

Would Jesus Be on TikTok?
Brett McCracken, a Senior Editor at The Gospel Coalition and author of 'Scrolling Ourselves to Death,' and Ivan Mesa, Editor and co-editor of the same book, dive into the impact of digital technology on community and faith. They discuss the challenges of information overload, parenting in a tech-driven world, and the necessity of historical memory for spiritual health. With a nod to Jesus' timeless mission, they encourage the church to prioritize authentic relationships and navigate technology responsibly, turning digital distractions into avenues for genuine connection.
01:03:02
Church Counters Smartphone Narcissism
- The local church offers community that pulls us away from smartphone narcissism.
- It directs attention to God and diverse relationships beyond algorithmic preferences.
Information-Action Imbalance Harmful
- Humans were designed for information that can lead to action.
- Overload of unactionable digital info causes mental health strain.
Brett's Over-Information Confession
- Brett McCracken confesses to being an over-informed news junkie due to his social media roles.
- He realized overconsumption worsened his grasp of reality, especially after 2016 and COVID.
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Intro
00:00 • 5min
The Importance of Remembering in the Digital Age
05:06 • 3min
Navigating the Information Overload
08:33 • 35min
Navigating Technology and Community in Faith
43:38 • 13min
Contemplating Jesus' Ministry Across Centuries
56:29 • 4min
Navigating Faith in the Digital Age
01:00:28 • 4min
Uncomfortable
Uncomfortable
Brett McCracken
This book explores the concept of discomfort in the Christian life and its importance in spiritual growth. It examines the ways in which discomfort can challenge us, refine us, and draw us closer to God. The book encourages readers to embrace discomfort as an opportunity for spiritual transformation. It provides practical strategies for navigating difficult situations and maintaining a faithful commitment to Christ.

Last Child in the Woods
saving our children from nature-deficit disorder
Richard Louv
In this influential work, Richard Louv links the lack of nature in children's lives to rising trends in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. The book brings together research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and physical and emotional health. Louv provides practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond between children and nature, many of which can be implemented in everyday life. The book has inspired a movement to reconnect children with nature and has led to the creation of the Children & Nature Network[1][4][5].

The Wisdom Pyramid
Brett McCracken

Brave New World
Aldous Huxley
Written in 1931 and published in 1932, 'Brave New World' is a dystopian novel set in a futuristic World State where humans are bred in vitro and predestined into a rigid social hierarchy. The novel explores themes of technological advancement, social conditioning, and the loss of individuality and freedom. The story revolves around characters such as Bernard Marx, an Alpha who questions the society, Mustapha Mond, the World Controller, and John, a 'Savage' from a reservation who introduces elements of emotion and individuality into the highly controlled World State. The novel critiques the optimism of technological progress and its potential to create a society that values stability and happiness over humanity and freedom[2][4][5].

The tech-wise family
Andy Crouch

A Secular Age
Charles Taylor
In 'A Secular Age', Charles Taylor explores the transformation of Western society from a pre-modern world where belief in God was inescapable to a modern secular age where believing in God is just one option among many. Taylor argues against the 'subtraction story' of secularization, which posits that religion has been removed from society. Instead, he describes a complex historical process involving the Reform movement in Christianity, the rise of disciplinary society, and the emergence of exclusive humanism. The book examines how these changes have affected the conditions of belief and unbelief, and how they have shaped modern social forms, moral orders, and spiritual experiences[1][3][4].

The Righteous Mind
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
Jonathan Haidt
In this book, Jonathan Haidt draws on twenty-five years of research on moral psychology to explain why people's moral judgments are driven by intuition rather than reason. He introduces the Moral Foundations Theory, which posits that human morality is based on six foundations: care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation, and liberty/oppression. Haidt argues that liberals tend to focus on the care/harm and fairness/cheating foundations, while conservatives draw on all six. The book also explores how morality binds and blinds people, leading to social cohesion but also to conflicts. Haidt aims to promote understanding and civility by highlighting the commonalities and differences in moral intuitions across political spectra.

iGen
Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood
Jean Twenge
In 'iGen,' Jean Twenge analyzes the cultural changes affecting today's teens and young adults, born after 1995, who are the first generation to spend their entire adolescence in the age of smartphones. The book draws from nationally representative surveys and in-depth interviews to document how technology has influenced their socialization, mental health, attitudes toward religion, sexuality, and politics. Twenge argues that this generation is distinct due to their extensive use of technology, which has led to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness, as well as changes in their developmental pace and social interactions. The book is divided into chapters that explore various themes, including the impact of internet use, changes in social behaviors, mental health crises, and shifts in religious and political attitudes.

Amusing Ourselves to Death
Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
Neil Postman
In this book, Neil Postman argues that the contemporary world is more akin to Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' than George Orwell's '1984'. Postman contends that television's emphasis on entertainment has led to a decline in rational discourse and the trivialization of politics, education, and religion. He contrasts the print-based culture of the 19th century with the televisual culture of the 20th century, highlighting how the medium of television inherently promotes incoherence and triviality, turning serious information into a form of entertainment.

1984
None
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
Scrolling Ourselves to Death
Scrolling Ourselves to Death
Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age
Ivan Mesa
Brett McCracken
In "Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age," Brett McCracken and Ivan Mesa explore the pervasive influence of digital technology on our lives. The book examines how our constant engagement with smartphones and social media impacts our attention spans, relationships, and spiritual well-being. It delves into the addictive nature of these technologies and the ways they can distract us from what truly matters. The authors offer practical strategies for reclaiming our lives from the grip of digital distraction and cultivating a more intentional and meaningful existence. The book serves as a timely and relevant resource for Christians and non-Christians alike, seeking to navigate the complexities of the digital age.

The Shallows
Nicholas Carr
Collin Hansen, Brett McCracken, and Ivan Mesa discuss how digital technology affects culture, especially social media and information overload in younger generations. They explore themes from Scrolling Ourselves to Death, highlighting the need for wisdom, memory, and history in navigating the digital age.
The conversation covers parenting challenges, the role of technology in shaping society, and the importance of meaningful family interactions and outdoor experiences. They emphasize the church’s role in fostering community and encourage a balanced approach to technology that prioritizes real relationships and local church engagement.