Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture Cultural Update: Cancel Culture Resurfaces; Surveillance State in New York
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Sep 19, 2025 The discussion dives into the controversial rise of police surveillance in New York, exploring privacy rights and biblical views on government power. They reflect on the disturbing trend of graphic killings shared on social media, which dehumanize victims and desensitize audiences. Cancel culture makes waves again as employees are fired for insensitive comments about a recent tragedy, prompting conversations about free speech and forgiveness. Finally, they ponder the role of AI-driven spiritual apps in addressing or replacing genuine faith.
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Citywide Surveillance Creates Unchecked Data Pools
- New York City police have built vast, long-term data repositories from cameras, license-plate readers, and social media scraping.
- Such mass surveillance raises uncertainty about future uses and regulatory gaps that threaten privacy.
Privacy As A Negative Right Under Pressure
- Scott Rae frames privacy as a negative right (to be left alone) that has eroded since 9/11 and via digital tech.
- He warns preemptive policing and predictive algorithms risk unjustly connecting innocent behavior to crime.
Surveillance And Theological Accountability
- Sean connects surveillance to theological reflection: God alone perfectly observes hearts and actions for final judgment.
- He urges Christians to live with clear consciences, but not to assume state surveillance substitutes divine accountability.
