The question of whether technology was getting in the way of what it is to be human came up today... and for once it was a jump off point for me.
I know its a cliché to start with a dictionary definition but stick with me. The definition of human provides an interesting vantage point. Perhaps more so than other word definitions because it seems to acknowledge how the word does not simply name a species, but comes packaged with characteristics, observe;
Quote:
1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or having the nature of people: human frailty.
2. consisting of people: the human race.
3. of or pertaining to the social aspect of people: human affairs.
4. sympathetic; humane: a warmly human understanding. –noun
5. a human being. |
It's not until the very end the species is defined, and even then it is (perhaps purposefully) not genially linked with primates. So humanity itself is not seen as a machine, or technological. Scientists would define a human very differently.
It appears we define ourselves as frail, caring & social creatures. To have a "human" quality is a good thing. So from that you could extrapolate that we also believe deep down we are at our core: good. Despite the many ailments and mistakes we have made, the interesting way in which a word is defined by how it is used is a clue, and a great starting point for discussing what it is to be human. It's interesting that emotions, rather than intellect is what defines us. Despite all our advancements, we define our world by how we
feel about it.
How Technology & spirituality are viewed.People have a tendency see the technology and spirituality as fundamentally opposed. Technology on the one hand is most often associated with pollution, corporations and greed. While 'spirituality' is given a special reverence by 99% of us, even if we are critical of the larger organised religion.
Most of us have
some belief. There are exceptions of course to both view points, but for the sake of discussion the assumption "spirituality good", "technology bad" is what I want to examine.
It could be fairly argued that technology has helped us more than hindered. After all technology took us from small groups of hunter gatherers, to the top of the food chain. Because of technology, even those in poverty live better than wild animals. We often don't associate things like Farming, making fire or medicine as technology. Yet fire was the iphone of it's day, providing warmth, cooking food and scaring off potential predators. We may have thanked the sky for the fire God, but it was the technology that allowed us to harness fire, not an emotion or belief.
So technology appears to suffer from an image problem. Is there is something all together sinister about technology? It can certainly appear that way. Between robots taking over the world, and nuclear holocaust, we seem pretty convinced technology will be our undoing. We don't trust it because it seems cold and we cannot relate to it (well
some of us feel that way). and lets face it, technology hasn't alwats been perfect, it brought us the Atomic bomb, Asbestos and The Crazy Frog.
Yet our technology reflects us, we created tools, tools that reflect our needs... and we don't always like our reflection. Technology is created to solve a problem efficiently. It is not often made to make us feel good. The technology that is, we tend to love!
Spirituality too has caused it's wars & had its problems. The majority of human conflict even in this "enlightened" age comes from spiritual belief. Despite being associated with all that is good, spirituality has its darker side. Like technology, belief has been used to harm as well as help.
Religions have their own view of why those wars and problems exist, but very rarely accept fault for it. Spirituality has systematically escaped blame for a lot of its crimes (can
you think of a religion that apologises often?).
But... and this is a big round jello But... Religion and spirituality are also the greatest force for good in humanity. It is a conduit for charity & acts as a moral boundary to our dark side. Spirituality can do what technology often can't, it makes us feel better. It serves that purpose well.
Humanity as a species, is at its happiest when not thinking and simply connected with life and the feeling of being alive. There are many disciplines of meditation, but most have the same goal. A clear mind, and the wave of endorphins that follow. We have for a long time associated that much more with our brand of religion or spirituality, rather than the discipline of mediation or the good fortune of "being".
In effect the good feeling we get from meditating allows us to think "Spirituality good" in simple terms.Technology was not created to make us feel good, and yet now it surrounds us. So we find ourselves wondering "why doesn't technology make me feel good like spirituality does". We are a silly species.
Spirituality vs Technology; battle to the inevitible compromise.So to the question of does technology separate us from God? There is no clear answer. Especially when the nature of "God" is so very subjective.
The more interesting question is
can technology separate us from God?
One would think a harmonious being like a God would not need to conflict with simple technology. Technology itself
simply is. It cannot be good or evil unless it is used by a human. It cannot drive us, unless it is first driven. By its very nature it is incapable of judgement or malice. Yes we can be seduced to by it, and yes it can be misused. But misusing technology, or creating bad technology is a human choice. Technology then is a reflection of humanity and an extension of it.
Technology could not separate us from God by the definition of omnipitence or omnipresence. The argument that it distracts or seduces us, is essentially another judgement of humanity. It is a simple disagreement about how to live.
Spirituality does not need to argue with technology, although it consistently finds itself doing so. It is a system of belief that has come about from two things. Our emotional need to love and care, combined with a desire to
feel better in tough times. When we need to feel better, our mind gets creative. Psychologists call it "justifying". It is the same behaviour a junkie uses to explain away their addiction... and indeed we are addicted to feeling good.
So why would spirituality need to deionise technology? It's an interesting question, since on the basic level there isnt a single peice of kit that would argue with the concept of a loving parental "God". Yet when we justify, we don't try to think simply. If we're creating something to make us
feel better, why stop at a loving God? Why not have a loving God who will tell you off if you don't follow the current moral consensus? That too would make you feel better about how you live your life.
So when spirituality makes us feel good. Being connected with the earth makes us feel good... yet we still feel bad. What can we blame?
It suits the agenda of some spiritualists to claim technology is separating us from God.
1) It's a pretty easy scape goat
2) Humans remember technology going wrong, no matter how much it goes right.
Feeling good about technology?I believe the idea of a God that separates us from life, which is all around us. A parental, omnipotent figure of judgement and wisdom is more likely to guilt is into behaving, than persuade us.
The "being" part of a "Human being" is often overlooked. Through meditation and many other avenues we can enjoy life, with technology or without it. So the question remains...
What is it to be human?To be human is to be curious.
You can
feel good by meditating, listening to your instincts or even listening to music. Enjoy it
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