Down the Wormhole

Elevating the Discourse with Seth Villegas (PhD Student)

Episode 75
In part 10 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Seth Villegas. He is a PhD student in constructive theology at Boston University. He focuses primarily on how technology affects religious and religious-like ideas. His current research examines transhumanist and other secular communities, asking questions about the future of religious life. We talk about the incoming technological utopia/dystopia, the search for meaning, and the nature of the human soul. 
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
 
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
 
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Artificial Intelligence Part 1 (More Machine Than Man)

Episode 74
In our new miniseries, we are talking about artificial intelligence, machine ethics, transhumanism, and what it means to be a human. In our first episode, we're talking about cyborgs and why you already are one. Will technology make us less human and will we even realize that it's happening? Does AI deserve rights? Should we create machines that can feel pain and suffering? How can playing God with machines help us to become better humans today?
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
 
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
 
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 
 
Show Notes
Ship of Theseus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus
 
21 grams - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21_grams_experiment
 
The pineal gland as the seat of the soul - https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pineal-gland/
 
Adam’s Conversation about Cyborbs during Sinai and Synapses - https://sinaiandsynapses.org/multimedia-archive/superheroes-and-everyday-cyborgs/
 
Loebner Prize - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loebner_Prize
https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2020/05/predictive-text-systems-change-what-we-write
 
The Animatrix - https://www.amazon.com/Animatrix-Complete-First-Season/dp/B004G7W9IY
 
Cylon Psychology - https://www.battlestarwiki.org/Humanoid_Cylon#Physiology_and_Psychology
 
Siri's Position On Abortion? A Glitch, Not Conspiracy, Apple Says - https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/12/02/143067993/siris-anti-abortion-tendencies-a-result-of-technology-not-apple-conspiracy
 
The Algorithmic Justice League - https://www.ajl.org/

Elevating the Discourse with Matthew Groves (science and faith educator)

Episode 73
In part 9 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Matthew Groves. He was once described on NPR as a "one man science-religion reconciliation committee". With a background in Physics and a Master of Divinity, he comfortably navigates both worlds and makes it look easy. We talk about strategic bridge building, climate advocacy, and doing this work in multiple spaces. 
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
 
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
 
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Space Part 5 (Home Sweet Mars)

Episode 72
It's only a matter of time before human beings become an extra-terrestrial species. As people make plans for permanent settlements on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, what considerations are being made about what kind of society we want to create? How will we prevent our ancient tribalism from ripping us apart when we are one species on multiple planets? Will we even be the same species anymore? What will happen to future human DNA after multiple generations? Will religion still be a compelling force outside of our home planet? All those questions and several shameless plugs for "The Expanse" on the final episode of our space mini-series. 
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
 
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
 
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 
 
Show Notes 
 
Things to watch: 
The expanse (on Prime)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expanse_(TV_series) 
Away (Netflix)
https://www.netflix.com/title/80214512 
Things to read:
What Will Martians look like? - https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/the-big-questions/mars-colonists-might-evolve-entirely-new-type-human-n708636 
 
Roadmap to space settlements - https://space.nss.org/nss-roadmap-to-space-settlement-3rd-edition-2018-contents/
 
The Mars Society: https://www.marssociety.org/about/
 
Building a new society in space - https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130318-building-a-new-society-in-space
 
NASA’s twin study - https://www.nasa.gov/twins-study/fun-facts-and-shareables 
 
Space chaplain Twitter https://twitter.com/ussf_hc 
 
Send artists to the Moon! https://dearmoon.earth/
 
Symphony for broken orchestra - http://symphonyforabrokenorchestra.org/ 
Violins of hope - https://www.violins-of-hope.com/

Elevating the Discourse with Casey Bien-Aimé (Chaplain)

Episode 71
In part 8 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Rev Casey Bien-Aimé. She is the Spiritual Care Coordinator and Endowed Chair of Pastoral Care at Lankenau Medical Center. We talk about unleashing the power of ritual, how to create your own altar-space, and what NOT to say to someone who is grieving. Casey is like a never-endling well of calm compassion, and has some incredible important words for today.
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
 
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
 
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Space Part 4 (Space Junk in the Orbital Trunk)

Episode 70
The U.S. Space Surveillance Network tracks over 23,000 pieces of debris the size of a soft ball or larger. An additional 500,000 objects larger than a centimeter also orbit Earth, and there are millions of even smaller fragments which we cannot trace. We stand on the edge of a potential technological disaster if our satellites are destroyed by our own garbage, and international space agencies are starting to take notice. Join us as we talk about the technical issues of space junk as well as the moral implications of littering uninhabited spaces. Why do we only seem to care about garbage when it affects living creatures? Do we have a moral responsibility to clean up our messes? Who is going to pay for all this? How can thinking about space junk make us better stewards of our own little corners of the world?
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Elevating the Discourse with Amanda Glaze-Crampes (Science Education Professor)

In part 8 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Dr. Amanda Glaze-Crampes. A self described "Facilitator of Magic", she teaches future teachers how to inspire the next generation of scientists. Her research centers on the intersections of science and society, specifically the acceptance and rejection of evolution in the Southeastern United States and the impact of the conflict between religion and evolution on science literacy. It is impossible to listen to her talk without wanting to get up an explore something afterwards. You're in for a real treat! 
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
 
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
 
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Space Part 3 (Living with Tiny Aliens)

Last Spring, Adam published a book called "Living with Tiny Aliens: The Image of God for the Anthropocene", and it's high time we talk about it! It is full of playful curiosity and deep interrogations of our theological frameworks. How can astrobiology help us to not only rethink our place in the cosmos, but our identity as image bearers of God? We'll let Adam explain...
 
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Tiny-Aliens-Anthropocene-Groundworks/dp/0823287718
 
"Astrobiology is changing how we understand meaningful human existence. Living with Tiny Aliens seeks to imagine how an individuals’ meaningful existence persists when we are planetary creatures situated in deep time―not only on a blue planet burgeoning with life, but in a cosmos pregnant with living-possibilities. In doing so, it works to articulate an astrobiological humanities.
Working with a series of specific examples drawn from the study of extraterrestrial life, doctrinal reflection on the imago Dei, and reflections on the Anthropocene, Pryor reframes how human beings meaningfully dwell in the world and belong to it. To take seriously the geological significance of human agency is to understand the Earth as not only a living planet but an artful one. Consequently, Pryor reframes the imago Dei, rendering it a planetary system that opens up new possibilities for the flourishing of all creation by fostering technobiogeochemical cycles not subject to runaway, positive feedback. Such an account ensures the imago Dei is not something any one of us possesses, but that it is a symbol for what we live into together as a species in intra-action with the wider habitable environment."
 
 
Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast
 
More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/
 
produced by Zack Jacksonmusic by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis