AUTHOR: Samuel D. James
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2023, (208 pages).
Just saying that the digital revolution has changed the world is an understatement. Like the story of two young fish that fail to understand what water is, some of us who have been so immersed in technology do not understand what it means to live without technology. Digital immigrants are those who have "immigrated into" the modern technology platforms while digital natives are those who grew up in technology right from the start. Regardless of whether one is a digital immigrant or native, the inherent threats to personality are the same for all. No one will be able to escape the far-reaching tentacles of the Internet and modern digital technologies. This book is a critical look at the way technology is shaping us and its implications for Christians wanting to live fruitfully in an increasingly complex world. He attempts to help us discern the digital world with biblical wisdom ethically, practically, and theologically. Concerned about the incredible amount of time people spend online, author Samuel James reflects on the significance of living in a world of "screens, algorithms, and pixels." From the threat of fake news to the dangers of disembodied living, this book is a crucial alarm to wake us up from becoming too trusting to the point of idolizing technology. It is also a wake-up call for any uncritical use or reliance on the technology we have gotten so used to using. He asks questions like:
- Is technology merely a tool to use or is there more than meets the eye?
- Is the Internet a tool or a teacher?
- How humane is the Internet environment?
- Are we becoming too comfortable in an increasingly disembodied environment?
- How is "expressive individualism" going to affect us in the long run?
- Is the Internet shaping us negatively or positively?
- Is technology really neutral?
- Are we losing touch with reality amid an online world of virtual reality?
- How do we live out our faith in this kind of technological environment?
Written in two parts, Part One deals with the need to discern Truth from everything else. From the seductiveness of "expressive individualism" to the alienation from the real community, we need to deal with the implications of a faceless age where people feel more comfortable dealing with machines instead of people. James makes a case about the deceitfulness of technology. He warns us about how technology dislocates us. He highlights the tendency of us to create our own realities to turn the use of technology into an end in itself. He laments how technology is making us change our way of thinking, perceiving, and acting. While the Bible calls us to delight in the LORD and to meditate constantly on the Word, modern technology is gradually tempting us to move away from all of that. Technology indeed has shaped our world. This has led to a deterioration in some of the most important human faculties and functions. For instance, we have shorter attention spans that do not help cultivate patience. We are tempted to treat people the way we treat our digital devices.
Part Two gives us five ways to develop proper digital liturgies. The first way is to develop authenticity in a world mixed with half-truths, fake news, and make-believe. Underlying this is how we hide behind technological facades to hide our pride. The second is about addressing online outrage that is becoming more commonplace today. James shows us the need for Christian thinking that is careful, truthful, and communal. The third way is to address the shaming (or cancel culture) with repentance and grace. Fourth, we need to push back against a culture of unfettered consumption of "I am what I eat" with godly virtues that begin with seeking after God. Fifth, we need to recognize that technology too will fall into the realm of meaninglessness, as presented by the writer of Ecclesiastes. Uncritical use of technology can lead to distraction, discontentment, and dislocation. By cultivating a heart of wisdom, we can indeed develop good habits that form us into Christlikeness.
My Thoughts
First, this book is Samuel James's wake-up call for us. Since the turn of the century, technological pace has quickened at a speed that is unheard of in the past. We need biblical wisdom and discernment to sieve out the Truth from the rest. The way to do it is to strengthen our inner spiritual core. The central premise of this book is to build our life foundations on the Rock of the Word of God and to let the Word guide and lead us in all things. This is especially so in a world that inundates us continuously with all kinds of images and information that blur the line between Truth and falsehood. Thanks to technology, we are forced to reckon with misinformation and all kinds of fake news. The Internet is no longer simply a tool to offer us the information that we need. It is a tool that is used to manipulate people's minds for godless motives. Even Christians are caught up in the unwitting acceptance of the information being pushed at them. Like the proverbial frog in a warming pot, if we are not careful, we might end up getting cooked willingly! With regard to the rising influence and presence of technological reach, the earlier we wake up from any form of slumber the better.
Second, technology is here to stay so we better learn how to deal with it. There is no going back to a world without the technology of today. Trying to do so is like seeking to return to the Stone Age era. Just today, I read about how schools are finding it hard to deal with digital distractions in the classroom. One report says that the issue is getting "out of control." This is simply the tip of the iceberg. There are many more challenges that are to come. Samuel James joins a chorus of witnesses speaking out against uncritical acceptance of technology. Nicholas Carr, Marshall McLuhan, Cal Newport, Sherry Turkle, and others write from a secular perspective while Marva Dawn, Archibald Hart, Neil Postman, Trevin Wax, and now, Samuel James write from a Christian perspective. Both groups point to the danger of uncritical acceptance. What I like about James's book is the five astute observances that point to the dangers for us to be aware of. I believe there are more challenges for us to deal with, such as the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the use of social media,
Finally, we need to stop seeing technology as a neutral tool. After acknowledging what technology can do for us, it is high time to study what technology is doing to us. This is what Samuel James has done. However, I get a sense that mainly digital immigrants will get to appreciate James's perspectives. It will take a Millennial, or a Gen Z, or someone from this generation to express what James has laid out in their own words. Just like there is a generation gap between parents and their kids, perspectives on technology can vary from generation to generation. Having said that, I believe that truth is being threatened by the way people are insisting on their rights to self-expression. James hits the mark with his first observation about authenticity. I concur with his observation that while technology has erased traditional barriers to personal expression, it has also created a new breed of people who are quick to speak but slow to listen. If technology is being used to spread such evil, something must then be done at relevant levels to curtail or prevent such occurrences.
Samuel James is the associate acquisitions editor at Crossway. He is the author of Digital Liturgies,
a regular newsletter on Christianity, technology, and culture. He lives
in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife, Emily, and their three
children.
Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Crossway Publishers via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
No comments:
Post a Comment