Feng & Petrina Article Summary

For years it was believed that religion became a crutch and ‘opiate’ for people; it stripped of their independent spirit.  This was until Max Weber, who proclaimed that religion actually released people through technology and capitalism.

Capitalism in religion

As a result, or simply lucky timing, religion jumped on the prosperity and technology bandwagon.  Evangelists popped up on TV, claiming God wants us to be prosperous and prosperity shows favour.  This, coupled with national tragedy, caused a furor in the religious product business.

It would also appear, currently that we are a lost people once again, searching for some form of salvation; a salvation that can’t be filled through materialistic gains.  It appears on its own, without connection to spirituality, that materialism is nothing or unfulfilling.

Events which bind secular and religious views

When September 11th occurred, with all of the consumerism that followed, it ushered in an era where secularism was no longer enough.  Technology and spirituality became one entity.  This is clearly demonstrated in events like ice caps melting, hurricanes, etc.  Events which may be caused by climate change as a result of technology…or may be caused be a vengeful god.  No one knows the cause of climate change, so once again technology and spirituality become interloped.

Church of Fools and Gaming

Then the Church of Fools happened.  Originally an experiment, no one foresaw the widespread interest and impact.  The Church had over 60,000 hits in 2 days (not much by today’s standards, but more impactful in 2004).  The Church owes at least part of its success to its tie to spiritual gaming.  Spiritual gaming is a growing phenomenon, from many viewpoints.  Some Christian, some pagan, some Islamic, etc. the games offer players a chance a god themselves, to choose between good and evil.

Religion Embraces Technology

Even though it would seem that churches or religions wouldn’t embrace technology, they have with a vengeance (no pun intended).  Prayer circles can be found anytime of day or night in the virtual world.  Churches communicate through emails.  Technology and religion once again intertwining.

The intertwining is also noticed by intellectuals and books covering the subject began to pop up, as did numerous sites.  Then the impending Y2K crisis caused enthusiasts from all religions to flock to the web to shout from the pulpit.  Even the Amish and Mennonites benefited as their ‘low-tech’ wares sold like hot cakes.

Aboriginal Culture and Technology

Aboriginal culture is not exempt from this shift.  Although natural, spiritual, and technological worlds are aligned within, many have sought to exploit the culture for gain, including Blue Snake’s Lodge.  However, some like Paul Yuxweluptun, have also offered a look into Aboriginal culture.

One element which can’t be ignored between culture and technology is idolatry.  The false gods, however, are now made of “light, plastic and silicon.” This is especially true when artisans are considered.  Machines mass produce what once was sacred.

Intelligent Design

The mix of religion and technology gained strength when ‘intelligent design’ was allowed in schools as an alternative to evolution.  Intelligent design doesn’t allow for evolution, instead of evolution, it is the work of a designer.  Intelligent design also revives the work of von Däniken, who believed ancient civilizations were far technologically advanced to our own.  Including space travel and extraterrestrial visits.

Transhumanism

Transhumanists, however, believe that a utopian world is still possible through technology.  A convergence of technologies, including nano, bio, info, etc will create a transcendence of the human condition.  Although secular, transhumanism creates a new type, a merge of art and craft.

Latour

Latour in We Have Never Been Modern believed the three sources of authority: divine, natural, and social.  Each spoke but were not heard in modernity because they failed to acknowledge the credibility or authority of one another.  Each was distrustful of the other and critical of the other.  Apart they are incomplete, but force us to look at spirituality in technology and nature.  It also demonstrates the new heightened in East-West relations and the threat of a new Crusades.  However, during this time of increased tension First Nations continue in the unwavering faith.  Can faith and culture ever be separate?

Feng and Petrina

Begin where Murphie and Potts end.  The idea of spirituality within the machine.  To clarify, the idea that technology has its own spirituality.  Technology has more than ethical, personal, and socio-political values.  It causes “existential-spiritual values” as well.

Map

The map shows the intertwining of spirituality to techno-onto-theo-eco-logical condition.

Heidegger and Arendt

Heidegger believed after Nazism that we would be greeted by either God or the complete absence of God.  Technology threatens to encompass the Earth and use it simply as resource.  He and Hannah Arendt believe we need to step back from technology to experience life.  We can speak of reason without presence.  From Heidegger to Latour and Haraway, reason and being cannot be separated.

Arendt speaks of the human condition, that our conditions of existence or not given or banal, nor secular.  Condition of existence is shared and not independent of spirit.  Human condition is not human nature but whatever we draw into the human world through effort.  In addition, Arendt states we are disenchanted and trying to escape the human condition.

Regardless of belief the search for the human condition and the interdependency of technology, religion, spirituality and the sacred will continue.

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