Notes on faith and technology by Daryl Culp

well written outline to one person's viewpoint on technology and faith with Biblical references:

http://individual.utoronto.ca/darylculp/lectures/faithandtechnology.htm

Excerpt from Site:

"Thinking faithfully about technology

As Christians, we believe that this is God’s world, and everything in it should give glory to God. Even the things we make, and the way in which we organize our lives, should exhibit commitment to the source of all good. There are several aspects of our technological existence that should be examined through the eyes of faith.

Responsibility: Every technology changes the world, in ways the makers intend, and often through unexpected interactions with its environment. We have a responsibility, as God’s creatures, to look after our world. Technology is part of our stewardship, and can help us care for ourselves and our environment. It can also have harmful effects that we have to curb.

Creativity: Human beings are co-creators with God in this world. Our inventiveness comes from God, and displays the glory of God. We are not independent inventors, though. If our inventiveness participates in God’s great gift of creation, we should bathe our discovering in the light of God’s wisdom. No technology for its own sake, but rather making God’s good world come to fruition.

Identity: Our environment, including the artificial surroundings that we create, shapes us in many ways. Tools enable us to be different people, by giving us new possibilities for existing (think of how the car has made us mobile, or the TV has given us an eye on the world). What would it mean to subject technology to the mandate of love as displayed on the cross? Our identity as children of God, forgiven and sent into the world to serve, should not be displaced by a technological imperative.
These are general principles which we should consider as we encounter a world increasingly defined by our own inventions. In many ways, our environment is human-made, and reflects us to ourselves. When do we look up and out of this hall of mirrors, and gaze at the face of God in the other, in nature, in the imagination, in meditation?

Questions for discussion

How does technology change how we pray? (How do we pray for healing in the hospital? How do we pray for healing for the earth? Do we pray for God’s intervention in a human-made world? Or is prayer meditation on God’s wisdom, truth and creativity?)

How does technology change our church community? (Do we spend time with each other? Does the church building facilitate worship? Do we consider our spiritual life together as a problem that needs to be solved by techniques?)

Is our community life governed by norms “rationally arrived at and having absolute efficiency?” Or do we take seriously the fallibility of human beings, the need for meditation on God’s word, and the communal discernment of God’s truth?"

taken from http://individual.utoronto.ca/darylculp/lectures/faithandtechnology.htm by Daryl Culp

Video - How Technology Distorts Our View of Beauty

Godtube link to video which shows process a woman goes through to be featured on a billboard -

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=5a2ccb30e7bbafc011b0


link from where the video came from: the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty -

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/flat2.asp?id=6960

Darcy - Technology and Faith - An Outline

Here are a few of the directions I want to venture towards in our small group:

1. The possible uses of technology to enhance our faith
a. blog spot (this experiment)
b. research on spiritual topics
c. spreading ideas or broadcasting (using Bible verses on facebook)

2. The challenges technology has brought to our generation
a. Desensitization due to amount of information and the pace that it comes at us
b. Anonymity shield that removes us from accountability from others and ourselves
c. Distractions from "be still and know that I am God"
d. Temptation for pleasures available electronically (excessive gaming or lust)

3. God's possible purposes for allowing such tools
a. Where is the human condition going with technology?
b. Does God call us to us technology to serve him?
c. What is the most spiritual reponsible use for technology and how do we implement such practices?

The schedule is flexible and the outline is a draft.... but these are some of the topics I want to broach in our discussions.

Let me know what you think!

FCC Young Adult Small Group - The Technology and Faith Experiement

Hi there,

Recently at First Chirstian Church in Salina (linked to map) we have begun a young adult small group and our next topic to cover is 'technology and faith,' examining our faith in a high tech world and the challenges our generation faces along with the opportunities we have because of the influx of technology available to us. The plan is that each memeber of the young adult small group will take turns posting their views of faith and technology, reflections on devotionals, reactions to our meetings, or general musings.

In short, we are testing the exploration of faith through a technological medium - a blog!

We meet on Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. in Salina. Feel free to email if you want more information or have thought provoking comments.

fccyoungadult@gmail.com