I’ve always been an advocate of integrating faith and technology , but after reading Shane Hipps Flickering Pixels, I definitely need to re-evaluate.
Hipps suggests that technology has already shaped our faith and the way we see the world more than we realize. He borrows a lot from Marshall McLuhan’s theory that “We shape our tools and afterward our tools shape us”.
If you suspect that technology is leading us towards a more fragmented faith, extreme individualism, increased social awkwardness, distorted views on beauty, and taking our imaginations captive… while wondering if there’s anything redemptive in all of this, check out Flickering Pixels.
As one small way of leveraging technology while participating in community, a group of us are co-blogging chapter by chapter reviews of the book on ChurchCrunch. You can see my more in-depth reflections on chapter four here.
I recently did a presentation at our local podcamp on the integration of human life and technology, although I have yet to do a full fledged study into the implications of this on faith. Thanks for the post.
Check the book out James, I think you’ll like it.
How does he define “technology”? Are we talking the wheel, gears, etc. all the way up to iPods? Or does he make some distinction?
Hipps describes technology as far down as the invention of writing… I think wheels and gears would be included. It would be interesting to examine how a wheel not only helps us but shapes us… not sure if we can go too far on it. Hipps is just warning against often unintended consequences.
That’s fair. I know he’s not writing a tome. I’m just wary of the “technology is hurting us” writing that is in abundance these days. It’s hardly a new topic and I’m always appreciative of a writer that recognizes this.
When Hipps talks about technology he is taking about technology as it pertains to communication. So he’s not really talking about gears.
yeah you’re right… but doesn’t everything communicate?
Yeah, I guess that’s true. The car while allowing us to travel quicker, also enables us to put distance between us, altering the way in which we communicate and define things like close and far.
I’m looking forward to reading your chapter by chapter reviews. I’ve found Shane (and Flickering Pixels) very thought provoking.
Hey Jeremy, I’m not going to have to personally being chapter by chapter reviews – but there are some excellent posts by others on each chapter at http://churchcrunch.com with some really good reflections!