Enhancement involves giving abilities integral to the body beyond those we would normally consider a human to possess. Transhumanism is an influential philosophy based on human autonomy in which enhancement technologies play a central role. This paper summarises transhumanism, describes the scope of current enhancing technologies, and provides a Christian critique, presenting the biblical strategy for human transformation as a compelling alternative to the transhumanist project.

Our latest Cambridge Paper, Enhancing Humans or a New Creation?, considers three levels of enhancement: the trivial (includes vaccination and contact lenses), the conventional (includes cosmetic surgery and the non-therapeutic use of drugs for cognitive enhancement), and the transhumanist. It concludes that, although trivial and conventional enhancements represent no threat to Christian faith, the kind of self-help through technology offered by transhumanism stands in stark contrast to the human transformation and positive relational alternative that is found in Christ.