Salvation, Abundance, Apocalypse: Is Technology the World's Most Powerful Religion?
Nov 10, 2024
auto_awesome
Greg Epstein, the Humanist chaplain at Harvard and MIT and author of "Tech Agnostic," explores the idea that technology has morphed into a modern religion. He discusses how tech leaders promise salvation and abundance while often neglecting pressing social issues. The conversation delves into the emotional toll of political shifts and critiques the growing influence of tech titans like Elon Musk. Epstein advocates for a reevaluation of our relationship with technology, pushing for ethical reforms that align with humanist values.
Technology has evolved into a global religion that influences societal norms and deeply affects individual interactions in everyday life.
Promised abundance from tech leaders often benefits a select few, raising ethical concerns about technology's role in solving human issues and fostering inequality.
Deep dives
Technology as a New Religion
The concept of technology has evolved into a global religion, influencing various aspects of life and societal norms. It transcends being merely an industry; technology now permeates every field, showcasing its dominance in everyday interactions. This shift raises critical questions about how individuals relate to technology, likening tech leaders to religious figures making promises of salvation and abundance. This parallels traditional religious beliefs, leading to a deeper understanding of tech's role in personal and collective lives.
The Illusion of Abundance and Salvation
Tech industry leaders often promote ideals of abundance as an inherent right, suggesting that technological advancements will lead to collective prosperity. However, this abundance frequently benefits a select few, echoing troubling narratives from religious contexts that favor the elites. The promise of salvation through technology, as discussed by figures like Ray Kurzweil, raises ethical concerns about the expectation that tech can solve all human dilemmas. This raises crucial questions on whether these technologies are genuinely transformative or merely tools to enrich the already powerful.
The Uneven Tech Apocalypse
The conversation about technology often includes alarming predictions of an impending apocalypse caused by runaway advances, particularly in AI. Such narratives echo traditional religious apocalyptic themes, capturing public attention and instilling fear to motivate action. Voices like Chris Gilliard emphasize that the tech apocalypse is already present, unevenly affecting different communities, particularly marginalized groups. This reality challenges the notion of progress and urges a reevaluation of how technology is used and regulated.
A Call for a Tech Reformation
The dialogue around technology necessitates a reformation akin to those found in traditional religions, advocating for a more equitable and just approach to its development and application. Recognizing the need for humanist principles in tech culture, ideas such as flattening hierarchies and honoring critical voices emerge as vital solutions. Community-building and establishing guardrails for technology can help mitigate its adverse effects while embracing its potential for good. This perspective fosters a balanced view that values human connection and ethical considerations alongside technological advancements.
These days, if you see someone with their head bowed, you’re much more likely observing them staring into their phone than in prayer. But from digital rituals to the promises of abundance from Silicon Valley elites, has technology become the world’s most powerful religion? What kinds of promises of salvation and abundance are its leaders making? And how can thinking about technology in this way help us generate ways to reform our approach to it, particularly if we aim to restore humanist principles?
Today’s guest is Greg Epstein, who drew on lessons from his vocation as a humanist chaplain at Harvard and MIT to write a new book, just out from MIT Press, called Tech Agnostic: How Technology Became the World's Most Powerful Religion, and Why It Desperately Needs a Reformation.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode