On the Future: Prospects for Humanity (2018) by Martin Rees, Book Review

 On the Future: Prospects for Humanity (2018) by Martin Rees

I enjoy watching the YouTube Originals series on The Age of A.I. eight science-documentary episodes covering the ways how Artificial Intelligence is and will change the world in various fields such as robotics, health, food, space travel, relationships, and others. It is narrated and hosted by Robert Downey Jr. with the vibe of Tony Stark’s coolness and humor (actually it is more interesting if J.A.R.V.I.S. or F.R.I.D.A.Y. be the one who narrated the series). I’m always fascinated by how fast we humans have progressed in terms of knowledge, science, and technology. It is both creates excitement and anxiety. When I watched the series, I realize that the producers want to highlight the wonderful positive aspect of A.I. implementations in many areas of our human experiences, but I still can’t help to think realistically (with a mix of negative thinking), of “what if” this or that happened. What if we create evil Ultron with the good intention to protect ourselves? What if there are powerful but bitter people like Magneto who decided to choose only special people like them to survive? What if there are people with the Thanos ideology that in order to bring peace and order there must be wars and necessary sacrifices needed to be made?

These existential questions and more leads me to this book. Martin Rees, an Astronomer Royal, renowned scientist, and futurist, examines the critical issues that will define the future of humanity on earth and beyond. His insights into cutting-edge science and technology and global trends are very helpful. His main argument is that if we approach the future with short-term thinking, polarizing debates, alarmist rhetoric, and pessimism, we are doomed to extinction (my language). But if we take responsibility for the future NOW with long-term thinking, rational discussions, solution-oriented partnership, globally, collectively, and optimistically, we can flourish. “This book offers some hopes, fears, and conjectures about what lies ahead,” said Martin who doesn’t claim to be a prophet of the future but trying to act like one anyway due to the urgency of the subject at hand. “Surviving this century, and sustaining the long-term future of our ever more vulnerable world, depends on accelerating some technologies, but responsibly restraining others. The governance challenges are huge and daunting.” I agree. As a Christ-follower, I wholeheartedly believe that the future is in the hand of the sovereign God. But from the humanistic perspective, as the author seems to be one (he said he is a ‘cultural Christian.’ It doesn’t matter what he meant, for this book is not a Christian book anyway), the future is in our hands.

Overall, On the Future is an excellent read. The author’s careful and brief treatments on the issues like nuclear threats, eco-threats, climate change, biotech, cyber technology, human consciousness, robotics, A.I., and spaceflight are both encouraging and alarming for obvious reasons. Of course, a book like this is not without speculations such as the possibilities of our dominion outside our planet (for example, colonization of Mars), and the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence. I find that it is interesting when Martin also discusses the limits and future of science. By the way, I want to share one thing that probably going to spark your interest. This book is published in 2018 and about two years after that, in March 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. This is a glimpse of one of Martin’s worst nightmares coming true when he wrote: “Pandemics are an ever-present natural threat, but is it just scaremongering to raise concerns about human-induced risks from bio error or bio terror? Sadly, I don’t think it is. We all know too well that technical expertise doesn’t guarantee balanced rationality. The global village will have its village idiots and they’ll have a global range… Bio error and bio terror are possible in the near term - within ten or fifteen years. And in the longer term, they will be aggravated as it becomes possible to ‘design’ and syntheses viruses - the ‘ultimate’ weapon would combine high lethality with the transmissibility of the common cold.” 10 to 15 years, huh? How about 1-2 years?!

After I finished reading this book, I still have the “what if” questions about the future of humanity from the humanistic perspective. The difference is that I have moved from some (Oh, there are many!) of my ignorance to more informed “what if” questions.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #OnTheFuture #ScienceAndTechnology #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

[P. s: Two other issues/topics that are important, in my opinion, that should be covered in a book on the future like this one are cryptocurrency and the metaverse. Check it out!]

To read my other book reviews (and articles) based on science, CLICK HERE 


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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Romans 2:1-4 God's Kindness Leads To Repentance (#LetterToTheRomans)

Why does God still let the sinners live? Surely it's NOT because they are good but because God IS good. Many of us misunderstand the goodness of God towards the sinners. "God’s kindness [or goodness] is meant to lead you to repentance" (Romans 1:4). The clock is ticking. The offer is now. Today is probably your last breathe. Will you repent? ⏳⌛⚡

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Angelus' Quote: It's Time to Break Things Off

If you’re feeling too much pressure to have sex, you’re dating the wrong person – and it’s time to break things off. If you’re seeing someone who’s pressuring you to become sexually active, here’s an important question to ask yourself: Why, in the name of common sense, would you want to date a person like that? After all, if the person you’re dating really cares about you – and if that person wants to spend the rest of his or her life with you – waiting isn’t really a sacrifice, it’s an honor. But if the person you’re dating simply views you as sexual conquest, then you’d better run, run as fast as you can… in the opposite direction, to God and His Word.

Common sense tells you to wait; God’s Word commands you to wait, and your conscience begs you to wait. So wait! And if somebody tells you to do otherwise, you have absolutely no business dating them. If you’re feeling pressure from your date, it’s time to end your date.

Goodbye!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Timothy, the Helpers Must Know The Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 3:9-10)

"[Deacons] must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons"

(1 Timothy 3:9-10, NIV)

"The deep truths of the faith" also translated as "the mystery of the faith" (NKJV). There is no doubt, I believe, that this refers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the gospel of salvation and grace – and all the doctrine it involves. A "mystery" in the New Testament is not something "mysterious" in today's sense of the word. Not like a mystery novel. A Bible "mystery" is something that was not previously revealed by God but has now been revealed in His own due time through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

Paul, in Ephesians 6:19, wrote about the Gospel as revealed-mystery: "Pray also for me… so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel…" I don't want to be too technical here, but the fact that the defining article ("the") is before the word "faith" shows that Paul is referring to the great body of Christian doctrine. It is the same faith "once for all entrusted to the saints" of which Jude speaks (Jude 3). Thus, deacons/helpers are to consider that their faith has been committed to them as a sacred trust; and they must "keep hold" of it "with a clear conscience." In the Book of Acts you can see that both Stephen and Philip who were first deacons (Acts 6:2-4) are also great students of the Scripture, who "hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience" (Stephen, read Acts 6:8-7:60; Philip, read Acts 8:4-8:40).

Then, the helpers "must first be tested." Like the leader/overseer, the helpers were not to be put into office immediately following their conversions. How many immature churches have suffered by assigning new converts in a place of leadership simply because the individuals may have been well-known, good in public speaking, had the money or for something other than spiritual maturity? Thus, they "must first be tested." How? This doesn't mean some sort of formal examination or trial or sent them first to seminary but simply that they have been Christians for some time and that they have had long enough to demonstrate before other Christians – at church and home, inside church and outside – that they meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:8 and 3:12. "If there is nothing against them, let them serve."

Dear helper, do you know the Faith – the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the whole counsel of God? Do you take hold of it as dear to your heart? Believing, walking and doing the Faith with clear conscious? Can you pass the test of verse 8 and 12?  If your answer is "Yes" to all of these questions, by the power of the Holy Spirit – serve!

"To serve God, to love God, to enjoy God,

is the sweetest freedom in the world" (Thomas F. Wilson)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Timothy, Remember Your Calling in Life and Ministry (1 Timothy 1:18-19)

“This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience”
(1 Timothy 1:18-19, ESV)

I can sense Paul’s tenderness toward Timothy by calling him “my child” and also his seriousness by telling “this charge I entrust to you.” Another translation for “entrust” is “commit” which also means to “deposit,” just as I would take my life’s savings and entrust them to Maybank for safe keeping. Paul is placing great responsibility on Timothy by charging him with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But mind you, Paul does not do so with stern authoritarianism (though no doubt Paul have authority over Timothy as apostle) but as a (spiritual) father speaking to the son he loves.

This charge is then reinforced by “the prophecies previously made about” Timothy. I’m not sure what were prophesied about him. I think this is the same reference point to event as in 1 Timothy 4:14, “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.” This may refer to some special revelation of the Holy Spirit concerning Timothy’s call and ministry. Those prophesies, I think, was why Timothy is where he is now in leadership position. Why Paul need to reminded Timothy about his charge? Because the Christian life and ministry is a “warfare” in conflict with all the forces of evils.

Perhaps you, a child of God, reading this article needs to look back to your own “call” to serve the Son of God. It may be that call was to the ministry or some other phrase of the Lord’s service. Don’t forget, my friend that God have called you and His Holy Spirit will guide and empower you. So “be fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in” (1 Timothy 1:18b-19a, The Message). Remember your calling...

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Timothy, Sound Doctrine will Produce: Sacrificial Love, Godly Conscience, and Unhypocritical Faith (1 Timothy 1:5)

“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart
and a good conscience and sincere faith”
(1 Timothy 1:5, ESV)

In 1 Timothy 1:3-4, the apostle Paul writes against “different doctrine.” He warned Timothy and the church of Ephesus to rejects false doctrines and stay away from meaningless myths and endless genealogies. Now Paul is calling their attentions instead to sound doctrine or more accurately, the product of sound doctrine. The “aim” or “end” here is the goal. Thus, as we preach and teach and live God’s Word, it will produce these results:

#1 “Love that issues from a pure heart…” as you know, there are three Greek words for love. First, eros has to do with sensual passion, sexual involvement (our word erotic is from this). Secondly, philo, meaning ‘affection, human feeling or tenderness.’ We live in a society which can’t seem to tell the difference between these two and can’t seem to move from first to the second. Thirdly, is agapao and refers to divine love, love which is measured by sacrifice (remember Jesus). It is the main word in John 3:16. This is the word which is used here. Sound doctrine produces God’s love in our hearts. This love comes from a “pure heart,” a heart that has been cleansed and made pure by the blood of Christ.

#2 “…a good conscience…” ‘Let your conscience be your guide,’ someone advise. Ever hear that? For many, this is the rule of life (‘Ikut gerak hati atau nanuri kamu’). Good advice? Not necessary, not always. You see, your conscience can be influenced. Or let me put it this way: Your conscience acts on the basis of the knowledge it has. In the Old Testament, when the pagan Canaanites worship their gods, they would sacrifice their babies into the fire. Their consciences would have hurt them if they had not done it. However, child sacrifice is wrong! Their consciences were wrong! They had been feed the wrong information, indoctrinated. “A good conscience” here is one which has been purified by the blood of Christ from “dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). It is now give guidance to the believers like us based upon the right information in the light of God’s Word as applied by the Holy Spirit.

#3 Finally, sound doctrine will produce “…sincere faith.” In another word, the result is unhypocritical faith. How much the testimony of Christ has been hurt because of people who professed a faith they did not possess. Their lives – words and actions – have denied what their lip professed. In contrast, when a sinner genuinely comes to Christ and believes the “sound doctrine” of the Scripture, he or she no longer has to ‘play act’ (meaning hypocrite) at being a Christian. He or she now has an unhypocritical faith, sincere faith! 

Is your kind of Christianity produces love which is measured by sacrifice (pure heart)?

Is your conscience cleansed by Christ’s blood and based on God’s Word (good conscience)?

Is your faith is unhypocritical faith (sincere faith)?

Sound doctrine will produces all of the above. Examine your life.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Keep a Clear Conscience

Dear Annie,

            Sorry for this late reply to your previous letter. Life has been hard for me these few days. I was discouraged by my own sinful thoughts that lead to guilty conscious. But don’t worry… I’m okay now, Christ in His Word have encouraged me greatly.

            It has been said that character is what we are when nobody is watching. How true. When we do things that we know aren’t right, we try to hide them from our families, friends and loved ones. But even then, God is watching. I was tormented by my own guilty conscious. Oh how glad, joy and content I am now when I obey God’s commandments of repentance and seek for His grace and forgiveness upon me. What a joy!

            A clear conscience is one of the rewards we earn when we obey God’s Word and follow His will. “God has revealed Himself in man’s conscience,” writes Billy Graham, “Conscience has been described as the light of the soul.” I wants to be able to say like Paul: “Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbours in everything I do” (Acts 24:16). I learned now – relearned, in fact – if I sincerely wish to walk with Christ, I should follow His commandments. Love express in obedience. When I do, my character will take care of itself… and I won’t need to look over my shoulder to see who, besides God, is watching.

Thank you dear for praying for me.

Long to be with you again, sharing our lives in Christ together.

Love,

Rich

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.