by Sergey Baranov
In my recent book, The Mescaline Confessions, I wrote a chapter about a stark vision I one day received from the Huachuma cactus, warning of a future in which our own technology will devour us. Huachuma, also known as San Pedro, is a sacred cactus native to the Andes which is shamanically used in Peru and has been for thousands of years. Its active ingredient is the alkaloid mescaline, which was made known to the world by The Doors of Perception.
Technology, the cactus told me, is not our God – it is our servant. Technology itself is a tool that is neither inherently good nor bad, but technology without wisdom is weaponized stupidity. Recently, I stumbled upon a profound essay that echoed these revelations quite closely, Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us, published by Bill Joy in Wired magazine way back in April, 2000. Primarily about the potential dangers of giving artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and nanotechnology greater autonomy and control over their given roles, it also critiqued the rabid transhumanist movement, a giddy group, hell-bent on merging our bodies and minds with computer technology in a quest for god-like, never-ending life. What these people fail to realize is that our short time here already can and does lead to immortality of much greater value, that living and dying cannot be easily separated, and that ancient technologies for understanding the absolutely essential nature of life and death have existed for millennia, upon the very ground on which we stand.
Then quite rudimentary, transhumanism has come a long way in 19 years, attracting growing numbers of devotees seeking to “improve humanity” (but really just their own) by embedding and/or replacing their bodies more and more significantly with tech, making us “better” and even – their primary goal – “immortal”. Joy’s piece has only become more relevant as we stampede toward the unknown consequences of bio-technological integration.
An eminent computer scientist and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, where he served as chief scientist for over 20 years, Joy is no Luddite and states this very carefully. Indeed, he has contributed over many years to marked increases in the power of software, but this only gives him a more personal sense of responsibility for the darker turns it might take. While expressing deep concern over the development of modern technologies, he raises important ethical questions which we’d be wise to consider today, similar in theme to those the sacred cactus revealed to me that difficult afternoon in The Sacred Valley.
I was far from this subject until that one Huachuma ceremony four years ago, during which a disturbing, dystopian future was shown to me. I was taken by a vision of the future in which humanity was no longer in charge. It was on the verge of collapse. A species which made it through millions of years of evolution, growing and learning, now faced extinction. It was such a dire, seemingly inescapable fate, that all my being yielded to sadness. What can be done? I was silently asking. What was the solution to a big problem we ourselves are inexorably creating? The answer didn’t come that day, but later I came to understand that the answer was already in my hands, body and spirit.
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16 Comments
janitor9 said
The Lord is going to raise up Kingdom Inventors and Theorists who will displace and destroy the "Kurzweil Effect" within the next 20-30 years.
Marten said
janitor9 said
To the Hell’s Resource Angel of Destruction who has influence in and through the life of Ray Kurzweil, we say this by the Lord Holy Spirit:
1. The Word of Jesus rebuke you;
and,
2. we offer you our forgiveness,
and,
3. may the Lord Jesus Christ displace you and all your work with Himself, and His Song.
Amen.
–j9
Marten said
Not for very much longer…
–j9
Terence said
Marten, the Lord Holy Spirit highlighted your use of the word "power", after which He gave me the "go-ahead" to begin the resistance against, and subsequent overthrow of, this "power".
Wikipedia says this about Ray Kurzweil: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil.
"Kurzweil believes evolution provides evidence that humans will one day create machines more intelligent than they are. He presents his law of accelerating returns to explain why "key events" happen more frequently as time marches on. It also explains why the computational capacity of computers is increasing exponentially. Kurzweil writes that this increase is one ingredient in the creation of artificial intelligence; the others are automatic knowledge acquisition and algorithms like recursion, neural networks, and genetic algorithms.
Kurzweil predicts machines with human-level intelligence will be available from affordable computing devices within a couple of decades, revolutionizing most aspects of life. He says nanotechnology will augment our bodies and cure cancer even as humans connect to computers via direct neural interfaces or live full-time in virtual reality. Kurzweil predicts the machines "will appear to have their own free will" and even "spiritual experiences".[1] He says humans will essentially live forever as humanity and its machinery become one and the same. He predicts that intelligence will expand outward from earth until it grows powerful enough to influence the fate of the universe."
–j9
Terence said
you using your gifts of discernment or were there other indicators (that I may use to zero-in on others?)
Like to be as much true as possible, maybe because I am a bit autistic.
In the past I have had some encounters with Ray’s spiritual counterpart in the heavenly realms. His counterpart is a very high ranking angel, just a level below the top at this moment.
He is too strong for me and I cannot overpower him. But he cannot destroy me. At this very moment it’s not the time for me to do something about it. I have different tasks.
So Ray and I respect each other and leave each other alone, for the time being.
Marten said
Marten, with all the articles and quotes I’ve read over the years by Kurzweil I have no doubts that
what you’re saying about him is true. My question is: how were you able to zero in on Kurzweil? Are
you using your gifts of discernment or were there other indicators (that I may use to zero-in on others?)
I like to put people like this on a reading list as they often serve as leading indicators
of bad policies for planet earth.
Prior to his death, one could use quotes from David Rockefeller, for example. But such
characters seem to be getting more wise in not showing themselves, nowadays.
janitor9 said
Of course, j9. But Ray really is the main human and leading power on this planet. The power behind very much that is going on. It’s a pity he is no Christian. But you never know.
Marten said
In my opinion Ray is the one with the most power on earth! Really. He is not very prominent in the media, but behind the scenes he has got a tremendous power.
I enjoyed a touch-sensitive kurzweil piano and loved it.
Fascinating take on Kurzweil’s power, Marten. I’ll make a note to read more than just
the occasional quote from him in the media as perhaps he’s a leading indicator of
what secular powers are aiming at.
Marten said
Revelation 9:6 – In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
The same hammer and nail (Technology) that fixed Jesus to the Cross, also built the house my wife and I live in.
Marten said
Many apologies Marten, but I must disagree.
The Lord Holy Spirit is on the Earth these days, and He is Omnipotent.
This does not detract from Kurzweil’s giftings. But it does put him in his proper place. Subordinate to King Jesus.
I am putting this here not so much for you, (I am confident that you already know this detail) but for others that may read this exchange and not know Who is really in charge.
-j9
Marten said
But decades later on I could afford some nice acoustical and digital piano’s.
Ok, Ray Kurzweil is a genius. He invented a lot more than this nice keyboard. His predictions about the (technical) future are very precise and much better than any Christian or non-Christian "prophet" I know about.
In my opinion Ray is the one with the most power on earth! Really. He is not very prominent in the media, but behind the scenes he has got a tremendous power.
Marten said
So, if you want another future than described in this article, change Ray’s worldview…
Good luck!
Terence said
Don’t like it either. But this most probable future is not "fixed". There are other and more hopeful possibilities.
Marten said
Yes, and it seems those things are well underway, already. I don’t envy these lost people in the least; roaming
the planet grasping at straws.