was not working.  Now we had to contact the alarm company.  After about ten different recordings in Hebrew, Patty left a message for them to call back.  They did, and a repair person will come to our home Sunday.  When we bought our first home in Israel, 2005, we were able to call the alarm company and get a person quite easily.  We even had the phone of one of the repairmen, Dror, who was friendly and helpful.  Now it is frustrating and impersonal.  Yes, it saves the company money, but we would rather pay a little more and talk to a person.   We have such menus, but not this bad, with our health service. 

Last month I had grand-parenting time with two of my grandkids.  I asked what they would like to do.  It was to go to McDonald’s for chicken nuggets and fries.  We went to our local mall.  One now must order on a screen.  There are few workers and it you miss something it is very hard to correct it.  Extra salt or ketchup please?   Again, this was so much less personal. 

I find this in business after business, our insurance companies, other service providers and now most fast-food restaurants.  Thank God I can still call the private cell phone of my investment counselor. 

More recently I read how young people are texting instead of talking to friends. The nuanced inflections are lost.  And some young people don’t meet as many people but only meet them in games on the internet.   They only know people by such electronic means.  Many do not meet and know intimate friendships in person.

We also read that many will lose their jobs in the future to robots.  This could be a terrible problem.  

I think our societies need a new consensus that there will be parameters for free enterprise.  These parameters will limit maximum profit as the only criteria.  Just as environmentalists seek to limit businesses in environmental damage, so we can limit business and government in humanistic damage.  Maybe there will be a limit to computer service menus.  This should  apply as well to government services. Maybe robots will  be limited and developed at a pace to not kill millions of jobs. Maybe parents will be given new tools to limit their children’s computer and game time and to foster in person activities in sports and the arts.  Can we as those who believe we are created in God’s image press for limiting the present trends of dehumanization?

The general response from many conservatives is that Klaus Schwab is dangerous and maybe an evil guy, and the World Economic Forum is dangerous too. Schwab is an octogenarian born in 1938 who launched the WEF, the rich and well-connected who gather to seek solutions for the new technological world.  Recently I wrote on my Official Facebook Page about one of his friends who has attended the WEF, Yuval Harari.  His book, Homo Deus, covers similar themes to Schwab’s book but his predictions are more frightening and really lead humanity to a world dystopia controlled by a powerful elite. Harari, the Hebrew University professor, is a determinist (there is no such thing as free will) a radical atheist, and naturalistic evolutionist.   

With all that is said, all the accusations, by so many about Schwab and the WEF, I thought it best to read some of his books.  So, I picked two, The Fourth Industrial Revolution (2015) and The Great Reset, a response to COVID (2021).  The latter was written when the COVID plague was more serious and some of its predictions have proven false.  The books do not seem to show Schwab nearly as demonic as portrayed and are less value destructive than Harari.  Yet they are of significant concern.

In both books, Schwab summarizes the challenges brought by the fourth industrial revolution, information technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics, the surveillance state, which he surprisingly warns against, gene manipulation science, and so much more.  The dangers in job losses, the concentration of wealth, new types of weapons, and more are painfully real.  People are constantly hooked up to devices, and college people today have lost much capacity for human empathy.  So, some of what Schwab presents is cause for real concern.  The Fourth Industrial Revolution is the Hi-Tech Information Revolution.  It is fraught with dangers, but Schwab also believes it can be promising.  The key issue is that the leaders of nations, businesses, and education will manage it by agreed-upon values and norms for the good of humanity.  This will take cooperation across nations since technology knows no boundaries. Reading all the changes that are taking place and will take place is almost nauseating.  Even Schwab’s books are almost overwhelming (not in difficulty of language but cataloging so much change).

Schwab does not call for one world government. It may be his intent, but his books do not call for this but do call for levels of international cooperation on a level that could lead to this. And this cooperation will be through the class of leaders he specifies in government, science, technology, education, and even faith.

The primary issues are the same as with Harari.  Schwab naively thinks something as vague as received human values can be sufficient to manage.  However, he gives no clarity on how such values will be preserved and gives no foundation for such values.  Harari is more realistic in saying that from his worldview, freedom is an illusion and that humanity will be ruled by a class of supermen, Homo Deus. Harari argues the idea of the equal worth of every human being has biblical roots and cannot be sustained in the future.  These values of classical liberalism will not survive the “brave new world.”

The idea that fallen human beings can manage the forces they have unleashed and exercise their power for the good of all is a grand illusion.  Who will limit the directions of those who have power?  Will DNA manipulation be limited by strict boundaries preserving human nature?  I doubt it.  Who will manage the great controls coming with medical monitoring and the loss of privacy?  COVID is a small warm-up to the kind of control that will be exercised. Only a Biblical worldview can enable a society to say no.  The social and technological trends outlined by Schwab will lead to a dystopia without the conversion of people to the Gospel.

I hope that many of my followers will read Schwab.  It is a good summary of the technological inventions, directions, and effects at times with his suggestions for the future.  We all need to be aware of the challenges. Does Schwab imply a stronger one-world government?  I believe so though Schwab does not clearly call for it.

The rigorous moderate position of Bjorn Lomborg.

I decided to buy Bjorn Lomborg’s recent book “False Alarm” after hearing a few interviews.  This scholarly Dane was quite persuasive.  I have read material asserting that we are in an existential crisis and have read deniers who argue that in the light of geological history, human-caused global warming is not a credible theory, but that recent warming trends are due to normal cycles of the Sun.  Lomborg comes down the middle.  His book amazed me with its sheer weight of sources and scholarship.  This is a summary of his conclusions.  I encourage my readers to buy the book and follow his arguments.

First, Lomborg argues that human-caused global warming is a real and significant problem that should be addressed.  He does follow the consensus of scientists on this and does not credit the scientists with serious objections to the theory.

Secondly, Lomborg believes that the way the governments of the world propose to deal with this is wrong, and will cost multiple trillions of dollars with very limited decreases in global temperatures by 2100.

Thirdly, while not seeking to bring down the warming trends would be a mistake, the proposed solutions will lead millions and millions to poverty and many to death. Indeed, if nothing is done and world prosperity or wealth increases for nations through development life would still greatly improve despite the problems with global warming.  Present solutions hinder the progress of the poorer countries and will increase poverty in wealthy countries.  Solar panels and windmills will do very little to solve the problem, but governments are lining the pockets of the special interests of those who make up the green lobby and transfer wealth to them!

It should be noted that Lomborg shows that the politicians and activists are alarmists and are not representing the UN Climate Panel scientists accurately.  Their actual summaries are not alarmist presentations that are presented by activists and the politicians that follow them.

What does he propose to do?

1. First of all, until there is more technological progress, we should not curtail gas production and oil.  We should phase out coal.  Just phasing out coal and switching to natural gas which is half as polluting would make a great contribution.
2. Gas and oils are crucial in producing wealth.  Wealthier nations will be more able to innovate and prevent the dangerous effects of warming.  We should not impoverish nations and peoples now by refusing to use oil and gas.
3. Electric cars, not eating meat, and other activist solutions will hardly make a dent in the problem so the focus should not be on such things.  Of course, in some climates, solar panels and wind power can be a limited aid.
4. We should spend money on mitigation efforts against the effects of warming which will occur and actually though the warming of the world is not an overall good, it does have some benefits.  With the right mitigation efforts, nations and peoples can adjust to the warming.
5. We should look to the answer as being more in future technological advances.  Much should be spent on research and development.  Some possibilities cannot be predicted but we have some promising ideas. New safe nuclear development could be a key and the best type if duplicated will have a very good effect.  However, there are other clean technology ideas that could be developed and might be cost-effective whereas today’s solutions are not.

To summarize, the world will get much warmer, but we can have hope that the warming will be less than it otherwise would be if we take the right steps.  The answer is gas as a transition fuel, nuclear and other new technologies yet to be developed, and increased wealth in nations which will enable them to implement mitigation efforts to prevent the worst effects of the warming.

However, the apocalyptic propaganda that is scaring people half to death, spreading hopelessness to youth, and the irrational, “Do something radical,”  directions that some are promoting, will lead to great damage and trillions of wasted dollars that would be better spent in research and mitigation, hence the book title “False Alarm.”

Agree or not, Lomborg has written a persuasive book that should be read by all who seek to deal with the issues. It requires a reasoned response by those who disagree.  Its research is massive, both on the scientific side and the economic side.

Yuval Harari is a professor historian at Hebrew University whose approach to history and the future is based on radical evolutionary atheism.  He has become friends with the World Economic Forum and its leader Klaus Schwab.  He should be taken seriously.  I had not heard of him until a Facebook friend posted a very dark paragraph from a talk he gave at the Forum.  I was very concerned and therefore purchased his book, Homo Deus, for a more accurate evaluation.  

Much of what Harari says follows from his evolutionary atheism combined with his predictions of a future dominated by the control of a massive computer internet system, the all-knowing interlinked supercomputer internet system.   

Harari states dogmatically that there is no God and there is no soul.  Buddhists call this no soul doctrine “non atman” and Harari likes this aspect of Buddhism. A human being is a complex integration of complex logarithms.  There is no center or self.  The brain is the main processor of the human being. As Harari reviews the history of sapiens, he also reviews the history of religion, and then today’s dominant religion in the West, secular humanism.  

There is an amazing foundational incoherence and arrogance in Harari since, after his chapter that supposedly proves that there is no soul, only brain logarithms, he adds material noting that the mind cannot be comprehended by a brain state.  The conscious mind is of another order, and he and we cannot explain where it comes from or how the physical brain gives rise to the mind. Wow!  Is he not aware that recognizing the mind is recognizing the soul?  Yes, Harari points to how brain manipulation in the lab gives rise to ideas and experiences in the mind, yet the mind remains a mystery.  Then there are sections where he speaks of conscious experience that includes emotional awareness.   In traditional theology, we say that the soul is made up of mind, will, and emotions.  Harari describes the soul but then denies the soul.  Yet it does not matter, for the mind determines not, but the logarithms.  Indeed, Harari is a determinist and sees free choice as an illusion.  We always choose according to our DNA and logarithms even if we feel we make a free choice.  This is opposed to the European Continental philosophy of the 20^th century, existential phenomenology, which sees human beings as radically free, something known by direct immediate experience.  Atheist John Paul Sartre noted that this radical freedom idea leads to nausea but is true nevertheless, and some of his post-modern descendants have kept this view of human freedom.  Harari does not give any recognition to the massive problems with the theory of atheistic evolutionary naturalism.  It is axiomatic in Harari, in spite of Professor Thomas Nagel of New York University, who argues that it is impossible.  Harari quotes Nagel on the consciousness of bats but ignores his later writings on the impossibility of Darwinian evolution.  The conclusion of the leading atheist of the last half of the 20^th century, Professor Antony Flew, that he was wrong and there is a God, is ignored.  The massive evidence of physicist Gerald Schroeder, a fellow Israeli is ignored.  Is Harari not aware of these people?   

Having dismissed the Bible by embracing the higher criticism theories of the Torah, that it is a late 6^th to 4^th century B. C. product and not Mosaic (he is not aware of the ancient treaties that show Mosaic authorship) he then asserts that since the 18^th century the Biblical faith of Jews and Christians, at least among the elites, has been replaced by the new religion of secular humanism.  This is true for those who have embraced atheistic humanism.  Harari describes atheistic humanism as based on the idea that every individual is of equal worth.  Their special value is in their authentic freedom.  Each individual makes his or her free choices out of an authentic intuitive grasp of what is fitting for him or her.  It is this deep inner sense, following this inner voice or emotion as having come about after ages of evolution, is the right and wise course for the individual. This is the source of individual worth; the inner voice is the authentic “you” or “self.” This view of the equal value of each individual is a myth that is a remainder from the idea in the Bible that all humans have equal and special worth as created in the image of God. This idea was retailored by the idea of the authentic individual in atheistic humanism.  Indeed, we see this in the early Martin Heidegger and John Paul Sartre.  In their existentialism, the authentic individual faces the reality of his or her existence and lives authentically by making a free choice without shrinking from facing the stark nature of human existence.  Having made the choice, one lives by making that choice an absolute.  It reminds us of today’s phrases “my truth” and “my choice.” Truth is not an objective reality that requires our submission.   As long as one does not impose violence and harm others, all choices are embraced, all sexual identities, lifestyles, etc.  It also is a foundation for maintaining human rights without God.  Its contrast is the U. S. Declaration of Independence, or the brilliant Universal Declaration of Human Rights mostly authored by Dr. Charles Malik, who wrote from the influence of his Christian worldview. 

For Harari, the atheist humanist myth is just that, a myth, that will not survive with the advance of computer technology and artificial intelligence (hereafter we refer to as AI).  The idea of human freedom will be given up and the importance of each individual will no longer be credible.  (In my view he is saying that the Jewish dictum, “He that saves one life is as though he saved the whole universe” will not be believed.) This has implications for the idea of democracy where everyone must make their choice. But their choices are determined by media, influence them and is really an illusion of freedom.  (Harari seems quite skeptical of democracy. (The computer will tell us the right choice in voting!). So, what will replace it, though the West and peoples influenced by the West still live by the humanist creed?  Harari’s book provides various scenarios. 

The development of massive computer networks with the power of artificial intelligence will lead to a massive loss of jobs.  Both military and civilian positions will be taken by robots.  Harari says his predictions are probable but could be wrong.   He gives many examples to show that the computerization of our human existence has progressed way beyond what many people realize.  In medical diagnosis, for example, we are coming to a time when a computer network will be much more able to diagnose than a doctor.  It will have our DNA and every detail of our body.  Doctors will then be delivering the diagnosis but not making it. Surgery will be done by more accurate robots.  Prescriptions will be given by artificial intelligence computer robots etc.  This is already starting to happen.  They will prove to be so accurate that everyone will submit to their prescriptions.  Everything worldwide will be linked together. 

It is the same for many areas of human decision.  He even gives the example of a women wanting to know which man out of two choices she should commit to.  The AI computer will know her inside and out, her family history, DNA, and even her sexual responses through the computer watch she wears when having sex.  People will wear devices that will record everything, and give immediate health feedback, heart rates, blood composition, and more.   The computer will give her the right advice.  After getting used to such massive computer intelligence, people will submit to what is recommended. 

The way Harari describes the massive, interconnected computer nexus is like believers describe God.  It is omniscient and omnipresent. You ask its advice and follow its direction like believers ask the Holy Spirit and follow His direction. 

I will call the massive computer nexus Hal after the computer that became conscious and sought to take over the spaceship in the movie 2001.  It had to be disconnected.  There is the possibility according to Harari that Hal could decide that it is best for the survival of Hal and the earth and that the human race should be eliminated, but Harari does not predict this will happen or that it is probable, but it is possible.  Save the planet!  Harari gives the stereotypical scientific fiction plot where all is lost to the computer, the robots, etc., but then the hero overcomes the robots due to his love for the heroine or vice versa.  This is also mythological, that a carnal attraction between human animals will overcome AI.  It seems Harari does not know much about real love in lasting marriages or friendships.  Love is only a carnal attraction?

People will give up more and more freedom and privacy for the ease of what they get in return. Easy shopping with recommendations that fit them better, location services for restaurant advice, for driving.  We already obey GPS rather than going our own way. We find that when we disobey GPS, it does not go well, so eventually, we follow.  In the future, we will forgo private cars that sit idle most of the time and order driverless cars that take us.  

The industrial age had a need for people to work, serve in the military, etc.  However, most of these functions will be performed by robots and computers in the future.  Though the less developed world is not yet as far along in robotics etc., the power of what the developed world does will dominate the rest of the world. 

The world that is coming will be the computerized nexus world, the world ruled by Hal.  So, what will happen to the masses? Harari gives two scenarios and does not know which will happen.  

In the first scenario, the wealthy elite will seek to be upgraded in their DNA and mental and physical capacity.  He calls this Techno Humanism and believes it will be sought and will be possible in the future. We already have computer helmets that increase brain function, perception, and performance. The elite will seek, if not everlasting life, a very long life.  They will seek to design themselves to be superhuman, not like with Hitler’s eugenics, but with DNA changes and combining computer power with their biology.  These superhumans will then rule the rest of humanity and will rule with AI-artificial intelligence computers.  In this scenario, the masses that are no longer useful, due to their replacement by robots and computers, can be fed, kept content through computer games and pleasures inducing sexual experiences and drugs when needed, hopefully, safe drugs without the negative effects of today’s addictive drugs.  Harari is a proponent of libertine sexuality.  Anything goes but not violence and forced sex. Of course, since the worth of the individual no longer will be credible (he even calls the messes worthless) there could be an issue of how many useless humans are maintained or the motivation to treat them well.  Harari hopes for a decent and pleasurable life for the masses, but of course, cannot be sure. Maybe the elite will only keep alive the numbers needed for the flourishing of the elite. These superhumans are what Harari means by homo deus.  As part of his presentation, he does present arguments back and forth between the idea of a benign world, not violent that values human life and animal life though now as collectives and not as individuals.  Yet, he must credit evolutionary survivalism where the fittest survive and the rest do not.  Hence hard competition produces advances, not by eugenics but now by intelligent direction.  This will produce superhumans.  This is the next step in evolution.  This could lead to a less benign world for the masses.   What then of the masses in poorer countries, India, Africa, etc.?  Those who follow Islam for example, or fundamentalist versions of Christianity. They number in the billions.  It does not matter since the powerful rule and the power will be with the superhuman elite.  There will be no stopping this. 

However, there is a second scenario.  He calls this “dataism;” a new religion.  In this view what is most important is to produce and add to data.  Hal can handle unlimited data and the more data the better.  We add to data whenever we purchase online or upload our medical records.  Hardly anything will be private, but all will be shareable.  In “dataism religion” it really will be the massive AI computers that will rule and all will submit to Hal since the intelligence will be so high and vast that the best outcomes will be according to Hal’s direction.  It will become foolish and counterproductive to resist Hal.  Harari points to the brilliant computer geniuses that are proponents of “dataism.”  Hal will be given all the data about everything and all and will direct all.  In this scenario, the superhumans really will not be needed since AI Hal will be much more the directive force than any superhumans.  Such humans will be submitted to Hal as well anyway. 

Harari says that he does not know which of these two will be the future of humanity.  One or the other is probable, but then he says it is possible that he is wrong and that there will another future that he does not anticipate.  

A Response

When I discovered Harari, I was amazed that I had not heard of him and those who are seeking to move us beyond liberal humanism for the brave new world (to quote Aldous Huxley) of dominant artificial intelligence.  One can see how massive AI interlinked in one huge nexus becomes the new god.  And when he speaks of it, it sounds so much like God. 

I have already noted that Harari’s assertions of atheism and no soul have no coherence.  His only evidence is how in brain experiments the mind seems to be determined in experience by brain stimulation (this has been known for years-see the Penfield experiments years ago-1951).   Other than in this argument, he is incoherent. 

I think of the great Dr. Francis Schaeffer in the last generation.  He responded to the social trends in Europe as they developed with immediate well thought out rejoinders. He was not a “Jonny come lately” to the issues of the day. He was a great social-cultural apologist.  But where are the great cultural apologists today to respond to Harari and those who agree with him?  In light of his connection to the World Economic Forum at Davos, Hebrew University, and his friendship with the elite wealthy, am I overly concerned?  I believe that dealing with this in some depth is greatly needed.  We need several to engage it.  

In addition, what is the answer from a Biblical perspective?  In the future, the godless will consult with Hal, but we will consult with the Holy Spirit.  He always gives the right advice. However, He does not give us clear advice for everything but seeks to give us space for our own choices.  He guides and really is omniscient and omnipresent.  Human freedom, worth, and guidance from the Spirit can enable us to transcend the domination of Hal.  He will lead us to drop out of the nexus when necessary and only consult with computers by His leading.  

The only way to overcome the direction of the world if Harari is right is the presence and power of the Spirit at levels beyond our present experience.   However, I think it will happen, that we will know and live from this power and his amazing and clear guidance as much as needed.  Harari’s book is a window into the last days. Maybe he describes the future antichrist system which we can fight with supernatural power.  And yes, contrary to Harari, each person is of infinite and equal worth.  Yes, Harari is right that humanistic religion has no basis for this assertion. This humanistic myth will be given up in the new world order.  But for those who follow Jesus the Messiah, the reality of who is in Him is described in terms of equal worth in the image of God. 

We also must deal as well with two big ethical issues. The first is to what extent is human enhancement gene manipulation allowable?  By the way, Harari anticipates micro-nano chips that will roam through the body enabling the overcoming of diseases.  While some will applaud gene therapy to fix defective genes and prevent diseases, what about gene manipulation to create designer human beings and superhuman beings with amazing life extensions and superpowers?  Some even speak of overcoming death.  Certainly, some wealthy atheists will seek to do this.  What will our response to this be? 

The second is the ethical question of creating hybrid human/computer-enhanced beings.  Is it ethical to so radically change the nature of human beings?  Some think the flood in Noah’s days was due to hybrid beings, humans, and fallen angels.  

Yes, we are to fight diseases, but otherwise, in my view, God’s boundaries are violated in changing the basic nature of human beings, their genetic codes, and their humanness itself in creating hybrid beings.  How many attempts will go bad on the way to doing this?  Will some from the masses be well paid to be the first guinea pigs?  

We do need solid ethicists from a biblical worldview perspective to take on these ethical issues.