Nanobot augementation: What are the christian views?

[Eccentric]

Hey, I am a 17 year old student currently studying Information technology: British national diploma in the UK.

At the moment we have been set a task to look into how we think mankind and machines may be interacting with each other in the near future but we also need to look into the complications, I and my friends can answer many of the complications by our selves but the one we are struggling with is religion. None of us are really religious and we need a religious point of view on the subject.

My question is: What problems would different faiths have with the augmentation of nanobots in to the human body to cure such problems as brain damage, internal bleeding, cancer, conveying messages via the nervous system?

We have also come to decide that they could be used in cosmetics as well or in the work place to do such tasks as strengthen muscles for physical jobs, improve reaction times for warfare o on the other hand you could use it for pure vanity by using them to reconstruct your facial bone structures. What would be your opinions on that?

Sorry for the long post but we need some answer as we have to have our presentation finished for tomorrow.

Thanks in advance, Eccentric.

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

HI eccentric,

The best to you on your presentation. Please let us know how it goes for you.

Thank you for coming to worthy. I hope you come back sometime and get to know us.

I am a Christian. I have no problem with machines. Except, I would like to see them better the world and not any more for warefare.

Far as religious. I'd just like to tell you and your friends that it's not about being religious. What being a Christian is about is a personal relationship with Jesus Himself, our Creator. He will come and make Himself known in your life if you call on Him. He offers you eteranl life and a more abundant life now. I hope you will take some time to find our Who He is and invite Him into your life.

Is there any reason you coulnd't ask Him into your life right now?

God bless,

elkie

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

PS are you or your friends into inventing machines?

There is alot left to be invented to help the handicapped in so many ways. I have thuoght of several things already.

[Eccentric]

I was hoping for some discussion on the moral implications, from what i can see christianity likes to keep the body pure and away from science except perhaps medical science. What we are suggesting that will happen in the fuure is that the nanobots could be programmed then injected into the body to perform the programmed task. I need to know how this would morally impact your opinions.

[Scarletprayers]

Hmmmm, this could go both ways. Many medical advancements were first frowned upon when they first came out, and some "sects" for a better word, refuse any type of medical assistance even now. When sterilization of both the Doctor's hands as well as the instruments was introduced, many Doctor's refused it, there by spreading more death instead of healing. I can see where nano technology, could be a wonderful thing as many of the uses you listed, and injection instead of surgery, the body not having to go through the trauma and blood loss as well as the long healing process. I would have to see and read more about it, but for what little I know (I admit, its very little) I wouldn't have a problem with it.

But, like anything, I'm sure this technology could be used for means I haven't even thought of. I think God gave man a brain for a reason, to use it. If we only used it for the good we could do and give thanks to God in the process, that would be lovely!

This probably isn't answering your question either, sorry.

[Eccentric]

Thankyou, I just need a christians perspective on the topic, you need not to know much.

Some of the bad things that we have had to think about is modern terrorism, if they got hold of the hardware it could be reprogrammed to become a mechanical virus. But worse, if they were capable of reproducing as Dr. Eric Dexler speculated about then the terrorist coud quite possibly destroy everything.

[Scarletprayers]

Thankyou, I just need a christians perspective on the topic, you need not to know much.

Some of the bad things that we have had to think about is modern terrorism, if they got hold of the hardware it could be reprogrammed to become a mechanical virus. But worse, if they were capable of reproducing as Dr. Eric Dexler speculated about then the terrorist coud quite possibly destroy everything.

YIKES, nightmares now....................................

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

I was hoping for some discussion on the moral implications, from what i can see christianity likes to keep the body pure and away from science except perhaps medical science. What we are suggesting that will happen in the fuure is that the nanobots could be programmed then injected into the body to perform the programmed task. I need to know how this would morally impact your opinions.

Oksy, in discussing nanobots alone. It is my understanding that they have not even made any nanobots yet. Though they are saying all sorts of over rated and unproven things they think they will do. (imagine they will do etc) Much like the over rated ideas they had before on artificial intelligence. They are looking for a fortune in funding and that is why they are teaching it to you and others as they are right now about things they cannot do and probably never will.

The types of things you spoke aabout, cancer, neuromuscular etc are most likely not going to ever be helpd by nanobots at all.

These things involve nutritional needs for the body to be aboe to build it self and repair it self.

Being a Christian is all about Jesus. It is not about mans suppositions and it is not about non science. Christian are also scientists and amany other things in the general populace.

Far as keeping the body pure... not one person on earth is pure, only in Jesus can we ever hope to be forgiven and accepted of God or pure in his righteousness.

I do know and have seen people physically healed from cancer through the power of God. I do not believe in violence nor inuring the body. I prefer natural methods. But, I am not poopsed to science. God is the greatestr scientist there is. The Bible says that True Gospel is not opposed to science anyway.

Honestly, nanbots are really over rated in my opinion.

I am not speaking for all Christians as we are free in Chris

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

I do hope that you understand that what you are being told about nanobots is nothing but speculation.

Please don't condescend, Christian are scientists and not apart for society in such things.

[Eccentric]

"It is my understanding that they have not even made any nanobots yet"

Actualy i think that you will find that they have created a nano bot, it is able to raom freely about, most of this research is in early stages of development.

In reply to your comment about us only being tought it because they feel they have to. They arn't teaching it to us at all, we were given the task to research and create our own hypothesis on how we think man and machine will be intergrated in the coming years.

Also, as for your beliefs that nanobots will never be able to convey nueral messages fair enough, you don't have to think out of the box, but if you don't then you shall not be able to go anyhwere. Whilst at the moment it is theretically impossible to have a robot convey and pass on the neural messages it is not entirely impossible, scientists have given a man two artifical arms that he can contral as if they were his own. Another interesting fact it this, the human body uses many means to 'encrypt' the signals that it is carrying in it neural network, so far people have been able to crack some of these codes, this is how they managed to create this man his new arms, by studying the electrical impulses they managed to read it and replicate it.

http://www.livescience.com/technology/0509...lest_robot.html - Link to the smallest nano/microbot

http://www.engadget.com/2005/06/23/bionic-...-with-his-mind/ - Link to the 'bionic' man i was describing

Edited May 10, 2006 by Eccentric