WE have to be masters, not slaves, of
the new
technologies. But to attain that goal, we have to realize that we are
getting into a new ball game, with different set of rules, and with
very subtle implications and consequences that we still have to
explore and weigh, and their ranking in our proper hierarchy of
priorities established.
In short, we have to go through the learning process which
usually involves a teacher or tutor to guide us, especially at the
beginning stage. And I don’t mean simply the technical aspect of the
matter. Much more important is the moral and spiritual dimension of
this new development where we are often at sea, confused and lost.
There is no doubt that the easy access today to
smartphones, tablets, mobile devices, computers, the Internet, social
media, etc., has given us tremendous facilities and advantages. But
just as they give us a lot of good, a lot of evil has been generated
as well.
It cannot be denied that very often these new technologies
so grab, hijack and almost completely absorb our attention that we
would forget or neglect our other, even more important duties. We get
hooked to them, like drugs.
They have such alluring and seductive power that we can
think we are doing well with them, when in fact we are being degraded,
since we tend to waste time and to get entangled with many unnecessary
but fascinating little distractions, trivialities, gossips, etc.
We can get the sensation that with them we are expanding
our world, increasing our knowledge, extending our reach, not
realizing that in the end we would just be feeding our
self-centeredness and vanity.
This is not to mention that these new technologies can be
an irresistible occasion and temptation to sin. A casual stumbling
into a pornographic and other questionable site can easily open the
slippery slide to vices and all kinds of addiction. Indeed, they can
complicate rather than simplify our life.
To the strong and mature people, these new technologies
can make them better. But to the weak and immature, they most likely
can lead to a mess. But since in real life, we can be strong one time
and weak the next, we really would need to be most discerning and
disciplined to tackle the challenge of using these technologies
properly.
Some criteria and norms have to be established and
followed. We just cannot plunge into these technologies driven and
guided only by our common sense. That would not be enough. I would say
that with the more complicated things are with emergence of these new
technologies, we need to be more strict with ourselves, a little bit
distrustful of our capabilities, and more urged to seek help from
others.
And I would say that the first among these criteria and
norms should be the need to rectify our intentions. Our motive of
using them should first of all and always be to give glory to God.
It should not just be for practical purposes. That’s
because to be so intentioned, without referring it to God, would
simply expose us to the dangers of self-indulgence, vague ulterior
motives, and other impulses deriving from mere and spontaneous
curiosities, and other passing and unclear conditionings that we are
all subject to.
Thus, there’s always need to practice temperance,
restraint and moderation of these new technologies so that the proper
motive of giving glory to God and serving others would not be
undermined, but rather would be enhanced.
Let’s always remember what Christ so clearly told us: “If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16,24) Let’s concretize this indication of
self-denial in the spirit that animates these words of Christ. Let’s
translate it into some specific actions.
Among them perhaps could be that we don’t have to avail of
all these new technologies, or of their latest models. We have to
limit our use of them to a certain time of the day. We have to
restrain our spontaneous impulse to use them.
We have to make sure that we have a very clear purpose in
using them, avoiding simply driven by passing curiosities, if not by
passing whims and caprices. It may be a good idea to deliberately pray
before using them and even while using them so our attitude toward
them is kept spiritual, moral and supernatural.
We should never forget that these new technologies can be
a strong temptation for us to be drunk with our own powers, forgetting
God. That would lead us to a self-inflicted slavery.
technologies. But to attain that goal, we have to realize that we are
getting into a new ball game, with different set of rules, and with
very subtle implications and consequences that we still have to
explore and weigh, and their ranking in our proper hierarchy of
priorities established.
In short, we have to go through the learning process which
usually involves a teacher or tutor to guide us, especially at the
beginning stage. And I don’t mean simply the technical aspect of the
matter. Much more important is the moral and spiritual dimension of
this new development where we are often at sea, confused and lost.
There is no doubt that the easy access today to
smartphones, tablets, mobile devices, computers, the Internet, social
media, etc., has given us tremendous facilities and advantages. But
just as they give us a lot of good, a lot of evil has been generated
as well.
It cannot be denied that very often these new technologies
so grab, hijack and almost completely absorb our attention that we
would forget or neglect our other, even more important duties. We get
hooked to them, like drugs.
They have such alluring and seductive power that we can
think we are doing well with them, when in fact we are being degraded,
since we tend to waste time and to get entangled with many unnecessary
but fascinating little distractions, trivialities, gossips, etc.
We can get the sensation that with them we are expanding
our world, increasing our knowledge, extending our reach, not
realizing that in the end we would just be feeding our
self-centeredness and vanity.
This is not to mention that these new technologies can be
an irresistible occasion and temptation to sin. A casual stumbling
into a pornographic and other questionable site can easily open the
slippery slide to vices and all kinds of addiction. Indeed, they can
complicate rather than simplify our life.
To the strong and mature people, these new technologies
can make them better. But to the weak and immature, they most likely
can lead to a mess. But since in real life, we can be strong one time
and weak the next, we really would need to be most discerning and
disciplined to tackle the challenge of using these technologies
properly.
Some criteria and norms have to be established and
followed. We just cannot plunge into these technologies driven and
guided only by our common sense. That would not be enough. I would say
that with the more complicated things are with emergence of these new
technologies, we need to be more strict with ourselves, a little bit
distrustful of our capabilities, and more urged to seek help from
others.
And I would say that the first among these criteria and
norms should be the need to rectify our intentions. Our motive of
using them should first of all and always be to give glory to God.
It should not just be for practical purposes. That’s
because to be so intentioned, without referring it to God, would
simply expose us to the dangers of self-indulgence, vague ulterior
motives, and other impulses deriving from mere and spontaneous
curiosities, and other passing and unclear conditionings that we are
all subject to.
Thus, there’s always need to practice temperance,
restraint and moderation of these new technologies so that the proper
motive of giving glory to God and serving others would not be
undermined, but rather would be enhanced.
Let’s always remember what Christ so clearly told us: “If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16,24) Let’s concretize this indication of
self-denial in the spirit that animates these words of Christ. Let’s
translate it into some specific actions.
Among them perhaps could be that we don’t have to avail of
all these new technologies, or of their latest models. We have to
limit our use of them to a certain time of the day. We have to
restrain our spontaneous impulse to use them.
We have to make sure that we have a very clear purpose in
using them, avoiding simply driven by passing curiosities, if not by
passing whims and caprices. It may be a good idea to deliberately pray
before using them and even while using them so our attitude toward
them is kept spiritual, moral and supernatural.
We should never forget that these new technologies can be
a strong temptation for us to be drunk with our own powers, forgetting
God. That would lead us to a self-inflicted slavery.
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