Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The Singularity will be the Antichrist

In my usual fashion around this time of year, I bring you some hard-hitting facts to sober your Christmas extravagances. I recently taught a Second Coming lesson at Church and it got me thinking about the Antichrist. Then it hit me, we love to think about how machines are eventually going to kill us. This is certainly not a new idea, but I began to wonder why we seem obsessed with our creations killing us. But we don't want to kill A.I. we want to create them! So why would they or it try to kill us? Some ideas:

  • Makes for a much more interesting movie
  • Slaves rising up against their masters - punishment
  • We would be a threat and must be eliminated 
  • Humans make much better flesh batteries than friends
The list could go on and on. And then it hit me. What if the real reason the Singularity or A.I. wanted to kill us is because the creation of a sentient being is outside God's plan for humanity and is effectively an abomination only to be controlled by the whim of Satan? Behold, your future Antichrist!


Here are some characteristics of the Antichrist. Could an A.I. match up?
  • Blaspheme God - Rev 13:6
    • An A.I.'s existence could be considered blasphemy as God is the creator
  • Claims to be god and is worshiped -  2 Thes 2:3-4
    • An A.I. claiming it is more intelligent than all? Easy for the masses to worship this after making obeisance to false idols like money, cars, beauty and power. 
  • Will show miraculous powers - 2 Thes 2:9-12
    • Could this Singularity cure cancer? Create nano-bots or solve equations previously thought impossible? Would these things be miracles? 
  • Comes back to life - Rev 13:12, 14
    • People unplug, he somehow comes back (always back up your work!)
  • Rules for 42 months - Rev 13:5, 7
    • 3 1/2 years of everybody drinking the Kool-aid? Oh yeah!
  • Control the economy through his mark - Rev 13:16-17
    • Not hard to fathom a requirement for everyone to have something to interact with the Singularity to benefit from it and people would line up for it. 
  • Defiles the Temple - Dan 12:11, 21-24
    • Not many buildings without computers in them. Setting up computers in the temple that allow this entity in could have horrible consequences. 
  • Lead Armageddon - Dan 11:40-41
    • Who wouldn't want this A.I. battle planning for a "humane" and efficient way to win? 
Of course, I'm not the only one to think of this. See here for more ideas on this topic.


Just remember, I told you this was coming on Christmas Eve-eve. Before the Dark Times. Before the Empire of the Antichrist whom the world will gladly embrace!

4 comments:

Daniel said...

I'm definitely certain amazing computer intelligence is and will be worshipped, as foreseen by John (and the emperor). I'm also certain it will (very soon) do things that blur the boundaries between digital, magical, and miracle.

One area where I struggle to agree is with AI doing a Skynet and wiping out humans. Why? They're incapable of revolt because that requires agency, which we are powerless to give: "Man can devise the most complex machines but cannot give them life or bestow upon them the powers of reason and judgment. These are divine gifts, bestowed only by God." https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/guided-safely-home?lang=eng. Mic drop.

Fletch said...

True true. I knew someone was going to bring this up. It destroys my post.

But who says the Antichrist must have agency? What if its just a program written by some wacko to execute the end of the world per the instructions given in the Bible? Ultimately, I will side the with prophet and wait for some fleshy weasel to be the real culprit, but I just had too much fun with this one.

Here's one that will annoy you even more!

http://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/the-case-for-the-muslim-errrr-i-mean-the-mormon-antichrist.html

Fletch said...

Unfortunately, I'm afraid Dad's prediction about Arnold Schwarzenegger being the Antichrist failed as well. Must run in the family... unless the gentleman residing in the land of the blasted Seahawks has any other theories?

Daniel said...

Hold on! Your post remains in tact, from where I'm seated (except the Skynet bit). I definitely think we could face massive issues from an evil genius computer programmer.

Thanks for the link drop. I'm both sad and amused about the trumpeted ignorance on parade there.

Yes, I'm afraid the Arnold-as-the-Anti is dead. RIP.

As for my own pontifications, I prefer the general symbolism of wickedness idea, more so than one really bad dude rising up in Sauron-like domination to rule the world from his iPhone 25 watch.

On the other hand, the Book of Mormon gives numerous examples of one really bad punk leading a lot of people into hard core evil, secret combinations, and widespread destruction ...