What an insightful and well written piece brother. I so appreciate how you applied the concept of shirk – so accurate and so scary to reflect on because this form (via worshipping capitalism and all the modern profane) is so overlooked! If Guenon lived to see this day… also - had to share this: https://x.com/ihyaofmemes/status/1939088675071222183?s=46&t=rGxY9MRH7u6X-xwDwSaqdg
Peter Thiel is such a freak and a psycho omg. Guenon was so right, the antichrist will come cloaked in the garb of religion. But it will be a debased and fallen form. The idea that Thiel suggests—that transhumanism is actually Christianity taken to its logical conclusion is nuts. Just insane stuff.
Yes, the acts they do while being self proclaimed deities does injustice to the environment and the workers, but that is their burden to bear. As for AI and other technological advancements our approach towards it should not be one that uses the teleology of kaliyug (which is problematic in a lot of senses) or through the marxist lens. While these are both helpful in the ways they help in observe the nature of things, they shouldn't be the basis of our normative stance. Allah yubarikk akhi (I assume).
Allah ybarik ya akhi, thank you for your thoughtful comments and your support through critique. My stance is first and foremost influenced by Islam and the laws sent down to us by Allah swt, the sunnah of the prophet, and the examples of ahl al Bayt and the sahaba. That being said as a trade unionist and someone with degrees in political science, I find that Marxism guides my political orientation because of its analytical power. The anti-theism of Soviet communism is easily corrected and does not even represent the Marxist position.
yes, I do agree the analytical power of Marxism is really useful. The reasons I disagree with Marxism are not its political or statist stances towards religious communities, in the Soviet or else where, rather I believe that Marxism has an ontological flaw, which is similar to most materialist secular philosophical systems. This ontological flaw, I believe cannot be ignored because if it is used without precaution can lead to philosophical and praxis related contradictions with the Islamic system.
While I understand the critique of Techno Capitalism and the associated languages of shirk they employ, I do believe that Muslims must and are generally able to look past these mere language proclamations of shirk of the self proclaimed deities of silicon valley along with the other deities of neo liberal states. I believe as Muslims not only should we be very good at tech rather be at the forefront of it through the value of ihsan.
I don’t necessarily think they are just ‘mere language proclamations’ of shirk, I think that these people are genuinely agents of the antichrist with a vested interest in transhumanism and the destruction of humanity as we know it. That being said, your point is taken, and I agree 100% that as Muslims we should be at the forefront of tech innovation when it comes to medicine, developing high speed rail, walkable cities, green technology for industry, and other sectors which benefit humanity. If you are interested in my further economic analysis of data centers I would point you to my piece I wrote a few months ago where I point out the lack of economic progress and development which come from data centers and the current tech industrial strategy of the bourgeoisie. I am also in an electrician apprenticeship right now where I have no say in my job posting and I have been sent to build a data center, so I see on a day to day basis the waste, the destruction of the environment, and the exploitation of workers. So it’s hard for me, as a worker, to see these as anything but destructive.
What an insightful and well written piece brother. I so appreciate how you applied the concept of shirk – so accurate and so scary to reflect on because this form (via worshipping capitalism and all the modern profane) is so overlooked! If Guenon lived to see this day… also - had to share this: https://x.com/ihyaofmemes/status/1939088675071222183?s=46&t=rGxY9MRH7u6X-xwDwSaqdg
Thank you for reading this and for your kind words of support, sister. Bless you.
Peter Thiel is such a freak and a psycho omg. Guenon was so right, the antichrist will come cloaked in the garb of religion. But it will be a debased and fallen form. The idea that Thiel suggests—that transhumanism is actually Christianity taken to its logical conclusion is nuts. Just insane stuff.
Yes, the acts they do while being self proclaimed deities does injustice to the environment and the workers, but that is their burden to bear. As for AI and other technological advancements our approach towards it should not be one that uses the teleology of kaliyug (which is problematic in a lot of senses) or through the marxist lens. While these are both helpful in the ways they help in observe the nature of things, they shouldn't be the basis of our normative stance. Allah yubarikk akhi (I assume).
Allah ybarik ya akhi, thank you for your thoughtful comments and your support through critique. My stance is first and foremost influenced by Islam and the laws sent down to us by Allah swt, the sunnah of the prophet, and the examples of ahl al Bayt and the sahaba. That being said as a trade unionist and someone with degrees in political science, I find that Marxism guides my political orientation because of its analytical power. The anti-theism of Soviet communism is easily corrected and does not even represent the Marxist position.
yes, I do agree the analytical power of Marxism is really useful. The reasons I disagree with Marxism are not its political or statist stances towards religious communities, in the Soviet or else where, rather I believe that Marxism has an ontological flaw, which is similar to most materialist secular philosophical systems. This ontological flaw, I believe cannot be ignored because if it is used without precaution can lead to philosophical and praxis related contradictions with the Islamic system.
I never would have thought to see AI in that light thank you for your work and I hope this reaches more people because wow
Jazakallah khayr, thank you. I’m glad you appreciated the work. Feel free to share!
While I understand the critique of Techno Capitalism and the associated languages of shirk they employ, I do believe that Muslims must and are generally able to look past these mere language proclamations of shirk of the self proclaimed deities of silicon valley along with the other deities of neo liberal states. I believe as Muslims not only should we be very good at tech rather be at the forefront of it through the value of ihsan.
I don’t necessarily think they are just ‘mere language proclamations’ of shirk, I think that these people are genuinely agents of the antichrist with a vested interest in transhumanism and the destruction of humanity as we know it. That being said, your point is taken, and I agree 100% that as Muslims we should be at the forefront of tech innovation when it comes to medicine, developing high speed rail, walkable cities, green technology for industry, and other sectors which benefit humanity. If you are interested in my further economic analysis of data centers I would point you to my piece I wrote a few months ago where I point out the lack of economic progress and development which come from data centers and the current tech industrial strategy of the bourgeoisie. I am also in an electrician apprenticeship right now where I have no say in my job posting and I have been sent to build a data center, so I see on a day to day basis the waste, the destruction of the environment, and the exploitation of workers. So it’s hard for me, as a worker, to see these as anything but destructive.