It’s time to start thinking about a Christian perspective! A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON TECHNOLOGY TOO MUCH INFORMATION Dr. Young

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON TECHNOLOGY Is technology neutral? ► It can appear neutral when out of context. ► Technology becomes personally meaningful when people use it. ► People always act out of faith Felini’s La Dolce Vita

The context: creation, fall, redemption, consummation CREATION ► God’s Plan: the earth is the Lord’s (Ps. 24:1) ► Our Task: Rule (subdue) technology (Gen. 1:26. How does context relate to our task? “Let us make man in our image according to our likeness; and let them rule over…” “...and fill the earth and subdue it...” (v.28) “God...put him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” (Gen. 2:15)

► Our Purpose and Task: Glorify God and enjoy Him through technology. How does the context relate to our purpose? “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Cor. 10:31). “In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forever” (Ps. 16:11).

Praise is what we do! (Christian & Atheist) “But the most obvious fact about praise- whether of God or anything- strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise... The world rings with praise- lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game...” C.S. Lewis “But the most obvious fact about praise- whether of God or anything- strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise... The world rings with praise- lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game...” C.S. Lewis

► “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.” C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms

FALL ► Meaninglessness- when God is “removed” “Informationism is a non-discerning, vacuous faith in the collection and dissemination of information as a route to social progress and personal happiness” (Schultz, 2002) 57 Channels and Nothing’ On 57 Channels and Nothing’ On57 Channels and Nothing’ On ► Deception- cyber-facades (Marcus); cyber-dating ► Immorality- pornography ► Self-indulgence- few if any restraints ► Alienation- intimacy and commitment diminished ► Brokenness- flaws, bugs, frustrations ► De-humanization- solving moral problems technologically, we become machine-like

REDEMPTION ► Enhanced Meaning- Example: “I Can Only Imagine” ► Truthfulness, Integrity- “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8) ► Morality- “The whole law is fulfilled in one word, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ► Selflessness- “Do nothing from selfishness,... but with humility” (Phil. 2:3) ► Intimacy- knowledge “of” vs. knowledge “about” requires time and depth/ “to know” in biblical sense ► Restored Image- “If any is in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Consummation ► Preparing for what we will be ► Will there be computers in the new heavens and new earth?  What we know  What we don’t know

How Should We Use Technology? ► Relevantly- used meaningfully in proper context ► Righteously- for good ► Reverently- to God’s glory and honor ► Redemptively- for God’s purposes Some Suggestions: Create programs without bugs (decrease frustration) Create user-friendly programs & operating systems. Empower people through technology. Make technology more accessible (cost, availability)