Thoughtless consumer or thoughtful engagement

Good first day of class in EDUC 730. Likely to be one of the most practical classes since it's covering tools that are useful for the research that I will be conducting for my dissertation and the fact that so many of these tech tools can be used by teachers, students and admin at CCA.

An interesting part of the discussion today was regarding the Amish. The professor shared how the Amish have not rejected all technology (not possible anyway, since shoes and shovels are technology), but have considered their core values and let those be their guide as to how to interact, use or not use different technologies. 

Ken Myers, host of the Mars Hill Audio Journal, has discussed the role of technology with many of the guests on his show. Below is his answer to a question posed by a reporter from the Christian Post. Note that two of the four ways that he feels the church has been too influenced by the broader culture revolve around technology.

CP: Practically speaking, how has the church been too influenced by the broader culture?

Myers: Here's a small list:

• The way in which the dominant role of technology in our lives promotes the deep assumption that we can fix anything;

• The way in which proliferating mechanisms of convenience erodes the virtues of patience and longsuffering;

• The way in which the elimination of standards of public propriety and manners undermines assumptions about the legitimacy of authority and deference to the communal needs; and

• The way in which the high prestige accorded to entertainers creates the conviction that every valuable experience should be entertaining.

And this is just scratching the surface.

Read the complete article at http://www.christianpost.com/news/is-the-culture-really-the-problem-74261/#RICG3dCTj6vLqDWh.99
The mission of The Mars Hill Audio Journal is "To assist Christians who desire to move from thoughtless consumption of contemporary culture to a vantage point of thoughtful engagement." While I wouldn't necessarily do it the way the Amish have, I do need to give more thought to how I interact with contemporary culture and that includes various technologies as well.