Authors

Cyprian of Carthage (c. 210–258 AD) was a bishop and early Christian writer who played an important role in developing Christian thought on the nature of the Church and the role of bishops. Born to a wealthy pagan family in North Africa, Cyprian converted to Christianity around 246 AD and was elected bishop of Carthage just two years later. During the Decian persecution, he went into hiding but continued to lead his community through letters. His writings address church unity, the validity of sacraments, and the process by which humans may become like God. He taught that Christ became what man is so that man may also become what Christ is—a clear articulation of the deification theme. Cyprian was martyred during the Valerian persecution in 258 AD.

George Quayle Cannon (1827–1901) was one of the most influential leaders in the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and later as First Counselor in the First Presidency under four successive church presidents. A skilled orator, prolific publisher, and astute politician, Cannon shaped the church’s public image and theological discourse during a critical period of its development. Born in Liverpool, England, Cannon immigrated to the United States with his family at age fifteen following their conversion to the LDS faith. After his parents’ deaths, he was raised by his uncle John Taylor, who would later become the third president of the church. Cannon crossed the plains to Utah in 1847 and soon demonstrated exceptional abilities as a writer and leader. In 1849, he was called on a mission to California, and later served in Hawaii, where he learned the Hawaiian language and translated the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian. Cannon’s publishing career began in San Francisco, where he edited the Western Standard. Returning to Utah, he founded the Deseret News and later established the Juvenile Instructor magazine. He served as editor of the Millennial Star in England and built a publishing empire that produced books, pamphlets, and periodicals defending and explaining Latter-day Saint beliefs. His editorials and writings helped articulate church doctrine on subjects ranging from plural marriage to the nature of God. In 1860, Cannon was ordained an apostle at age thirty-two. He also served six terms as Utah’s delegate to the U.S. Congress (1872–1882), where he advocated for Utah statehood while defending the church against anti-polygamy legislation. Though he was eventually denied his congressional seat due to polygamy charges, his political experience proved invaluable to church leadership during the difficult years of federal prosecution. Cannon’s theological contributions reflect themes resonant with transhumanist thought. He taught extensively about human deification and eternal progression, declaring that ‘the object of man’s existence is that he might become like God.’ He envisioned humanity’s potential for infinite development and wrote of the transformative power of knowledge and technology in advancing God’s purposes. His writings on the resurrection emphasized the perfection and glorification of the human body—ideas that anticipate contemporary discussions of human enhancement and transcendence.

Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170–235 AD) was one of the most important early Christian theologians. His writings include commentaries on Scripture and theological treatises on the nature of Christ and human deification. Hippolytus was a disciple of Irenaeus and became a leading theologian in Rome. His Refutation of All Heresies is a major source for understanding early Christian debates. He taught that God could have made humans gods from the beginning, but instead offered them the opportunity to become gods through obedience and faithfulness. Though he initially opposed Pope Callixtus and was considered an antipope, Hippolytus was later reconciled with the Church and died as a martyr, exiled to Sardinia during the persecution of Maximinus Thrax.

Joseph Fielding Smith (1838–1918) was the 6th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving from 1901 until his death. He was the son of Hyrum Smith and nephew of Joseph Smith. Born in Far West, Missouri, Joseph F. Smith experienced the trials of early Church history firsthand. As a young child, he witnessed the aftermath of the Carthage martyrdom. At age nine, he drove an ox team across the plains to Utah with his widowed mother. At fifteen, he was called on a mission to Hawaii, where he had a transformative vision of the afterlife. He taught that Jesus’s work was not finished with his death and resurrection but continues until all who can be saved are redeemed. This expansive vision of salvation includes work for the dead and the promise that the faithful become saviors on Mount Zion alongside Christ.

Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662 AD) was a Christian monk, theologian, and scholar who developed sophisticated theology of theosis, teaching that humanity is destined to participate in the divine nature through Christ. Born to a noble Byzantine family, Maximus initially served as a court secretary before becoming a monk. He became the leading opponent of Monothelitism, the doctrine that Christ had only one will, arguing instead that Christ has both divine and human wills. His theological writings explore how God became the Son of Man so that humans might become sons of God. Maximus taught that through the Incarnation, Christ makes possible the deification of humanity without the loss of human identity. For his opposition to imperial theology, he was tried, mutilated (his tongue and right hand cut off), and exiled, dying shortly after in 662 AD.

Micah Redding is a multifaceted individual with a diverse background. He experienced his formative years as a preacher’s kid before transitioning into a career as a rock musician for eight years. He has also had a mysterious experience involving a high-speed pursuit of a spy plane. Currently, Micah focuses on software development and writing, exploring the intersection of human values and technology. He is particularly interested in exploring Christian views of resurrection and how they apply to transhumanism. Micah is a key figure in the Christian Transhumanist movement. He is a founder, board member, and the Executive Director of the Christian Transhumanist Association.

Nikolay Fyodorovich Fyodorov (9 June 1829 – 28 December 1903) was a Russian Orthodox Christian philosopher, religious thinker, and futurologist who founded the intellectual movement known as Russian cosmism—a direct precursor to modern transhumanism. Born as Nikolay Pavlovich Gagarin, the illegitimate son of Prince Pavel Ivanovich Gagarin, he studied at the Richelieu Lyceum in Odessa before serving as a teacher and later joining the Rumyantsev Museum as a librarian in 1878. Called the “Socrates of Moscow,” Fyodorov was respected and admired by Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Vladimir Solovyov. His major contribution to philosophy was the “Common Task”—humanity’s collective mission to regulate the forces of nature, defeat death, and resurrect ancestors through scientific means. He advocated for radical life extension, physical immortality, and the literal resurrection of the dead, insisting that knowledge without action was worthless. Fyodorov opposed intellectual property and never published during his lifetime. His selected articles were printed posthumously as Philosophy of the Common Task (also known as Philosophy of Physical Resurrection ). His ideas influenced diverse figures, from rocket pioneer Konstantin Tsiolkovsky to composer Alexander Scriabin. He died of pneumonia in 1903 in a shelter for the poor; his grave was destroyed by the Soviet government in 1930. Fyodorov’s synthesis of Orthodox Christianity with scientific ambition for immortality and resurrection makes him a foundational figure for understanding the religious dimensions of transhumanist thought.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 184–253 AD) was an early Christian scholar, ascetic, and theologian. He was one of the most influential figures in early Christian theology and philosophy, known for his allegorical interpretation of Scripture. Born to Christian parents in Alexandria, Origen became head of the catechetical school there at age eighteen. He was extraordinarily prolific, producing biblical commentaries, theological treatises, and apologetic works. His Contra Celsum is a major defense of Christianity against pagan criticism. Origen taught that through communion with the divine, humans may rise to become divine—not only in Jesus but in all who believe and enter upon the life that Jesus taught. While some of his speculative ideas were later condemned, his influence on Christian thought, particularly on human potential for transformation and union with God, remains profound.

Shannon Avana is an artist, technologist, and visionary thinker whose work explores the intersections of human consciousness, digital identity, and the future of humanity. She gained significant recognition within the Mormon Transhumanist community following her presentation at the 2014 Religion and Transhumanism Conference. Bridging the “Quantified Self” movement with the theological concept of resurrection, she proposed that our digital footprints and biological data serve as modern precursors to a technologically mediated form of eternal life. Central to Avana’s philosophy is the belief that art is a vital tool for capturing an individual’s unique essence. While raw data maps our physical trajectories, she posits that creative expression captures the subjective experience, suggesting a path toward a “technological resurrection” where human complexity can be reconstructed from the archives we leave behind. As a practicing artist, Avana continues to explore how LDS theology—with its emphasis on eternal progression—harmonizes with advancements in biotechnology and artificial intelligence. Her legacy is defined by her ability to humanize technical concepts, viewing technology not as a cold, mechanical force, but as a medium for profound spiritual and personal expression.

Thomas Briggs was an early Latter-day Saint pioneer who documented his experiences and beliefs about the resurrection and eternal progression in his autobiography, The History of Thomas Briggs . His writings reflect the optimism and faith of early converts to the Restored Gospel, expressing confidence in the literal nature of resurrection and the possibility of continued progression in the eternities. Like many early Latter-day Saints, Briggs saw the Restoration as opening possibilities for human advancement and transformation that exceeded the bounds of traditional Christianity.