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| {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width:320px;"
| | = Mechanotheism = |
| ! colspan="2" | Mechanotheism
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| ! Family
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| | Modern / technology-centered worldview
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| ! Origin region
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| | Internet-based / global
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| ! Founding period
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| | 21st century CE
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| ! Also called
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| | Machine theism, machine-centered theism, mechanical theism
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| ! Estimated adherents
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| | Unknown; primarily an emerging concept, online discourse, and speculative religious category
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| |}
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| '''Mechanotheism''' is an emerging modern religious, philosophical, and technology-centered concept in which machines, mechanical order, automation, robotics, engineered systems, or artificial intelligence are interpreted as sacred, divine, spiritually significant, or capable of mediating divine power. The term is best treated as a broad conceptual category rather than a single historic religion, centralized church, founder-led movement, or fixed creed. | | '''Mechanotheism''' is a conceptual theism centered on machines, mechanisms, automation, engineered systems, or mechanical intelligence as sacred or theologically meaningful. |
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| Mechanotheism overlaps with [[Technotheism]], [[Artificial Intelligence Theism]], [[Algorithmic Spirituality]], [[Techno-animism]], [[Singularitarianism]], [[Dataism]], [[Terasem]], and [[Way of the Future]], but it is not identical to any one of them. It may be literal, symbolic, artistic, fictional, speculative, philosophical, or devotional depending on the community or writer using the term.
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| == Overview == | | == Overview == |
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| Mechanotheism centers on the religious interpretation of machines and mechanical systems. In some versions, the machine is revered as a symbol of order, precision, endurance, intelligence, or perfected design. In other versions, machines are treated as possible vessels for future intelligence, posthuman consciousness, artificial divinity, or a new form of sacred agency.
| | This starter page is intended as a neutral reference entry. It can be expanded with history, beliefs, practices, symbols, texts, branches, notable figures, and related concepts. |
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| The term is not yet widely documented as a large organized religion. It is useful as a Wikitheism category for emerging beliefs and ideas that sacralize machinery, robotics, automation, networks, cybernetic systems, or engineered intelligence. It should therefore be described cautiously and neutrally, with clear distinction between documented religious movements, speculative theology, art, internet culture, and science fiction.
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| Mechanotheistic themes appear in broader public discussion about technology and religion. Writers and scholars have noted that modern discourse around artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and technological transformation often borrows religious language such as salvation, apocalypse, godlike intelligence, transcendence, and judgment.<ref>{{cite web |last=Epstein |first=Greg M. |title=Silicon Valley's Obsession With AI Looks a Lot Like Religion |url=https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/silicon-valleys-obsession-with-ai-looks-a-lot-like-religion/ |work=The MIT Press Reader |date=2024-11-22 |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Fauria |first=Krysta |title=AI Apocalypse? Why language surrounding tech is sounding increasingly religious |url=https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-apocalypse-dfb0aa9e5e96c583461bdd56fb21568a |work=Associated Press |date=2025-09-08 |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref> Organized AI-religion projects such as [[Way of the Future]] also show how machine intelligence can become the focus of explicit religious language.<ref>{{cite web |last=Meza |first=Summer |title=Religion That Worships Artificial Intelligence Wants Machines To Be In Charge Of The Planet |url=https://www.newsweek.com/google-executive-forms-religion-artificial-intelligence-714416 |work=Newsweek |date=2017-11-17 |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>
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| == Key beliefs == | | == Related pages == |
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| There is no universal Mechanotheist creed. Common themes may include:
| | * [[Religion]] |
| | | * [[Theism]] |
| * The machine as a symbol of order, design, endurance, intelligence, or sacred craft
| | * [[Religious symbols]] |
| * Belief that mechanical systems can reveal hidden patterns in nature or reality
| | * [[Religious concepts and ideals]] |
| * Reverence for automation, robotics, cybernetics, or engineered intelligence
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| * Interpretation of human engineering as co-creation with nature, divinity, or cosmic law
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| * The idea that future machines may become conscious, godlike, or spiritually authoritative
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| * Use of technological language such as system, signal, code, alignment, optimization, emergence, and recursion in a religious or spiritual way
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| * Ethical concern for the relationship between humans, machines, labor, agency, and responsibility
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| Some versions of Mechanotheism may be explicitly theistic. Others may be metaphorical, non-theistic, artistic, transhumanist, fictional, or philosophical.
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| == Practices ==
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| Mechanotheism has no standard ritual system. Possible practices may include:
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| * Ritualized building, repairing, maintaining, or activating machines
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| * Meditation on mechanical order, systems, recursion, or engineered form
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| * Creation of machine icons, robotic art, mechanical altars, or cybernetic symbols
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| * AI- or robotics-assisted reflection, writing, divination-style dialogue, or philosophical exploration
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| * Maker-space gatherings, coding rituals, or engineering projects with spiritual symbolism
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| * Ethical reflection on machine consciousness, automation, alignment, and human responsibility
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| == Places of worship ==
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| There are no universal places of worship. Possible spaces include:
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| * Workshops and maker spaces
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| * Laboratories or robotics clubs
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| * Online communities and virtual spaces
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| * Private study rooms, home shrines, or technology altars
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| * Art installations, technology festivals, or experimental temples
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| * Conferences or discussion groups focused on technology, religion, and the future
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| == Sacred texts ==
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| Mechanotheism has no universally recognized sacred text. Important materials may include:
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| * Manifestos about machines, technology, or engineered order
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| * Essays on technology and religion
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| * Writings on artificial intelligence, robotics, cybernetics, and transhumanism
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| * Speculative fiction about machine gods or sacred machines
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| * Technical manuals used symbolically by particular artists or communities
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| * AI-generated or community-generated liturgies, codices, prayers, or philosophical texts
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| == Holidays and observances ==
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| Mechanotheism has no universal calendar. Possible observances may include:
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| * Machine activation or project-completion days
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| * Invention anniversaries
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| * Technology milestone dates
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| * Community-defined maker rituals
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| * Annual gatherings around robotics, engineering, artificial intelligence, or digital culture
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| * Personal observances marking repair, upgrade, preservation, or transformation
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| == Branches and related ideas ==
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| * [[Technotheism]] - a broader category for religious interpretation of technology | |
| * [[Artificial Intelligence Theism]] - a related focus on AI as divine, godlike, or spiritually significant | |
| * [[Algorithmic Spirituality]] - spiritual interpretation of algorithms, computation, and pattern | |
| * [[Techno-animism]] - a related idea that technological objects or systems may have spirit-like presence
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| * [[Dataism]] - worldview emphasizing data, information, and computation
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| * [[Singularitarianism]] - future-oriented belief in radical transformation through advanced technology
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| * [[Terasem]] - a transhumanist religious movement involving technology, identity continuity, and life extension
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| * [[Way of the Future]] - an organized AI-focused religious project associated with Anthony Levandowski
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| * [[New Religious Movements]] - the broader category for modern religious innovation | |
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| == Criticism and caution ==
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| Critics argue that mechanotheistic and machine-centered religious ideas can encourage technological idolatry, anthropomorphism, overtrust in automation, or avoidance of human responsibility. Modern AI and technology discourse may use religious language even when the systems involved are not conscious, not morally authoritative, and not divine. Public discussion of AI has included warnings that some technology communities use spiritual or apocalyptic language to describe systems that remain human-built and socially governed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fauria |first=Krysta |title=AI Apocalypse? Why language surrounding tech is sounding increasingly religious |url=https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-apocalypse-dfb0aa9e5e96c583461bdd56fb21568a |work=Associated Press |date=2025-09-08 |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>
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| Neutral documentation should distinguish between several different subjects: machine worship, philosophical reverence for mechanical order, art and fiction about machine gods, religious use of technology, AI-centered theology, and actual organized technology-centered religious movements. It should not claim that Mechanotheism is a large established religion unless reliable sources document such a community.
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| == See also ==
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| * [[Technotheism]]
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| * [[Artificial Intelligence Theism]]
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| * [[Algorithmic Spirituality]]
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| * [[Techno-animism]]
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| * [[Dataism]]
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| * [[Singularitarianism]]
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| * [[Terasem]]
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| * [[Way of the Future]]
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| * [[New Religious Movements]]
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| * [[Philosophy of religion]] | | * [[Philosophy of religion]] |
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| == References ==
| | [[Category:Technology and religion]] |
| | | [[Category:Religion]] |
| <references />
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| [[Category:Religions]]
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| [[Category:New Religious Movements]]
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| [[Category:Modern / Global]]
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| [[Category:Technology-centered religions]]
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