From Homo sapiens to Homo Deus: Can the Imago Dei Evolve with Technology?

Abstract

From Homo sapiens to Homo Deus, technological progress poses new challenges to traditional conceptions of the human being and their place in the world. In this context, a crucial question arises: can the concept of Imago Dei, the image of God in the human, evolve together with the development of technology and the transformation of human nature? The aim of the article is to determine whether the understanding of the image of God in the human can change or expand under the influence of scientific and technological progress.

Methods. The research employs: critical analysis of scientific and theological sources to assess the credibility and argumentative strength of theological concepts; synthesis — to generalize contemporary approaches to transhumanism and the relationship between technology and anthropology; tabular presentation — to provide a clear visual structure. Results. The article examines the interaction between Christian anthropology and modern technological challenges in the light of the philosophical-theological tradition. The starting point is the concept of Imago Dei — the “image and likeness of God,” which for centuries has shaped the theological understanding of the human being in Christian thought. The author analyzes classical interpretations of the image of God in the Orthodox and Catholic traditions. Against this background, contemporary ideas of Yuval Noah Harari, presented in the books Homo Sapiens and Homo Deus, as well as the worldview premises of transhumanism — which proclaim the possibility of a radical evolution of Homo sapienstoward Homo Deus through artificial intelligence, bio- and cyber-technologies — are considered. The analysis reveals a fundamental contradiction between technocratic and spiritual approaches to human nature. Conclusions. The article proposes an interpretation of Imago Dei as a dynamic process of spiritual transformation, which allows for a renewed evaluation of the relationship between the human being and technology. This perspective is contrasted with reductionist views of humanity, emphasizing that the evolution of the image of God lies primarily in the realm of spiritual growth rather than biotechnological “upgrades.”