The Uncanny Valley

The Uncanny Valley

[Below is just the introduction to this interesting perspective from Pete Garcia at the Omega Letter]

Pete Garcia 

The uncanny valley is a concept that was first identified by a Japanese robotics professor named Masahiro Mori (phrase later coined by Jasia Reichardt) describing the eerie/creepy feeling you get when confronted by a humanoid robotic, computer simulation, or digital avatars that appear almost, but not quite human. There is also a similar feeling you get when watching a human act in non-human ways, such as in the cases of zombies, those under demonic possession, or someone high on hallucinogenic drugs.

Over the past four decades, a darkness has settled over our nation. This would be around the same time Roe v. Wade became the law of the land (1973). Since then the interest and access to the occult and horror has exploded onto every possible platform and medium. Adding fuel to that dark fire has been the resurgence of witchcraft and paganism (as religious movements) who have gained increasing popularity and normalization thanks in part to Harry Potter and festivals like Burning Man.

Nevertheless, we are fast approaching a time when technology will be married to this darkened spiritual realm. Virtual and augmented reality, as well as artificially intelligent beings and systems will be used to augment man’s embrace of the dark arts. This will make it exceedingly difficult for people to know what is real or not (Strong delusion?). If a demon can possess a simple cardboard game like an Ouija board, how much more extensive could the deception run if these fallen entities possessed artificially sentient programs and robots? As believers, we know demons, fallen angels, dark powers, principalities, etc. exist (Eph. 6:12); it should not be a stretch to understand how they will take advantage of the increasingly ambiguous nature of reality and use it for their own nefarious purposes (Rev. 13:15). What makes it all so crazy is that we can already see this taking shape today. People are trying to become machines while making machines into people. Things are indeed becoming, very, very creepy.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2nd Thessalonians 2:9-11