Transcending Technology: Looking at Futurology as a New Religious Movement

Abstract

This article argues that futurology is a new religious movement. Futurologists propose that the changes taking place in technology will radically alter human nature in the near future. The movement has its share of charismatic leaders, authoritative texts, and notions of salvation. I do not attempt to refute the vision of the future put forth by the futurologists themselves, but assume that their view of the future will unfold as they see it. This allows me more easily to gauge futurology's future relationship with religion. Rational choice theory is employed as a tool to discern whether futurology has the potential to be competitive when it enters the market-place of religions. I argue that, if the science behind it is perfected, futurology poses a real challenge to traditional religion.

Notes

NOTES

1.  The Oxford English Dictionary defines futurology as “The forecasting of the future on a systematic basis, esp. by the study of present-day trends in human affairs.”

2.  Luddites presented a social movement in England against the Industrial Revolution, often breaking textile machines in protest. Futurologists call the new technophobes ‘Neo-Luddites’.

3.  Many other individuals—such as Eric Drexler, Hans Moravec, Frank Tipler, Gregory Stock—could be included in this discussion of charismatic leadership in futurology.

4.  For an in-depth discussion, see Iannaccone, “Practice” 297–314.

5.  For a more in-depth look at government initiatives in futurology, see Berube 81–153.