Missionaries in Cyberculture

Thoughts on Q. J. Schultze (2002) Habits of the High Tech Heart. Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI.

I find it interesting that Schultze's purpose in this book is to discuss living virtuously in the Information Age. Bearing in mind that the text is eight years old, we are now more likely in what some pundits call the Interaction Age, which distinguishes digital information as not just content accessed by people but as content around which they engage and construct knowledge in a social manner. Still the question of how to live virtuously in this context is just as relevant if not more complicated.

Schultze points out that every technological advance also delivers us to new moral quandaries and he is deeply concerned how we might be letting "instrumental practices unravel the moral fabric of our lives" (p. 13). Instead of a heart that is shaped by virtue, Schultze appears concerned that our hearts are becoming high tech themselves. Therefore, information and communication technologies (ICT) in themselves are not the problem for Schultze. Rather, it is "the habits of our hearts as we do our cyber-endevors" (p. 21).

As a Christian, I certainly agree it's important to understand ICT in the light of rich sources of biblical moral wisdom that can shape our practices around what is "prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair" (Proverbs 1:3 TNIV). Schultze makes a key statement about the problem he is addressing: "Like ethical chameleons, we adapt our moral practices to the latest technologies rather than summoning our technologies to follow a long-term moral vision. Our desire to become skilful technologists increasingly dictates our moral decisions. We rarely think about what it means to be good and wise people; instead, we focus on whether we are technologically connected" (p. 29).

I've been thinking about a recent idea expressed by Apple, Inc.  CEO Steve Jobs in a few recent public presentations. He feels that Apple has always tried to be at the intersection of technology and liberal arts - pushing the advancement of products from a technology point of view but also making them intuitive, easy and fun to use. In short, to enrich and liberate the user's life. I find his use of the term "liberal arts" a bit stretched (although it's a broad term anyway) but intriguing nonetheless.

Schultze describes the concept of cyberculture as “the technique-laden values, practices, and beliefs of people who spend a great deal of time in cyberspace and who perceive themselves as informationally we connected” (p. 18). Cyberculture socializes people in its values. In light of this, I'm wondering how a Christian can summon "cyberculture" to the intersection of technology and godly character? That is to say, the intersection of both advanced technologies and the virtuous use of them. Even Schultze acknowledges that dismantling all ICT is not realistic nor a good solution. I would think this is quite a missional question and compelling vision for Christians in this networked world.