Technology has advanced rapidly in the last few years, and now in a pandemic, we are more reliant on technology to study, work, communicate, and form relationships than ever before. Though the purpose of technology is to make things simpler and more convenient, it also opens the door to questions around ethics, morality, mental health, equity, and community to name a few. As you read, watch, and listen to these resources, we hope they invite deep questions and discussions about the impact and intersection of technology and theology in your community.
Read: Digital Anthropology, 1st Edition
Edited by Heather A. Horst and Daniel Miller
Through a range of case studies from Facebook to Second Life to Google Earth, Digital Anthropology explores how human and digital can be defined in relation to one another, from avatars and disability; cultural differences in how we use social networking sites or practise religion; the practical consequences of the digital for politics, museums, design, space and development to new online world and gaming communities.
Read: Things a Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About
By Donald E. Knuth
How does a computer scientist understand infinity? What can probability theory teach us about free will? Can mathematical notions be used to enhance one’s personal understanding of the Bible? Perhaps no one is more qualified to address these questions than Donald E. Knuth, whose massive contributions to computing have led others to nickname him “The Father of Computer Science”—and whose religious faith led him to understand a fascinating analysis of the Bible called the 3:16 project. In this series of six spirited, informal lectures, Knuth explores the relationships between his vocation and his faith, revealing the unique perspective that his work with computing has lent to his understanding of God.
Listen: TheoTech Podcast
Listen to the founders of TheoTech interview people about “integrating faith and tech, theological takes on the latest tech news, stories from the frontlines of industry, book summaries, and more.”
Read: Anathem
By Neal Stephenson
Neal Stephenson imagines an alternate universe where scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians live in seclusion behind ancient monastery walls until they are called back into the world to deal with a crisis of astronomical proportions.
Watch: The Social Dilemma (2020)
Directed by Jeff Orlowski
Dr. Kj Swanson says, “If you’ve had questions for yourself or for younger generations about how the massive changes in internet technology and social media over the past 15 years may be affecting us, carve out time immediately for this documentary. Interviews with tech leaders and social psychologists, along with dramatization of how one family undergoes these dynamics, highlight the vital importance of educating ourselves not just about how we use technology, but how technology uses us. This doc also serves as an excellent intro to Dr. Shoshana Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power (2019) ISBN: 9781781256855.”
Read: A Theory of Everything (That Matters)
By Alister McGrath
Einstein’s revolutionary scientific ideas have transformed our world, ushering in the nuclear age. The current pace of scientific and technological progress is simply astounding. So is there any place for faith in such a world? Einstein himself gave careful thought to the deepest questions of life. […] In this book, McGrath examines the life and work of Einstein, explaining his scientific significance and considering what Einstein did and did not believe about science, religion, and the meaning of life.
Listen: Device & Virtue
Chris Ridgeway and Adam Graber tackle conversations about the integration and intersection of theology and the technology we use on a day to day basis.
Listen: On Being – The Universe Is a Question with Kevin Kelley
Krista Tippet interviews Kevin Kelley, founding editor of WIRED and a “philosopher technologist,” about our role in the rapidly approaching tech evolution of AI and the importance of asking questions.
Special thanks to Dr. Kj Swanson, Dr. Pat Loughery, and Kate Rae Davis, MDiv for their contributions to this list.