Humanizing and Christianizing technology

THIS is always a challenge for me as it should be for

everybody else. Technology, especially at the rate that it is

developing nowadays, is slowly but surely charming us into our own

dehumanization, let alone, our dechristianization.

            And the main reason is that it tends to remove us from the

foundation of our humanity who is God. It tends to sweep our feet off

because of the many practical conveniences and advantages it gives.

            And the most dangerous part of this whole phenomenon is

that the new technologies now appear to be our new idols, our new gods

that seem to speak and interact with us.

            Whereas before, the idols were “silver and gold, made by

the hands of men, who have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot

see, ears but cannot hear, noses but cannot smell...” (Ps 115,4-6),

now the new technologies as our new idols appear to have mouth that

seem to speak, eyes that seem to see, ears that seem to hear, noses

that seem to smell.

            Our new technologies indeed are very tantalizing, since

they seem to be interactive. But it is an interactivity that only

feeds our egoistic interests. If one is not solidly grounded on his

Christian faith and is simply or mainly dependent on his senses,

feelings and understanding of things, then there is no way but to be

swept away. He will be at the mercy of the dynamics of worldly values.

            And whatever prudence he may exercise in the use of the

technologies would be the prudence of the world and of the flesh, not

the prudence of the spirit, the prudence that comes from God, the

prudence that is proper to us as persons and children of God.

            Now is the time to face the challenge squarely before we

lose our human and Christian soul. And that is why as early as

possible we should train everyone about how to relate our technologies

to God, to his will, to his providence. Otherwise, there is no other

way but to be destroyed by them. Our technologies can be our modern

Trojan horse, a sweet but deadly poison that we gladly take.

            We have to learn to see God and souls in the mesmerizing

world of the new technologies. Otherwise, they will imprison us in our

own world. We have to learn to develop and grow in love while using

the technologies, adoring, praising and thanking God and reaching out

and serving others through them. Remember that it is love that should

drive us in life, love as shown by Christ.

            Thus, the ethical and moral standard in the use of the

technologies should have as parameters love for God and love for

everybody else. Short of that, we would be misusing these technologies

even if we are fascinated by them. We would be exposing ourselves to a

lot of dangers.

            Right from the bosom of the family, this ethical and moral

standard in the use of the technologies should already be imparted.

And it should be consistently reinforced in the schools and the other

higher levels of social life.

            As St. Paul said: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever

you do, do it to the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10,31) And we have to

remember also that loving and glorifying God always brings with it

loving and serving others. In the end, we have to do everything such

that we follow what Christ himself said as a new commandment for us:

“To love one another as I (Christ) have loved you.” (Jn 13,34)

            It is only in this way that we can keep ourselves masters,

not slaves, of the technologies. It is only in this way that our human

and Christian dignity is preserved and enhanced.