Customer Reviews

Technology & Spirituality: How the Information Revolution Affects Our Spiritual Lives (Skylight Illuminations)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Technology and Spirituality is a subject that has caught my attention. As a TA in researching the link between the two subjects Spykers book was on my list of must reads.

The Luddite metaphor is a striking link between churches that shun progress and those that embrace technology in the church. Having read Spyker's dissertation Spirituality and Technology: A study in frontiers, I can most assuredly recommend this book as capturing the highlights of Spirituality and Technology. Skip the dissertation! It rambles and does not contain the scholarly element most found in dissertations.

Technology and Spirituality is a simple and good read for those beginning an initial investigation into how our spiritual lives and paradigms need to change. Spyker's book gives simple suggestions how we as a church can assist in facilitating these simple changes.

Alexandra Kealey

The issue of how technology and spirituality relate is such an important topic that I'm surprised that there haven't been more books written on the topic. In Technology and Spirituality, Stephen K. Spyker, the Director of Information Technology at Earlham School of Religion and Theology and at Bethany Theological Seminary, tackles this critical issue.

Spyker organizes his ideas on technology and spirituality around 8 "lenses" by which to focus and see the terrain better. He spends a chapter on each, and in each chapter asks some important, probing questions.

Chapter 1 - Simplicity - Two the key questions here that Spyker raises are, "Does technology disrupt our lives?" and "Does the technology have a harmonious and uncomplicated elegance in its working?"

Chapter 2 - Transparency - How invisible is a certain technology? Technology determines how we think, what we believe, and who we are: are we aware of the effects of our technologies on us?

Chapter 3 - How is the information revolution revolutionizing how we build and think about communities? In keeping with Seth Godin's Tribes, Spyker remarks that we now belong to several communities simultaneously, which are not defined by places (political or geographic boundaries). Stryker also explores the ways in which media mediate our relationships in our communities.

Chapters 4 and 5 - Identity - How does technology affect our sense of identity, both individual and in relationships?

Chapter 6 - Velocity - How does technology shape and dominate my time? Computers, for example, have a way of rearranging our priorities and goals. Spyker advocates taking time to slow down and even to fast or have retreats from our technology.

Chapter 7 - Connection - Connections, and not stuff is what defines our reality, even on an atomic level. But Spyker says we should "beware of technology that offers to make easy connections."

Chapter 8 - Liberty - "Technology has the power to liberate or enslave us," and may often be addictive.

I find that Spyker asks many deep questions but gives few and shallow answers. He doesn't delve deeply enough into any of the questions he raises through his useful "lenses." In some cases, he raises an important issue but then neglects to dig more deeply into its implications.

Also, there are several occasions where he wanders off the trail (he reveals in the book a spiritual awakening he had while hiking). Sometimes he spends several pages on things that are not especially important or relevant. In a book that's only 147 pages, 22 of which are introduction or review, he needed to not waste any space.

Technology and Spirituality is a very readable introduction to "How the Information Revolution Affects our Spiritual Lives," but it doesn't go nearly far or deep enough.

People interested in spirituality, and especially Christians (this is Spyker's religious tradition) need a definitive book on Technology and Spirituality; however, this book isn't it.