Uncanny Valley

In video game, as well as robotics and movies, we have a thing called the Uncanny Valley. For those who don't know what it is, it is a hypothesis that says that when human features look and move almost, but not exactly, like real humans, it causes people to feel revulsion. For example, when we see robots or video games that get close to that valley, we feel for them and care about them, then they go into the valley we hate them, and feel that revulsion from them. When they get even closer to the point of being near indistinguishable from a human, we feel positive emotions toward them.

It is a weird event that happens in our minds. I like to look at it like this, we go from, oh that looks good, that's cute, that is even better, to that looks creepy, what is that thing, wow that is going to give me nightmares. Then we swing back the other way and say it looks great. Some of the most advanced robots have began climbing the far side of the valley wall.

As technology grows, eventually we will pass past this valley and have androids and robotic body replacements that look and feel as real and act as real as you or me. But that is for many years down the road.

An example of the Uncanny Valley in the animation of our movies.

Sometimes there is another uncanny valley that Christians need to get over. It is a valley of selfishness. Uncanny is defined as strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way. In the Christian Uncanny Valley, our selfishness very often makes us do things in an unsettling way. I don't know about you, but some of the things I do because of selfishness can be rather strange and mysterious to me. I look at the things I do, and are left wondering why did I do that, that isn't me.

And much in the same way as we push ourselves, and God lifts us, out of the valley, out of the selfishness, things begin to get pleasant again. Things become more clear, more full of what we hold dear. But most of all, on the other side of that valley is God in all his greatness, waiting to set things right.

There is an old hymn called "They Will Know We are Christians by Our Love." But what the world sees now, is not what anyone would call love. They see selfishness and hate. It is just like how people are repulsed by what nearly looks human, but isn't quite right. People see Christians as almost normal people who are unpleasant and undesirable to have around. We move almost like them, but there is just something that is off. A better hymn by name alone would be called, "they will know we are Christians by our hate and selfishness." It makes me sad that is how we are seen.

But the thing is, God is on the other side, waiting to get out of that selfish valley, and being us closer to what he always wanted us to be. I feel the people looking at us from the outside also wish we would be more human. I know I often find myself wondering why I should care about the people in so and so place. But I quickly realize how horrible that is and try my best to get that thought out of my head and get God back in there.

Over and over I say this but, we have to keep our eyes on Christ and run for all we have. With Christ as our focus, we can put that love in the front, we can show people how great our God is. Our job is not to show people how they are wrong, how horrible they are, or only being nice to people who deserve it. Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.

I believe the time for Christians to pass over the far edge of our uncanny valley is close. Maybe even closer than it is in 3D animation and robotics. I hope that Christians can get back to mirroring the love that Christ gave us. God gave his love to us before we could ever love him back so we could love him back for the rest of time. So let's show the world that we are a people of love, a love so great that they will want to be part of it so they may join us in heaven singing songs of praise to our God.






I have recently come into the knowledge of another example of the uncanny valley. It is also one of the greatest questions in all of the knowledge of the human race. It is the uncanny valley of coffee. Below is the chart.

WHY?!