Man and Machine: A Biblical Look at Present and Future Technology with C. S. Lewis Chesterfield Presbyterian Church January 9 – February 20, 2011 Andrew.

Man and Machine: A Biblical Look at Present and Future

Technology with C. S. Lewis

Chesterfield Presbyterian ChurchJanuary 9 – February 20, 2011

Andrew [email protected]

Man and Machine: Course Description

"In our world," said Eustace, "a star is a huge ball of flaming gas." "Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is, but only what it is made of." In this quote from Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Aslan’s reply to Eustace’s statement is also the reply of God’s Word to every effort being made to reduce Man – and therefore treat Man – as nothing more than a biological machine. In this class we will look at those technologies that have and will impact our very humanness. C. S. Lewis will be our constant companion as we develop a Biblical “Theology of Technology.”

Man and Machine: Themes1. Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration2. Imago Dei and Incarnation3. Taking, Making, and Faking Life4. Technology (Technique)

a) Biotechnologyb) Reproductivec) Biomechanical

5. C. S. Lewisa) Narnia Chronicles (1950 – 1956)b) Space Trilogy (1938 – 1945)c) Abolition of Man (1943)d) The Great Divorce (1945)

C.S. Lewis1898 - 1963

Man and Machine: OutlineA. Man and Machine: Theology of TechnologyB. Man is Master of the MachineC. Man Uses the Machine to Master OthersD. Man is Mastered by the MachineE. Man is “Nothing But” a

MachineF. Man Must Become

a Machine

Man and Machine: DefinitionsTechnology

“Technology is anything with a physical manifestation (and a praxis) that allows someone or something to transcend some limitation to reach a particular goal.”*

Technique The application of technology and the trust/faith in technology to answer all of Man’s questions and to solve all of Man’s problems.

*Paul Grabow, “An alternative to instrumentalism:Technology as a form of transcendence,” International Journal of Technology, Knowledge, and Society 4:3 (2008).

Large Hadron Collider

A. Theology of Technology

Aldous Huxley1894-1963

What’s the point of truth or beauty or knowledge when the anthrax bombs are popping all around you? That was when science first began to be controlled – after thee Nine Years’ War. People were ready to have even their appetites controlled then. Anything for a quiet life. We’ve gone on controlling ever since. It hasn’t been good for truth, or course. But it’s been very good for happiness. One can’t have something for nothing. Happiness has got to be paid for… Call it the fault of civilization. God isn’t compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness. You must make your choice. Our civilization has chosen machinery and medicine and happiness. (Mustpha Mond) Brave New World, 1935

A. Theology of Technology

Neil Postman1931-2003

Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology, 1993

Technopoly is a state of culture. It is also a state of mind. It consists in the deification of technology, which means that the culture seeks its authorization in technology, finds its satisfactions in technology, and takes its orders from technology… Those who feel most comfortable in Technopoly are those who are convinced that technical progress is humanity's superhuman achievement and the instrument by which our most profound dilemmas may be solved. They also believe that information is an unmixed blessing, … [and] offers increased freedom, creativity, and peace of mind… In particular, Technopoly flourishes when the defenses against information break down.

A. Theology of Technology

God (personal) (infinite) man chasm chasm man animal animal plant plant machine machine

Pollution and the Death of Man, 1970

Francis Schaeffer

1912-1984

We are not threatened by the machine as modern man is, because we know who we are. This is not said proudly, but humbly and reverently;

we know we are made in the image of God. We reject an

attitude that makes our integration point downward.

A. Theology of Technology•Technique – ""the totality of methods rationally arrived at and having absolute efficiency in every field of human activity." (p. xxv) *

• A Critique of Technique 1. rationality2. artificiality3. automatism4. self-augmentation5. monism6. universalism7. autonomy

Jaques Ellul1912-1994

* from The Technological Society, 1964

A. Theology of Technology

Technique

BiblicalTruth

Anti-technique

God is.

A. Theology of Technology (1)

RationalismScientism

SystematizationProgrammed

Rational/SpiritualRuler/Creator

IrrationalismMysticism

No RestraintsSpontaneous

God is not.(There is no God.) (Anything is God.)

A. Theology of Technology (2)

Artificialityanti-Nature

Virtual

Reality/Nature (Gen. 1:1)Cultural Mandate (Gen 2:26-28)

NaturalismPantheism

Back to Nature

God is not good.(God goofed – Man can do it better.)

(Only Nature is good.)

A. Theology of Technology (3)

AutomationEfficiency

Self-directedNo choice

Sovereign LoveBiblical Faith/Hope

ChaosUnpredictability

UndirectedNo Accountability

God is not sovereign.(God is not in control.) (God is out of control.)

A. Theology of Technology (4)

Self-augmentationSolves all problems

Conquers all

Stewardship

Anti-technology“Luddism”Primitivism

God is not transcendent.(God is not big enough.) (God needs our help.)

A. Theology of Technology (5)

Monism (one-ness)Assimilation

All-encompassing“cog in the machine”

Covenant/CommunityPersonal uniqueness

IndependenceIsolationism“rage against

the machine”

God is not immanent.(God is not personal.)

A. Theology of Technology (6)

UniversalismUniformity

Totalitarianism

Unity inDiversity

IndividualismNonconformityBohemianism

God is not triune.

A. Theology of Technology (7)

AutonomousAll-sufficiency

AutomaticSacred

True Freedomonly within

God’s Sovereignty

AnarchistSelf-sufficiencyIndeterminacy

Sacrilegious

God is not necessary.(God is irrelevant.) (God is gone.)