Technology and the Human Purpose

Brian Wixted and Nick Toews
Technology and the Human Purpose

In a discussion ranging over the full history of human making (stone tools to modern cities), we centre our perspective of human purpose within a Christian worldview. Our distinctive focus centres on how the Bible’s lens on a diverse range of technologies starts within its ancient culture. However, its theological position often transforms those ideas with its own unique moral imagination. Bringing the Bible’s ideas to bear on times and places beyond the text, we must grapple with the original cultures and the theological transformation.

  1. NOV 7

    S5E3 Techumanpurpose - Can I do better?

    Erasistratus |John Dickson……. https://www.abc.net.au/religion/genesis-created-science-a-reply-to-tamas-pataki/10101306 John Philoponus | Wikipedia |  + John Dickson https://www.abc.net.au/religion/genesis-created-science-a-reply-to-tamas-pataki/10101306 Economist August 24th 2024 p-10 in an article on AI. The Economist September 7th 2024 Death Roads Water in Canadian first nations https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/indigenous-safe-drinking-water-crisis-in-canada-overview#:~:text=Did%20you%20know%20that%20many,supplied%20with%20safe%20drinking%20water. Data on CO2 comes from Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions Ed Conway https://www.amazon.ca/Material-World-Substantial-Story-Future/dp/075355917X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?crid=26Q6YP94691J9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.amY7jxaZ_qnHRhkPnv_Jlhv0zb8YK1hFlpUlozRL8qAP8wpKL8_71-ZMzJGb1159x7H3u_9wFCrPEyseEr3UQN9gHfOQHNisMnzAGu9YYZcbzDLSZoFV2W2U8Rt3hOuS.HKjnDWgWto5ZRiwNbtaRpaCbRvcTRIS-UE7j7WjBEdI&dib_tag=se&keywords=ed+conway+material+world&qid=1731007740&sprefix=ed+conway+material+world%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1-fkmr0 Rikk Watts (2001) On the edge of Millenium: Making Sense of Genesis 1 in ‘Living in the lamblight’ . (2002) The New Exodus / Creational Restoration of the Image of God. In ‘What does it mean to be saved’ . Gospel Conversations Cross and Creation part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBvjOMlfj0k NT wright on the Premier Unbelievable podcast talking about his new Book with Mike Bird minute 18 onwards particularly regarding wise human beings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvd2E4Th6dI&t=1876s C S Lewis Podcast #142 That Hideous Strength: What is the future of humanity? Jeff Bilbro Living as Creatures in a World Built for Machines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgIc7h3pepQ&list=PL04Zl7nYDurr51J5F93GDhP4mEZXo2AW1&index=3&t=2158s Also regarding Christianity and technology, I think there is a strong Greek influence.

    54 min
  2. NOV 1

    S5E2 - Techumanpurpose- contemporary Christianity and technology

    Show Notes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Ellul Understanding Jacques Ellul (2012)  https://www.amazon.ca/Understanding-Jacques-Ellul-Jeffrey-Greenman/dp/161097431X   Ellul 1984 Technique and the Opening Chapters of Genesis Jacques Ellul in n Theology and Technology: Essays in Christian Analysis and Exegesis, eds. Carl Mitcham and Jim Grote (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1984), 126. Jacques Ellul (1968) THE TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY in The New Technology and Human Values ed JOHN G. BURKE  Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc., Belmont, Callfornla   _George Grant_ The quote was taken from ….Hugh Donald Forbes 2007. George Grant: A guide to his Thought  University of Toronto Press. Ian Box 1982’George Grant and the Embrace of Technology’ Canadian Journal of Political Science / Revue canadienne de science politique, Vol.15, No. 3 (Sep., 1982), pp. 503-515 _Albert Borgmann_ Borgmann, Reality and technology. Cambridge Journal of Economics 2010, 34, 27–35 doi:10.1093/cje/ben055  Craig Gay – Modern Technology…. https://www.amazon.ca/Modern-Technology-Human-Future-Craig/dp/0830852204 People and things podcast https://athenaeum.vt.domains/peoplesandthings/2024/10/07/82-pamela-o-long-on-the-long-long-long-history-of-technology/ The intro and outro music is 'fantasy orchestra' available at https://freesound.org/ Watch out for more information and connected content with each episode on the blog https://theology-and-technology.blogspot.com/

    50 min

About

In a discussion ranging over the full history of human making (stone tools to modern cities), we centre our perspective of human purpose within a Christian worldview. Our distinctive focus centres on how the Bible’s lens on a diverse range of technologies starts within its ancient culture. However, its theological position often transforms those ideas with its own unique moral imagination. Bringing the Bible’s ideas to bear on times and places beyond the text, we must grapple with the original cultures and the theological transformation.

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