Why You Can't Stop Looking at Your Phone (Samuel James)
Sep 4, 2023
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Samuel James, associate acquisitions editor at Crossway and author of 'Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age', unpacks the impact of technology on our lives, discusses the rise of chat GPT, explores the effects of social media on society, addresses the clash between Christian worldview and technology, emphasizes the need to cultivate habits and train affections, discusses the future of social media and concerns about AI, and explores personal responsibility and government intervention in navigating digital technologies. They also address the growing trend of smartphone dependence and the importance of embracing biblical wisdom.
Technology and social media shape our values and behaviors, impacting our relationships and self-perception.
AI-powered technologies raise questions about the authenticity and trustworthiness of online content.
We must be mindful of the temptation to lose ourselves in a simulated digital existence, and instead cultivate habits that align with our intended design.
Deep dives
Help for the Hungry Soul: Sparking Enthusiasm for God's Word
In her new book, Help for the Hungry Soul, Kristen Weatherall aims to encourage discouraged Bible readers and cultivate a hunger for God's Word. Through searching questions, real-world advice, and moving testimonies, she sparks new enthusiasm and confidence. She emphasizes the importance of developing a growing appetite for scripture and offers practical guidance on how to cultivate it.
The Shaping Power of Digital Technologies
Samuel James discusses the ways that new digital technologies shape us at a profound level, influencing our relationships, information consumption, and even our definition of the good life. Drawing on the insights of influential thinkers like Marshall McLuhan and Nicholas Carr, James explores the power of technology, both for good and evil, and presents a distinctly Christian theology of technology that acknowledges its shaping effects.
The Dangers of AI and Manufactured Images
The rise of AI-powered technologies like GPT-powered chatbots and image generation software raises important questions about the authenticity and trustworthiness of the content we encounter online. While these technologies can create amusing and seemingly realistic content, they also have the potential to deceive and manipulate our perception of reality. This highlights the need for critical thinking and discernment when engaging with digital media.
The Influence of Technology on Our Values and Behaviors
Digital technologies, such as social media and smartphones, shape our values and behaviors by offering new ways of communication, self-expression, and consumption. Our online presence and interactions can significantly impact our real-life relationships and how we perceive ourselves. The digital world often prioritizes authenticity, outrage, shame, and mindless consumption, which can lead to a distorted perspective of reality and hinder our spiritual and emotional well-being.
The Seductive Power of Digital Sleep
In this podcast episode, Samuel James discusses the danger of digital sleep becoming our reality in a technological age. He highlights a scene from a film where people are connected to dream-sharing devices in a basement, where their dreams become their reality. James emphasizes that while we cannot avoid living in a digital age, we must be wakeful and mindful of the temptation to lose ourselves in a simulated existence. Instead, he argues that true freedom and identity come from discovering and embracing our purpose as created beings, cultivating habits that align with our intended design.
The Gospel, Embodiment, and Breaking Free
James explores the contrast between a Christian worldview and the messaging propagated by modern technologies. He asserts that true freedom is found in aligning with our created purpose, not in creating our own identities. While the current culture promotes self-fulfillment and control, James emphasizes the importance of recognizing our limitations and our need for something greater than technology. He suggests that by engaging in embodied practices such as corporate worship, Scripture reading, and personal relationships, we can resist the allure of digital liturgies and experience genuine transformation.
In this episode, Samuel James unpacks how technology and social media are influencing our lives and argues for the importance of Christian wisdom to shape the way we use and view technology in our lives.
