Sermon on our ineffectiveness against anything - especiallly injustice

I subscribe to a newsletter from a atypical Danish technology 'company' that daily sends news of technological break-throughs, big and small. A couple of days ago one of these sparked a thought which lingers.

It was about how we, humans, are putting ourselves in danger, one could fear, by developing artificial intelligence. There are, of course, still a lot of unknowns and many Christians seek comfort in the argument that machines do not have a spirit and will therefore never be able to come alive. Nevertheless, the thought is worth entertaining.

This small company described how technology is taking large strides towards developing artificial intelligence much in line with the sci-fi author, Vernor Vinge's, predictions a decade ago, describing how the gap between Homo Sapiens and 'Homo Fantasticus' probably would easily come to resemble that of the gap between man and apes. Surprisingly, though, the newsletter ends in pondering ethical views, and how super-human intelligence would treat us, with the paragraph:

"At the risk of sounding pessimistic we [man] haven't excactly showed exemplerary conduct in our roles as guardians of the planet: we are terrible at preparing ourselves for predictable natural catastrophes,... we wage wars over outdated energy sources like oil and some of us daily over-eat while millions are starving. We construct and maintain barriers that prevent growth on impoverished continents, build weapons without constructive or defensive purposes, release unfathomable amounts of toxines into nature and hold billions of livestock in torture-like conditions. If you were super-intelligent, what would you do with someone like us?"

Now, its not so much the point of the newsletter in enlightening me about the progress of tech., but rather its accurate and disturbing points of man's faults. That such a grave, albeit far from comprehensive, list of skeletons (obvious, yet hidden/ignored by ourselves) should be so easily and casually listed only enforces the point of our blaringly simple injustice towards fellow men and successors of guardianship of this earth.

Upon thinking this, I found myself asking myself the obvious question of where the church is in all this. If we ever had a popular brand it surely must be "Love your neighbour." -and what have we done with it (besides lending our neighbour our grill once a year or offering to drive their kid to soccer practice with our own..)? Instead we're raving and ranting on about melting wax mountains before "The Lord" and what-not in our private spheres [and now to the stunningly true cliché that we all hate because it so often hits dead-center but we've always heard it] and the moment "we're outside the four church walls" we are nicer, non-cussing versions of every-friggin-body else. Relevant church making any difference?

Which major historical figure was it who said that the biggest sin we commit (supposing sin comes in different sizes) is not getting into the fight, getting into the face of injustice? But how do we do that? "-uhh, well I voted for the christian party, last time!"

And yes, I do go on. What's our problem in all this? Ever hear of "Prozac Nation?" I guess the title says it all. When in Youth With A Mission, I remember being taught that the best way to immobilize an army is to give them comfortable beds, brilliant food, a cozy house and juuuust enough tiny every-day tiny tragedies to keep them distracted and feeling like they each have their share to tackle.

Its when we look beyond ourselves, that we become relevant to history. Its when we look away from ourselves that we cease to be insecure and shaky in our foundations. So, figure out what you're fighting for, how best to fight and then fight. It won't be comfy and cozy, but then again it isn't a human-right to be comfy (shock and horror, eh?!) Yes, risk your left-overs, Ivan, and I guess you'll look back time to time and realize that that makes life more like a life - meaningful and relevant.