The religion of Atheism is essentially Transhumanism.

a) religion (Latin religio; to bind anew) represents ones consent to suggested -isms by others.

b) consenting to suggested (abstract) tempts one to ignore perceivable (essence).

If there is no soul or spirit...

...then one wouldn't have the free will of choice to consent to suggested, while ignoring to adapt (by breathing aka Latin spiro; to breathe) within perceivable.

the only way to transcend

The only way (inception towards death) generates transcendence (life) aka ongoing loss generating temporary growth.

through the machine

If one consents to suggested MACHINE, noun [Latin machina.] - "an artificial work", then one ignores perceivable aka natural work. A machine implies temporary ingredients put together to mimic an ongoing system...well; oneself represents a temporary ingredient (living) within an ongoing system (process of dying). Suggested machines tempt one to ignore that.

virtual reality

VIR'TUAL, adjective (Latin virtus, vireo; virtue) - "potential" implies oneself aka temporary growth potential (living) within the ongoing loss of potentiality (process of dying).

Consenting to suggested "headset" sets suggested fiction into ones head, while one pretends to have virtue within reality.

AI is their idol.

INTEL'LIGENCE, noun [Latin intelligentia, from intelligo, to understand) implies "standing under" the suggestions of others by consenting to them...who are the few standing under? Who is suggesting the few to consent?

What if it's each one of the many who consents to stand under the artificial suggestions of the few, while ignoring to grow within natural?