Vikas Cohen on Transhumanism and Religious Resistance

 "As a Jew, I’ve always felt that my faith and my passion for transhumanism aren’t at odds. They actually go hand in hand. I know some people find this controversial, especially when it comes to religion, but hear me out. Judaism has always been about something called Tikkun Olam, which means ‘repairing the world.’ Our texts, prophets, and daily prayers all tell us to help improve the human condition. In fact, we’re told to ‘choose life.’ And what better way to choose life than by extending it, enhancing it, and freeing humanity from its limitations?

But I understand where people are coming from when they say transhumanism is ‘playing God.’ The Torah teaches that humans are created ‘in the image of God,’ and some take that to mean we should respect the limits of our humanity. But are those limits really sacred, or have we just been conditioned to think they are? When our ancestors faced plagues or diseases, they didn’t just sit back and accept it as God’s will; they sought solutions and made progress. So why should our generation be any different?

Take radical life extension, for example. This is one of the biggest debates in transhumanism. People worry about the sanctity of life and death. Many religious scholars argue that death is part of God’s plan. But I see death, especially premature death, as a tragedy we should fight against. Extending life, for me, honours life itself. In Kabbalah, we talk about Ein Sof, which represents the infinite aspect of God. If our souls are eternal, why do our bodies have to be so limited? Why not create bodies that reflect the infinite nature of our souls? Doesn’t that bring us closer to God, not further away?

I also hear concerns that by altering human nature, we’re creating something unnatural, even sinful. People fear we’re idolizing technology, but we’re not worshipping it. Technology is a tool, like a farmer’s plough or a surgeon’s scalpel. It’s a means to an end, not the end itself. The real goal is to improve humanity, helping people live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.

Genetic engineering is another hot topic. The idea of editing the human genome makes people nervous. They worry about things like ‘designer babies’ and losing what makes us human. I get that. But at the same time, imagine if we could prevent children from being born with devastating genetic disorders. Wouldn’t it be unethical not to use that power? Judaism teaches that saving one life is like saving the whole world. Just think how many lives we could save by eradicating genetic diseases.