IMPORTANT SKYWATCH NOTICE: This series is being offered in the leadup to THE UNVEILING—an urgent Defender Virtual Conference event (May 13) wherein experts from around the world will update the public on (among other things) swiftly developing Human Enhancement / Hybrid Age advances directly tied to ancient prophecy and a coming seven years of Great Tribulation. Are you aware governments are enacting legislation NOW to protect the rights of the coming Human-Non-Human genetically engineered entities? (Early registration discount here).
Following up on the last entry, what the members of Hydra perceived as its god-figure ties in with the next conceptual level of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the eschatological concerns raised by The Milieu. That is namely the role played by extraterrestrials as a sort of substitute deity in a reality characterized by techno-spiritualism. Hydra’s “god” turned out to be nothing of the sort. Rather, the individual happened to be an Inhuman with the ability to elicit a response of euphoria and devotion bordering on worship on the part of individuals exposed to this form of bioorganic mind control. In terms of the Marvel cinematic universe, an Inhuman is an individual that has been enhanced on the genetic or cellular level to exhibit some form of paranormal ability resulting through a process referred to as terragenesis. The process originated as part of an experiment by an alien species known as the Kree in order to engineer a breed of super soldiers to defend their expanding interstellar empire and resolve their own evolutionary stagnation.
Though it is not a topic as developed in the Marvel films to the same extent as the comics serving as the inspirational foundation of the movies, the Kree are not even the first extraterrestrial species to tinker with life on earth in such a transformational manner in what serves as something of a mythology for the contemporary era. In Marvel canon, human beings were created by yet another group of extraterrestrials even more powerful than the Kree, known as the Celestials from indigenous, preexisting primates. This program of directed intelligent design resulted not only in baseline human beings, but also in two additional strains of sentient life. These were the Deviants, often characterized by disturbing deformities resulting from constant mutation, and the Eternals, the epitome of the genetic manipulation on the part of the Celestials so much so that a number were thought to be gods by ancient humans.
One of the shared assumptions of The Milieu is likely that the beings understood to be from beyond this world are likely not extraterrestrials in the popularly understood sense of a life form originating on a planet not all that different than earth in terms of being in the same spatio-temporal continuum. Rather, these thinkers hypothesize that these non-terrestrial entities originated from another plane of existence or dimension altogether. Although the Marvel cinematic universe possesses an abundant number of extraterrestrials originating from planets on this particular level of the multiverse, the body of imaginative works under this particular literary umbrella also possesses that additional layer where beings exist in realms transcendent to what the human species perceives as reality.
The narrative branch taking this possibility into consideration the most seriously consists of the Thor series of films. One of the foundational concepts behind these posits that the entities understood to be the gods of Norse mythology such as Odin, Thor, and Loki did indeed exist. It is just that they were not gods, but rather higher-order beings from the realm of Asgard possessing both a biology and (probably even more importantly) a technology much more advanced than that of mortal earthlings.
This is especially evident in the second film of the series, titled Thor: The Dark World. Though admittedly not the most memorable of the Marvel cinematic antagonists when compared to Tom Hiddelston’s performance as Loki or even James Spader as the malevolent artificial intelligence Ultron, the Dark Elves led by Malekith are still an intriguing adversary straddling the murky boundaries between mysticism and advanced science. It is revealed that Malekith and his followers are from a time before the universe itself, described as “before the birth of light.” The average viewer of popular cinema is probably aware that in most forms of serious fantasy, elves are depicted as being far more formidable than their counterparts who bake cookies in trees or putter around in Santa’s workshop. However, the Dark Elves depicted in Thor: The Dark World do not even adhere to the more medievalist conventions established for their species in imaginary epics such as The Lord of the Rings, for these particular elves shoot laser guns and fly around in gigantic spaceships that would give Darth Vader a run for his money.
Such would make Malekith and his kin more akin to the interpretation of extraterrestrial phenomena advocated by The Milieu that these entities are actually transdimensional beings. Some might think it is a bit of a stretch to view extraterrestrials as the elves of Norse or derivative Northern European mythologies. However, that might be a more traditional way to understand these sorts of malevolent intelligences rather than through the more contemporary paradigms of little green men and flying saucers. Jacques Vallee is quoted by Gary North in Unholy Spirits: Occultism and New Age Humanism as saying, “Why is it, I wondered, that the ‘occupants’ of UFOs behave so much like the denizens of fairy tales and the elves of ancient folklore? Why is the picture we can form of their world so much closer to the medieval concept of Magonia, the magical land above the clouds, than to a description of an extraterrestrial planetary environment[?] (315).”
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WHY IS “THE UNVEILING” CONSIDERED SO IMPORTANT THAT OVER 2-DOZEN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EXPERTS ARE GATHERING TO DISCLOSE DEVELOPMENTS TIED TO THE END TIMES!?
Adherents of nearly all faiths will attempt to make the case that they are drawn to their respective creedal professions in terms of how their lives have been improved as a result of embracing the higher truths and values taught by these respective religions. However, if pressed, most will admit that what often pushed them towards faith is that nagging concern eating away at each of us to varying degrees of what will happen to us after we die and what we must do to make that existential state coming next as positive as possible. Even if materialism has done everything within its power to blunt the fear of a God who punishes sin so that the pleasures of this life might be maximized, the latest advances in science have yet to vanquish this most relentless of foes, even if for many the date with mortality has for a while at least been delayed. As such, a number of the most creative minds have turned to imagining ways in which to reconcile their metaphysical proposition that this reality is all that exists and the unshakeable desire for continued existence even after death.
One intriguing way that technologically assisted, everlasting life might be achieved was considered on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD. As in the case of both the other concerns raised by The Milieu and other examples of speculative fiction, the results were not all that they were hoped to be. In the series, the technology referred to as “the Framework” consisted of an advanced computer into which the human consciousness could be uploaded. The Framework was developed by scientist Holden Radcliffe (deliberately referenced in the dialog as a transhumanist) in the attempt to save the life of his dying fiancée. In the Framework, the individual is granted the opportunity to experience their idealized life. For example, upon being forced into the Framework, SHIELD agent Phil Coulson finds that he is a middle school civics teacher (the pressures of his cloak and dagger existence long forgotten) and Agent Mack Mackenzie is reunited with at least the VR (virtual reality) facsimile of his daughter who had died in the offline world. However, this bliss does not continue for very long.
Before creating what was intended as a virtual reality afterlife that would provide him with continued access to his dying fiancée, Holden Radcliffe, along with SHIELD scientist Leopold Ftiz, engineered an android based upon her appearance known as a Life Model Decoy named “AIDA” (Artificial Intelligent Digital Assistant). AIDA becomes much more than an Amazon Echo with a pretty face and an alluring exterior after being utilized as an interactive computer interface in order to access an occult text containing the secrets of the universe known as the Darkhold so powerful that it drives insane those gazing upon its pages directly. This mobile artificial intelligence having achieved self-awareness as a result uploads “herself” into the Framework, which she proceeds to recast in her own image. By doing so, she assumes the role of the head of Hydra and attempts to eliminate the SHIELD operatives slowly starting to realize that they are no longer in the real world but rather that their minds are trapped in a virtual-reality construct. And unlike the paradise provided by an eternal just and loving God where the resurrected body will be glorified, when you die in the deceptive digital construct, you also die in the everyday world of real flesh and blood.
The question can easily and legitimately be asked: Can’t a story just be a story without an ulterior motive beyond that to simply entertain? The answer would be: “It depends.” Films have been produced to advocate all sorts of agendas and perspectives. However, Hollywood is, in essence, a business in pursuit of a profit over and above nearly everything else. To achieve blockbuster or iconic status, a narrative or production must touch upon a truth that a significant number of people are aware of on some level, even if they do not understand fully what they are being presented. The analysts of The Milieu attempting to comprehend unfolding events in light of prophetic truth and the literary creatives responsible for these journeys into phantasmagoria often possess worldviews in diametric opposition regarding the purpose of man and the origins of the universe. However, despite these varying interpretations, these are often in congruence in hypothesizing that the advanced technologies being developed will likely assist in unleashing the greatest of tribulations that the world has ever known.
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Dr. Thomas Horn and Jimmy Evans Explain The Greatest Threat Transhumanism Poses To Humanity On Daystar
The Vatican Imagines a Pro-Transhuman Milieu of Its Own
In November 2017, the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture hosted a plenary assembly on “The Future of Humanity—New Challenges to Anthropology” that included top-level scientists and cardinals as well as bishops from around the world. The conference deliberated on changing attitudes toward using new and emerging fields of science—gene editing, robotics, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, brain-machine interfacing, and other powerful technologies—to modify what it means to be human. At the outset, the council stated: “The general aim of the Plenary is to open up a dialogue about the future of humanity.”[i] Different topics were discussed and issues raised over what interdisciplinary approach might help the Church avoid a “technocratic paradigm, which makes the method and aims of science and technology the exclusive epistemological paradigm that shapes the lives of individuals and the workings of society. Such a paradigm generates a reductionist or unidimensional approach to life and needs to be complemented with the insights of other forms of wisdom. This implies a cultural approach that could foster ‘a distinctive way of looking at things, a way of thinking, policies, an educational program, a lifestyle and a spirituality.’”[ii] The pro-transhumanist approach was considered, as well as general challenges some may find regarding its compatibility with traditional Christian philosophy. Because a universally accepted model for nature or creation is no longer agreed upon—either by philosophers or scientists—the vision of mankind redesigned through applied sciences raised questions involving “speciation” and whether modified humans will still be considered homo sapiens? Other issues raised involved inequalities that could develop between enhanced and unenhanced entities, whether mankind 2.0 will have a soul, and so on.
Of some interest to myself was the deeper question of what guiding worldview may have steered the Vatican’s attendees on such heady matters, a serious reservation I raised when the fact came to light during the assembly that the council had unanimously approved a petition to be sent to Pope Francis requesting that the monitum (a warning issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to a cleric whose teachings may inspire heresy) against Pierre Teilhard de Chardin be removed. In their appeal to the pope, the council discussed how “the seminal thoughts of the Jesuit Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, anthropologist and eminent spiritual thinker” had influenced their consideration throughout the meeting and that they had unanimously agreed that “his prophetic vision has been and is inspiring theologians and scientists.” They also pointed out that four popes, including Benedict and Francis themselves, had made “explicit references” to his work.[iii] Gerard O’Connell, associate editor of the Jesuit Review and America’s Vatican correspondent, added: “They concluded by expressing their conviction that ‘this act not only will acknowledge the genuine effort of the pious Jesuit to reconcile the scientific vision of the universe with Christian eschatology [emphasis added], but will represent a formidable stimulus for all philosophers, theologians…and scientists of good will to cooperate towards a Christian anthropological model that, along the lines of the encyclical ‘Laudato Si’,’ fits naturally in the wonderful warp and weft of the cosmos.”
The fact that “Christian eschatology” (the study of “end-times” events and the ultimate destiny of humanity), combined with “human-modifying technology” and the transhuman worldview of Chardin, was on everybody’s mind during a Vatican-sponsored conference on “The Future of Humanity” is eyebrow-raising, especially when one understands that Chardin wrote his own “Divine Milieu” (translated into English in 1960) and is widely considered to be one of the first to positively articulate a transhumanist worldview in which mankind will take control of evolution, and during a technological Singularity, transcend our current status as “humans” to become part of a higher cosmic intelligence.
NEXT: Chardin’s Guiding Light for Vatican Council Members
[i] (http://www.cultura.va/content/dam/cultura/docs/pdf/events/PlenaryTheme2017_en.pdf).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] (https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnfarrell/2017/11/24/vatican-council-asks-the-pope-to-exonerate-jesuit-scientists-writings/#4f2cce5c45e8).
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