From the Heart of the Shepherd

From the bulletin for The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2025 Aug 10)

The Eschatological Adventure, Part 13: “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go”

The preacher’s eyes were raised to heaven. His thundering voice filled the humble chapel: “Brethren: in the beginning, the ancient serpent, appearing as a slithering beast, deceived our first parents with the promise of unending life. In exchange for their faith, they received certain death. Now again, that serpent, speaking through a beast of a man, has deceived the whole world and led all the nations astray with his sorcery. For he offers what was forbidden as a path to supernatural life. But for those with eyes to see, in reality he has filled the world with death. And though a third of mankind has perished as a result, the remainder do not repent of the murders and madness. No. Instead, they are resolved to worship the very beast who has brought it about, and will soon applaud and thank him when he attempts to take his place in the temple of God.”

The “death” to which the preacher referred was not so much the mass-martyrdom of Christians in the past twenty years, but rather the whole scale liquidation that had occurred as a result of the process of “digitization” recently developed. Ostensibly, the technology involved a minute scan of an individual’s genetic code and brain structure. On the basis of that scan a “double helix” of personalized algorithms was generated, through which an artificially-intelligent entity was produced that could dynamically reproduce the thoughts, decisions, and idiosyncrasies of the individual in a more consistent manner than the organic individual ever could. The resulting “digitized person” was virtually indistinguishable from the “substrate personality,” such that his or her closest friends would be hard pressed to tell whether a video call had been with the biological person or the digital version. The digital personality even exhibited the capacity to grow and develop like an organic person, but in a way no longer hindered by the limits of old age or illness. In fact, through ongoing maintenance, the personality could be perfected and purified from the ignorance, prejudice, and error that tended to characterize biological human existence.

The only catch was that, in order to render a completely accurate neural map, the organic brain of the person in question needed to be “transposed” (such was the technical term) in the process of “sublimation.” In the promotional literature, this “side effect” was embraced as necessary for full liberation from organic existence: “Though the brain and the mortal body along with it are left behind, the person steps out boldly, nakedly, into the digital world, free from the constraints of the frail flesh and finally able to attain to the full potential of the human spirit.”

Initially, the technology appealed most to those who were already nearing the end of their organic life. With time, however, as it became more and more affordable with the help of governmental subsidies, and with the promise of hyper-realistic, cybernetic bodies that the digitized could “indwell” and operate, more and more healthy persons opted for digitization. Soon there began a movement advocating the compassionate digitization of those with physical handicaps or mental illness, who could not appreciate the opportunity as they ought. At the same time, others found that the technology could permit parents to design their children’s personalities and aptitudes and avoid biological reproduction all together: the creation and development of digital children could be accelerated, delayed, or paused to suit the parents’ lifestyles, and a suite of leased cybernetic bodies permitted “all the fun of having kids, without the dirty diapers, doctors visits, or risk of death… and can be powered off when you and your spouse want to get away by yourselves.”

Due to all these developments–the centuries’ of war, and more recent persecutions, and technological breakthroughs–the world’s “organic” population had fallen to about six billion Registered digitized persons however (who, in the due course of time were of course also granted the right to produce digital children of their own, as well as vote, work, and all the rest) raised the world-census to over ten. 

“Therefore,” the preacher bellowed, recalling the attention of Jolinanna as she pondered these things, “the Spirit warns us: stay awake! Be vigilant! I tell you, this is the final hour. The Lord is near. The devil knows that his time is short. So keep your lamps lit, your robes white, your loins girt. We are not ignorant of our Master’s will. We have been entrusted with much–even the Blood of Our Lord, and faith in His Name and final return. I charge you therefore, in that Name, to stand fast and to persevere, for now a great tribulation is–”

Suddenly, the doors to the chapel burst open. A piercing siren brought all present to their knees. Officers of Peace, in their customary fiery red, dark blue, and sulfur yellow body armor, poured in along with a cold blast of air. There were shouts and cries, and electron bolts were discarded left and right, cutting down those worshippers who attempted to flee. The preacher cried out loudly, “Michael, heavenly Prince, come to our aid!” before a hail of energy beams obviated further prayer. A few bolts penetrated not only his body but the bronze Cast behind him too. As the Blood began to go to the floor, a few brave souls ran to drink its precious contents. They ended up mingling with that Blood their own. 

Jolianna, however, had long since lost consciousness. She was therefore unaware of all this, and the fact that she was now securely in the custody of her captors.

From the Heart of the Shepherd: The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time