Key Terms and Definitions for Module 11
Techgnosis
Gnosticism (from gnostikos, "learned", from Greek: γνῶσις gnōsis, knowledge) is a scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices common to early Christianity, Hellenistic Judaism, Greco-Roman mystery religions, Zoroastrianism (especially Zurvanism), and Neoplatonism.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism)
Gnosis is the common Greek noun for knowledge (in the nominative case γνῶσις f.). In the context of the English language gnosis generally refers to the word's meaning within the spheres of Christian mysticism, Mystery religions and Gnosticism where it signifies 'spiritual knowledge' in the sense of mystical enlightenment. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosis)
Hermeticism or the Western Hermetic Tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs[1] based primarily upon the pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. These beliefs have heavily influenced the Western Esoteric Tradition and were considered to be of great importance during the Renaissance[2] and Reformation. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism) = Hermeticum: to know everything instantaneously and thereby, presumably, to know God.
Demons: those that are not controlled by a master program or a central computer but are rather invoked into action by changes in the environment. Angels being the opposite?
New Ager: One who relates to a complex of spiritual and consciousness-raising movements originating in the 1980s and covering a range of themes from a belief in spiritualism and reincarnation to advocacy of holistic approaches to health and ecology. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/New+Ager)
Singularity (technological): refers to the hypothetical future emergence of greater-than-human intelligence through technological means. Since the capabilities of such an intelligence would be difficult for an unaided human mind to comprehend, the occurrence of a technological singularity is seen as an intellectual event horizon, beyond which the future becomes difficult to understand or predict. Nevertheless, proponents of the singularity typically anticipate such an event to precede an "intelligence explosion", wherein superintelligences design successive generations of increasingly powerful minds. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity)
Gnosis is the common Greek noun for knowledge (in the nominative case γνῶσις f.). In the context of the English language gnosis generally refers to the word's meaning within the spheres of Christian mysticism, Mystery religions and Gnosticism where it signifies 'spiritual knowledge' in the sense of mystical enlightenment. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosis)
Hermeticism or the Western Hermetic Tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs[1] based primarily upon the pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. These beliefs have heavily influenced the Western Esoteric Tradition and were considered to be of great importance during the Renaissance[2] and Reformation. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism) = Hermeticum: to know everything instantaneously and thereby, presumably, to know God.
Demons: those that are not controlled by a master program or a central computer but are rather invoked into action by changes in the environment. Angels being the opposite?
New Ager: One who relates to a complex of spiritual and consciousness-raising movements originating in the 1980s and covering a range of themes from a belief in spiritualism and reincarnation to advocacy of holistic approaches to health and ecology. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/New+Ager)
Singularity (technological): refers to the hypothetical future emergence of greater-than-human intelligence through technological means. Since the capabilities of such an intelligence would be difficult for an unaided human mind to comprehend, the occurrence of a technological singularity is seen as an intellectual event horizon, beyond which the future becomes difficult to understand or predict. Nevertheless, proponents of the singularity typically anticipate such an event to precede an "intelligence explosion", wherein superintelligences design successive generations of increasingly powerful minds. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity)
Review: The Religion of Technology: The Divinity of Man and the Spirit of Invention
Judeo-Christian
Historically related to both Judaism and Christianity; "the Judeo-Christian tradition." More info: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Judeo-Christian
Religious millenarianism
Millenarianism (also millenarism) is the belief by a religious, social, or political group or movement in a coming major transformation of society, after which all things will be changed, based on a one-thousand-year cycle. The term is more generically used to refer to any belief centered around 1000 year intervals. Millenarianism is a concept/theme that exists in many cultures and religions. Millennialism is a specific type of Millenarianism as it applies to Christianity. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millenarianism
Transcendency
Tran·scen·dent
adj.
Surpassing others; preeminent or supreme; Being above and independent of the material universe. Used of the Deity.
More info: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/transcendency
Armaggedon
ar·ma·ged·do(in the New Testament)
- The last battle between good and evil before the Day of Judgment.
- The place where this battle will be fought.n/ˌärməˈgedn/
The Fall of Man
Fall of Man - (Judeo-Christian mythology) when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, God punished them by driving them out of the Garden of Eden and into the world where they would be subject to sickness and pain and eventual death. More info: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Fall+of+Man
The Age of Spitirtual Machine (R.Kurzweil)
Artificial Intelligence:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it.
Self-replication:
Self-replication is any behavior of a dynamical system that yields construction of an identical copy of that dynamical system.
Spirituality:
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.”
Can Religion Withstand Technology?
Fundamentalism: a reactionary movement against modern religious interpretations with the intent of returning
to a ‘purer’ understanding of any given religion.
Extremism: is any ideology or political act far outside the perceived political center of a society
Fundamentalism: a reactionary movement against modern religious interpretations with the intent of returning
to a ‘purer’ understanding of any given religion.
Extremism: is any ideology or political act far outside the perceived political center of a society
Church of Fools
Church (as defined by the churchoffools.com): “There are lots of ways to define church, of course, but “where or three people gather in my name, I’m there in the midst of them” (as Jesus said), has to be at the heart of it. Whether Church of Fools can ever be a standalone church is something we are still evaluating.