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The Overuse of Information Technology: Inhibiting our Humanity and Spirituality

This thesis explores the negative impact of excessive information technology use on our ability to follow sophisticated thought-progression, value solitude for reflection and imagination, appreciate and learn from nature, prioritize face-to-face relating, and engage in meaningful relationships.

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The Overuse of Information Technology: Inhibiting our Humanity and Spirituality

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  1. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse

  2. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality

  3. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW SOPHISTICATED THOUGHT-PROGRESSION

  4. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse “I’m not thinking the way I used to think. I feel it most strongly when I’m reading. I used to find it easy to immerse myself in a book or a lengthy article . . . That’s rarely the case anymore. Now my concentration starts to drift after a page or two. I get fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do. I feel like I’m always dragging my wayward brain back to the text. The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle.” Nicolas Carr, The Shallows • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW SOPHISTICATED THOUGHT-PROGRESSION

  5. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE VALUE OF SOLITUDE FOR REFLECTION, MEDITATION, IMAGINATION, ETC. Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches . . .

  6. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse David Levy, a University of Washington professor who studies high-tech communications and quality of life, acknowledges that the young have become adept at managing multiple sources of information at once, but he worries that the ability to multitask has curbed their “ability to focus on a single thing, the ability to be silent and still inside, basically the ability to be unplugged and content.” Cited in Mireya Navarro, “Parents Fret That Dialing Up Interferes With Growing Up,” New York Times, October 23, 2005. • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW SOPHISTICATED THOUGHT-PROGRESSION

  7. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO APPRECIATE & LEARN FROM NATURE Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God . . . Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, O sluggard . . Matthew 6:24 Consider the ravens . . . 27 Consider the lilies . . .

  8. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO APPRECIATE & LEARN FROM NATURE Psalm 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?

  9. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE VALUE OF MEMORIZATION Psalm 119:11 Your word I have stored up in my heart, that I may not sin against You . . .15 I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways. (See also Matt. 4 – “It is written;” Eph. 6:17)

  10. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE PRIORITY OF FACE-TO-FACE RELATING 2 John 1:12Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.

  11. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE PRIORITY OF FACE-TO-FACE RELATING • Seduces us from spending adequate time for face-to-face relating

  12. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE PRIORITY OF FACE-TO-FACE RELATING • Encourages & facilitates aversion to face-to-face relating

  13. “(A) young woman writing in the Times admitted, ‘I consistently trade actual human contact for the more reliable high of . . . likes on Facebook.’ That she finds these online relationships more reliable is telling: it shows a desire to avoid the vulnerability and uncertainty that true friendship entails. Real intimacy requires risk—the risk of disapproval, of heartache, of being thought a fool. Social networking websites may make relationships more reliable, but whether those relationships can be humanly satisfying remains to be seen.” Christine Rosen, “Virtual Friendship & the New Narcissism” The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW SOPHISTICATED THOUGHT-PROGRESSION

  14. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE PRIORITY OF FACE-TO-FACE RELATING • Distracts us when we are relating face-to-face

  15. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse “My students tell me about an important new skill: it involves maintaining eye contact with someone while you text someone else; it’s hard, but it can be done . . . In conversation we (must) . . . attend to tone and nuance. In conversation, we are called upon to see things from another’s point of view. Face-to-face conversation unfolds slowly. It teaches patience. (But) when we communicate on our digital devices, we learn different habits.” Sherry Turkle, “The Flight From Conversation” • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW SOPHISTICATED THOUGHT-PROGRESSION

  16. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE PRIORITY OF FACE-TO-FACE RELATING • Encourages narcissism

  17. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse “Does (social networking), with its constant demands to collect (friends and status), and perform (by marketing ourselves), in some ways undermine our ability to attain what it promises—a surer sense of who we are and where we belong? The Delphic oracle’s guidance was know thyself. Today, in the world of online social networks, the oracle’s advice might be show thyself.” Christine Rosen, “Virtual Friendship & the New Narcissism” • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW SOPHISTICATED THOUGHT-PROGRESSION

  18. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE PRIORITY OF FACE-TO-FACE RELATING • Encourages incivility

  19. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse “We want to move in and out of where we are because the thing we value most is control over where we focus our attention. We have gotten used to the idea of being in a tribe of one, loyal to our own party . . . Human relationships are rich; they’re messy and demanding. We have learned the habit of cleaning them up with technology. (But in) the move from conversation to connection . . . we short-change ourselves. Worse, it seems that over time we stop caring.” Sherry Turkle, “The Flight From Conversation” • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW SOPHISTICATED THOUGHT-PROGRESSION

  20. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE PRIORITY OF FACE-TO-FACE RELATING • Deceives us into thinking we are relationally healthy

  21. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse “We expect more from technology and less from one another and seem increasingly drawn to technologies that provide the illusion of companionship without the demands of relationship . . . Our new devices have turned being alone into a problem that can be solved . . . We think constant connection will make us feel less lonely (but) the opposite is true.” Sherry Turkle, “The Flight From Conversation” • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality • THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW SOPHISTICATED THOUGHT-PROGRESSION

  22. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • THESIS: I.T. over-use inhibits and/or erodes key elements of our humanity & spirituality

  23. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTING

  24. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTING • Invest in your children regularly!

  25. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTING • Invest in your children regularly! • Model reading, relating, etc. - & your enjoyment of these activities

  26. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTING • Invest in your children regularly! • Model reading, relating, etc. - & your enjoyment of these activities • Sacrifice to involve them in healthy play & quality fellowship

  27. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTING • Invest in your children regularly! • Model reading, relating, etc. - & your enjoyment of these activities • Sacrifice to involve them in healthy play & quality fellowship • Monitor not only WHAT, but HOW MUCH they access

  28. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTING • Invest in your children regularly! • Model reading, relating, etc. - & your enjoyment of these activities • Sacrifice to involve them in healthy play & quality fellowship • Monitor not only WHAT, but HOW MUCH they access • Set limits on where, when, etc.

  29. The Challenge of Information Technology Overuse • PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTING • Invest in your children regularly! • Model reading, relating, etc. - & your enjoyment of these activities • Sacrifice to involve them in healthy play & quality fellowship • Monitor not only WHAT, but HOW MUCH they access • Set limits on where, when, etc. • Use access for discipline & reward

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