Digital Society public lecture by Dr. Oliver Krüger
Professor in Religious Studies, University of Fribourg

Every technological innovation invites a thorough examination of its practical implications that involve a careful evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of its applications in conjunction with associated costs. Concurrently, a societal and cultural discourse unfolds, delving into the merits, impacts, and prospects of the new technology. This is particularly the case when it comes to the relationship between humans and computers.

In the context of religion we have to follow a twofold approach. On the one hand we have to consider how specific religious communities deal with digital media and how common religious norms evolve to a global moral code (e.g. the ban of nudity). On the other hand digital media emerge as pivotal components of a comprehensive transhumanist vision encompassing all life on Earth. They envision the boundless augmentation of human capabilities through cybertechnologies, while posthumanists foresee computers offering a pathway to digital immortality. Here, digital media (esp. the hoped-for artificial intelligence) are integrated into a larger, cosmic salvation history.