The empowerment of humanity happens differently between human-originated empowerment - power for its own sake - and spiritual empowerment like what we see at Pentecost. The difference is striking, setting "the singularity" opposite the Spirit of God.
"Singularity" is a term popularized by tech inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil referring to a time when technology will merge into humans and create a new being that is transformational. (For Star Trek: Next Generation fans, think of The Borg, like Capt. Picard when captured, transformed, and incorporated into The Borg - pictured.) To get a better idea about Kurzweil's "singularity," check out the 2010 movie trailer to The Singularity Is Here based on Kurzweil's 2005 best seller - click here.
The story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 may have originally been an explanatory story for the diffusion of languages among humanity. But there are other pieces that reveal a bigger story of human self-empowerment and the attempt to become God-like, or even God. It bookends nicely the "pre-history" period in Genesis that started in the Gadren of Eden with the first humans eating the fruit that would make them like God.
Contrast human self-empowerment that seeks to become God wth God's empowerment of humans at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit. It changes the whole equation.
The sermon was a tough one ... okay, I probably didn't connect too well with the folks in the pews. Maybe it will work for you. Give it a try with the sermon video below, and the download links below the video panel.
"Singularity" is a term popularized by tech inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil referring to a time when technology will merge into humans and create a new being that is transformational. (For Star Trek: Next Generation fans, think of The Borg, like Capt. Picard when captured, transformed, and incorporated into The Borg - pictured.) To get a better idea about Kurzweil's "singularity," check out the 2010 movie trailer to The Singularity Is Here based on Kurzweil's 2005 best seller - click here.
The story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 may have originally been an explanatory story for the diffusion of languages among humanity. But there are other pieces that reveal a bigger story of human self-empowerment and the attempt to become God-like, or even God. It bookends nicely the "pre-history" period in Genesis that started in the Gadren of Eden with the first humans eating the fruit that would make them like God.
Contrast human self-empowerment that seeks to become God wth God's empowerment of humans at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit. It changes the whole equation.
The sermon was a tough one ... okay, I probably didn't connect too well with the folks in the pews. Maybe it will work for you. Give it a try with the sermon video below, and the download links below the video panel.
| 05-15-16-ff-answers.pdf |
| 05-15-16-the_singularity_vs_the_spirit-pentecost.pdf |