With the announcement that Alcon Entertainment are in the process of acquiring the rights to the Blade Runner franchise, with the view of producing both prequels and sequels to the cult ‘80s noir sci-fi classic it got me thinking about what is a very large and expansive topic: humanity. Blade Runner is one of my all time favourite films (along with the Matrix trilogy – yes all three!); the film explores the theme of humanity, compassion and even transhumanism. Whilst the film is set in the not- too- distant future of 2019 (bearing in mind the film was released in 1982) it is predominantly about humanity, a subject that is timeless and always relevant. Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford) is a special enforcement police officer called a ‘Blade Runner’ who works in the dystopian metropolis of Los Angeles (completely unrecognisable from modern day LA), who is brought out of retirement for ‘one last job’ to hunt down four replicants (human like cyborgs) who have returned to earth from the off-world colonies where they work. Due to their similarities yet superior capabilities to humans, replicants are not allowed on earth and so the four must be ‘killed’ before they can do any harm.
However, while the synopsis may make the film sound like it would be a high octane action sci-fi adventure the story unfolds in a far more stylish and personal way. The replicants led by a military class replicant named Roy seek to find their creator in order to barter for more life, as replicants have a very limited lifespan – as the famous line from the film goes: “the flame that burns twice as bright, burns half as long”. Instantly the motives of the replicants generate sympathy rather than hate and make them very ambivalent antagonists in the story. Deckard himself, whilst being LA’s finest Blade Runner is caught between his duty and his heart as he falls in love with a woman called Rachel, who it is revealed - unbeknown to her - is another replicant. Whilst the four main replicants story may centre around the concept of mortality and what it means to be ‘alive’; Rachel’s story perhaps epitomises the struggle with and search for the essence of humanity as she has to come to terms with not being ‘real’. The concepts of love and compassion, which are universal, are explored through her relationship with Deckard as he too wrestles with his conscience.
This brings me back to the subject of this blog – humanity. What does it mean to be human? Our ethics and morality so far is programmed and defined in purely biological terms about how we treat other human beings as well as animal and plant life here on earth. But how will the technological evolution change our notion of what is morally and ethically correct and humane? If indeed cyborgs did exist with the level of realism and sophistication that films such as Blade Runner predict then will the boundaries of what defines humanity be blown wide open? The MOD is already concerned about the use of robots in war and the ethical ramifications of unmanned military robots. If those machines were ever to be given AI (artificial intelligence) then would that mean they are equal to ourselves? Is a synthetic, digital form of intelligence any less real than our own sentience? Some animal rights activists’ campaign that animals should have equal rights as humans and that killing animals is tantamount to murder. Currently our morality is governed and regulated by utilitarian liberalism – the belief that happiness is the ultimate pursuit of humankind, specifically the greatest amount of happiness for the majority of society, in which one’s pursuit of happiness does not infringe and cause hurt to another. This usually bears connotations with sexuality where our love is expressed most physically and emotionally, but also includes how we spend our money and what we do in our free time.
Consequently many in society have turned their back on religion, which has been given the reputation, particularly among vitriolic and outspoken atheists and secularists as being outmoded, irrelevant and anachronistic. Science is celebrated as being progressive and religion reactive; religion is seen as incapable of meeting modern 21st century needs and that morality and ethics can be surmised by science. Religious morality is dismissed as bigoted, narrow-minded and immoral. However, this is far from true and is mere hyperbole. Biblically speaking, our understanding of humanity needs to be first put into the perspective of our relationship to God. God is our divine Creator and as such is the very essence and nature of love, compassion and mercy. These qualities that are so important to modern society find their very existence in the person of God. Humanity, as it says in Genesis, is made in “God’s image”. This is not referring to our physical appearances, as our genes and DNA are passed down from parent to child thus creating resemblances between mother and daughter or father and son. Being made in “God’s image” is a metaphysical reality that means our consciences; our comprehension of morality and our ability to love and care for our fellow human beings is a quality that is shared with God. Rather than religion being reactionary towards progressive morality, the truth that we are made in God’s image and are therefore capable of such god-like qualities is the ultimate form of progressiveness. As human beings we should seek to cultivate that divine essence in ourselves and thus achieve the very heights of our human potential to show love and kindness.
The problem, unfortunately, with secular liberalism is that human beings are marred by sin and so detached from a relationship with God our morality and judgement are misguided and flawed. Instead we seek the satisfaction of physical impulses and tendencies that are unhealthy and damaging such as lust, greed and pride. While the attitude “live and let live” may seem the most logical way of producing harmony within society, it actually breeds a selfish kind of post-modern rationality. Our rights have overruled our responsibilities and ‘society’ actually becomes fractured as each individual pursues what is best for them first. Divorce, abortion and lawsuits are all consequences of this behaviour. Now I am not saying there are not legitimate reasons for all of the above, but the abuse and trivialisation of the aforementioned actions is a symptom that without God there can be no true harmony.
The Bible also explains that God instructed Adam and Eve to “rule over” the earth. God gave humanity dominion and authority over the rest of His creation here on earth. What does that mean for us today? We must take that responsibility seriously. The flagrant abuse and neglect of animals, the deforestation of our rainforests and the extinction of certain wildlife are totally unacceptable and avoidable. We as human beings should take the utmost care to keep our equilibrium with the world around us while at the same time working for the good and betterment of the world. In this vane we should do our best to reduce pollution, seek to use renewable energy resources and to create the safest, most environmentally friendly world for our children. As has already been mentioned we have been made in God’s image and as such another facet of that truth is that we are inventive, intelligent and creative people. The rapid progression in technology is just one example of that truth. We have the ability to make things in our image and the way in which we relate to each other and the way we view our identity has been irrevocable changed through our technological advancement. But the Bible also uses the analogy of God being the ‘potter’ to humanity’s ‘clay’. God moulded and shaped us (whether you want to believe in the Genesis account of creation or evolution). To this effect another part of our divine essence is that we should care for our own creations with the same level of grace and consideration that God has shown to us. Only once has God caused a fatal, apocalyptic event to purge humanity, and afterwards He vowed to do it never again. Since that episode in human history God has dealt graciously and patiently with humanity. Thus we should do the same to what we have invented and created, if ever we do begin to manufacture machines with AI.
To the ends that we should seek to explore and achieve our full potential as human beings having been made in God’s image - Hindus believe that Brahman (God) has revealed himself through avatars – people or other gods who bear His divine nature. However Christianity teaches that God has only revealed Himself through one man – Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was more than just an avatar; a representation of God, Jesus was God. Jesus was the personification of all humanity has the potential to be - a perfect, sinless human being. He was able to do this because he was be very nature God. Philosophers over the course of human history from Plato and Socrates to Kant and Mills have debated what it means to be both human and what ‘the good life’ means. While many of these highly educated, wise and intelligent people have much to add to our understanding of what it means to be human, none compare to Jesus. Is the example of Jesus or his teachings anachronistic to 21st Century society? Certainly not! For his teachings on loving your neighbour and your enemy reverberate throughout human history as the highest virtues. His embodiment of love found no greater act than in his own sacrificing of himself. Knowing that even despite our best intentions we would never be able to alone, become perfect he gave his life so that through his death justice for all the terrible and atrocious acts of humanity may be satisfied. The sins that we commit on a daily basis are forgiven at the Cross. The imperfections that have stained and blotted out the essence of the divine nature that God originally created us with are cleansed and there is redemption.
Just as Jesus can guide and help us in our search for the true meaning of humanity; so he can in our mortality. At the end of the film Roy saves Deckard’s life. As Deckard sits in humble bewilderment Roy expresses his anguish at the prospect of his own death and the fear he feels that his life would all be in vain: “all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain” (this line is one of my all time favourite film quotes... perhaps even my all time favourite!) before finally adding fatalistically “time to die”. Roy’s poetic lament articulates many peoples’ uncertainty of the purpose of life. Do our lives contain purpose if death is just the end? The Bible teaches that death is not the end. The experiences and memories of our lives are not lost “like tears in rain”. They are part of who we are as unique and loved human beings; they form our identities and God knows us and loves us. Psalm 56 says: “record my misery, list my tears on your scroll – are they not in your record?” God desires that we have a relationship with us so that when we die we can be reunited with Him forever. Jesus makes that possibility a reality. Through Jesus we can, the Bible promises us, have eternal life with God.
Christianity, as the path to a relationship with God, as a way to restore that which was lost through our own short comings is essential for the future of humanity. It is essential for our understanding of what it means to be human and what it means to act as a human. Institutions may be flawed; human beings may be corruptible; but in the person of Jesus humanity is given direction and hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment