Transcript:
Dr. Robert Moynihan
Well, in modern times, this idea that the essential purpose of man is to glorify God has slightly been shifted to glorifying man. This is called humanism. In some way, this is the central distinction between the Christian view of the world, glorifying God, and the modern secular humanist view, glorifying man. Do you see it in those terms?
Bishop Athanasius Schneider
Of course, this is evident. Since you mentioned correctly the Renaissance time and also the period of enlightenment in the 18th century which was greatly promoted by the freemason societies in public life, this idea to put man at the center and that man should be the judge of truth to what is good and evil and to be ultimately adored instead of God. In this modern society, God has become an obstacle and God is greatly seen as an idea for someone. However, God is concrete and He incarnated Himself, God became Man visibly through Jesus Christ who is true God and true Man. This reality of Jesus Christ, true Man, and true God who is present here on earth since His Incarnation, His Church, and Sacraments, is the main obstacle for the anthropocentric and Freemasonic ideologies. The signs and symbols of Christ had to be removed and are to be replaced by a new religion, a religion that is centered on the adoration of men. This is the deepest wound of modern culture and this poses great danger and sin. This self-adoration is the core and essence of sin, the fallen angels, for example, adorn themselves rather than God. Adam and Eve, they decided what is good for themselves rather than what God has commanded them. We are doing something which is independent of God and we also have to consider that this is also influenced by the devil. They repented and thanks be to God that they repented and through this God gave them the sign of redemption.
Dr. Robert Moynihan
But what you are really speaking about is what humanity chooses as its goal in being human. And in recent years, it’s become quite common to say, we will transform humanity, we will become a new humanity, we will become Homo sapiens 2.0, a new version. And that we will do this by certain additions to our brain, maybe some chips, and to our bodies – maybe some special technology. And the question of the soul really doesn’t emerge in this view, because the soul is regarded as a myth. So we have a humanity that looks at 1000 or even 2000 years we could say of Christian or Christo-centric culture, and then for 100 or 200 years, and increasing distance from that, and now reaching a kind of crisis. And you said in your very interesting book interview, Christus Vincit, pure technology is spiritually cold and therefore people are not happy, they are empty. They are continuously seeking pleasures to escape the inner void. To avoid the ugliness, the insanity, people are running after new pleasures, new technologies, and they become, in their souls, cold, egoistic, and cruel. What spiritual alternative do you see to this soulless technological culture and do you think it’s important?
Bishop Athanasius Schneider
Of course, you mentioned the temptation to attempt transhumanism and this is really the greatest expression of pride and sin towards God. This is man putting himself in the place of God. Man is allowed to create something as new as another human being but I believe they will not succeed because God will not allow this because only God is the creator of the human being and of everything. They might be able to do some technological advancement but they will not succeed because they cannot change the nature of man, only God can do this because He alone created this. They can perhaps harm human nature but they cannot change human nature, they will attempt but it will be unsuccessful because this is a realm that is completely reserved for God alone. They can only create something out of the advance in technology which is cold and futile because it is necessary for a human being to have a soul to be happy. The soul exists because God created it at the moment of the conception of a new human lid. The soul is immortal and they cannot simply kill the soul. Jesus Christ said in the Gospel, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. The soul will always remain immortal. Man can only succeed for a short period of time to attempt this transhumanism agenda for it will collapse because human nature will revolt when you try to violate nature itself. This is a reality because God created the soul. In some way, this gives us hope, that after witnessing this horribly attempt at transhumanism in this culture of technology and egoism, God will again give humanity the sense of longing for true human values. Values that drive the soul to the heart, encounter good relationships with one another, and to take a stand against the cold and horrible attempts of technology.
