An accidental blog

"If God is sovereign, then his lordship must extend over all of life, and it cannot be restricted to the walls of the church or within the Christian orbit." Abraham Kuyper Common Grace 1.1.

Showing posts sorted by relevance for query technology. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query technology. Sort by date Show all posts

Sunday, 13 July 2008

Bibliography for a Christian approach to technology


Books

Ian Barbour 1992. Ethics in an Age of Technology (The Gifford lectures 1990-91) (London: SCM) 
Examines the ethical challenges that technology confronts us with.

Andrew Basden 2008. Philosophical Frameworks for Understanding Information Systems (IGI Publishing) 
Develops a Dooyeweerdian approach to information systems - essential reading!

Andrew Basden 2017. The Foundations of Information Systems; Research and Practice. London: Routledge.

Bert Cusveller, Maarten Verkerk and Marc de Vries 2011. The Matrix Reformed Science Fiction, Technology and Christian Philosophy. Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.

Albert Borgmann 2003. Power Failure: Christianity in the Culture of Technology. (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2003)

Brue, Ethan J. Derek C. Schuurman, Derek C. and VanderLeest, Steven. 2022. A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers. Downers Grove: IVP.
How can designing and using technology actually be a way of loving God and our neighbors? Veteran engineers and teachers Ethan Brue, Derek Schuurman, and Steve VanderLeest provide a field guide for fellow explorers working with technology.

Church of England BSR Cybernauts Awake


Jacques Ellul 1965. Technological Society (London: Jonathon Cape) 
A pessimistic view of technology. Sees technology as a product of the fall. An important work nonetheless.

Allen Emerson and Cheryl Forbes 1990. The Invasion of the Computer Culture (Leicester: IVP)
An examination of some of the key questions the computer culture has forced upon us. They also offer practical ways that computers can be used without being seduced by the bad. This should be required reading for all Christians who use computers! 

David H. Kim et al. 2016. The Wonder and Fear of Technology. Center for Faith and Work

Allan Jiggins 1988. Human Future: Living as Christians in a High-Tech World (London: Scripture Union, 1988)
A useful introductory book.

David Lyon 1986. The Silicon Society (Tring: Lion)
An insightful Christian critique of the computer culture.

Stephen V Monsma, (ed). 1986. Responsible Technology: A Christian Perspective. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 
An indispensable book. If you only read one book on technology it should be this one!

Carl Mitcham and Jim Grote, eds. 1984. Theology and Technology: Essays in Christian Analysis and Exegesis (New York: University Press of America)
Has an extensive annotated bibliography, as well as containing useful articles by Ellul and Egbert Schurmann among others. 

Parker Rossman and Richard Kirby 1990. Christians and the World of Computers: Professional and Social Excellence in the Computer World (London: SCM) 
A study book; each chapter comes with suggestions for study and reading.

David Pullinger 2001. Information Technology and Cyberspace: Extra-connected living. (London, Darton, Longman & Todd)

Hendrick van Riessen The Society of the Future (Presbyterian and Reformed, no date)

 Byron Borger has a review/ summary of the book here.
 A website to support the book is here. My review is here

1977, 1983 Reflections on the Technological Society. Toronto: Wedge Pub.
1980 Technology and the Future -- A Philosophical Challenge. Toronto: Wedge Pub
Not an easy read but well worth persevering with. Presents a Christian critique of Junger, Heidegger, Ellul, Meyer, Weiner, Steinbuch and Klaus.
1987 Christians in Babel. Jordan Station: Paideia Press.
1990 The Future: Our Choice or Gods Gift? Exile Publications, Wellington, New Zealand.
1994, 1995 Perspectives on Technology and Culture. IRS Press, South Africa/ Dordt Press, USA.
1995 The Technological Culture between the Times -A Christian Philosophical Assessment of Contemporary Society. Dordt Press.
2000 Faith and Hope in Technology. Toronto, Canada, 2003.
2005 The Technological World Picture and an Ethics of Responsibility: Struggles in the Ethics of Technology. Dordt College Press.
Schuurman writes from a reformational perspective; his books are essential reading for all those who want to see what a Christian approach looks like.

Schultze, Quentin.  Habits of the High-Tech Heart: Living Virtuously in the Information Age. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Quentin J. Schultze and Robert H. Woods Jr. (eds) 2008. Understanding Evangelical Media. IVP.

Robert A. Wauzzinski 2001. Discerning Prometheus: The Cry for Wisdom on Our Technological Society. London: Associated Press.


Chapters in books
Egbert Schuurman:
   1984 A Christian Philosophical Perspective on Technology. In C. Mitcham and J. Grote (eds), Theology and Technology, New York: University Press of America, pp. 107- 123.
   1987 The Modern Babylonian Culture. In P. Durbin (ed.) Technology and Responsibility. Dordrecht: Reidel, pp. 229-243
  1992 Crisis in Agriculture: Philosophical Perspective on the relation between Agriculture and Nature. In F. Ferr (ed.) Research in Philosophy and Technology -- Technology and the Environment London: Jai Press, pp. 191-213;


Articles 
Charles Adams

  1980. "Engineering in Reformed perspective." Pro Rege 9 (September): 9-21.
  1991. "Automobiles, computers and assault riflesPro Rege 19(3) (March): 1-7.
  1997. "Galileo, biotechnology, and epistemological humility.Pro Rege 35(3) (March): 1-19.
  1995. "Transcending technophilia and technophobia: a Reformational perspective on technology." Christian Educators Journal 35 (October): 2-3.
  2013. "Teaching technical engineering courses from a Christian perspective: Two examples." Pro Rege 41 (March): 1-11.

Willis Alberda 1984. "Norms for an information age." Pro Rege 13:22-28.

Andrew Basden

  2003. with A. Trevor Wood-Harper A Philosophical Enrichment of CATWOE

Elwood Bass 1974. "Science, technology and society - a historical perspective." Pro Rege 2:  11-18

Steve Bishop 'Towards a Christian approach to technologySpectrum 23 (1991) 9-15

Steve Bishop 'The religious dimension of technologyRE Today 10 (3) 1993

J. D. R. de Raadt. 1998. A New Management of Life. Toronto Series in Theology (Vol. 75). Lampeter: Edwin Mellen.

Ken Funk 2007. "Thinking critically about technologyPSCF 

Calvin Jongsma 1985. "Responsible technology: the challenge of our age." Pro Rege 13: 7-11.

Vanden House 1997. "In the beginning was Information." Pro Rege 25(4) (June): 19-28.

David Lyon 1997. "Spiders, flies and the Internet." Pro Rege 25(4) (June): 9-17.

David Lyon 1985. 'From Pacman to Homelink: Information technology and social ethics' Faith and Thought vol. 111 (1) (April 1985) 12-21

Paul Marshall 1986. 'Modern technology: idol or divine gift?' Evangelical Review of Theology vol. 10 (1986) 258-69.

David Pullinger 2004. Information technology: the ethical task.Gospel and Culture Newsletter. 21 (2004) 
Russell Maatman 1984. "The validity of science and technology." Pro Rege 13: 14-21..

Byron Newberry 2005. "The Challenge of Vocation in Engineering Education," Christian Scholar’s Review 35(1): 49-62.

David Pullinger 2003. The impact of information technology on human identity The Bible in Transmission Summer 2003 

Derek C. Schuurman 

        2007. "Forming a Christian view of computer technology." Journal of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences (ACMS).
        2012. "Technology has a message." Christian Educators Journal 51(3): 4-7.
                "A summary of a Christian perspective on computer science"
        2017 "Technology and the Biblical Story", Pro Rege, Vol. 46, No. 1, September 2017, pp. 4-11.
        2017.  "Modern Devices and Ancient Disciplines", Faith Today, November/December 2017, pp. 39-41.

Egbert Schuurman:

  1979. Technology in a christian-philosophical perspective (ICS - republished in (1984))
  1980. Futurology or eschatology Vanguard 10 (1): 8-11
  1993. Technicism and the dynamics of creation. Philosophia Reformata 58: 185-191.A confrontation with technicism as the spiritual climate of the WestWestminster Theological Journal 58 (1): 64-84.
  1997. Philosophical and technological problems of technicism and genetic engineeringPhilosophical and Ethical Problems of Genetic Engineering Techne, Electronic Journal of The Society for Philosophy and Technology, vol.3, no. 1,1997.
  2002. The ethics of technology: technological worldview, pictures, motives, values and normstechnology paper presented at Ecology, theology and Judeo-Christian ethics conference
Technology, genetic manipulation, and the future [excerpts from "The Future: Our Choice or God's Gift?"] Public Justice Reports
  2005. The ethics of responsibility paper presented at IS2005 Ethics: Person, Practices and Society Conference
  2006. "Struggle in the ethics of technology.Koers 71(1):155-173.

Steven H. VanderLeest 2006. 'Teaching Justice by Emphasizing the Non-neutrality of Technology', JECB 10 (2) 2006:111-128

Quentin J. Schultze 2004. 'Faith, Education and Communication Technology' JECB 8 (1) 2004: 9-21
Wayne Tinga 1985. "Computers and robotics." Pro Rege 13: 2-10.



Organisations

Blogs





Websites
See also Byron Borger's list

Sunday, 30 June 2013

More resources for a Christian approach to technology

In 2008 I posted a bibliography of resources for a Christian approach to technology (see also the list on all of life redeemed). Since then a number of great books, blogs and papers on the topic have appeared, including some I missed the first time around.


These are a few of them:

Books

Brue, Ethan J. Derek C. Schuurman, Derek C. and VanderLeest, Steven. 2022. A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers. Downers Grove: IVP.
How can designing and using technology actually be a way of loving God and our neighbors? Veteran engineers and teachers Ethan Brue, Derek Schuurman, and Steve VanderLeest provide a field guide for fellow explorers working with technology.

Derek Schuurman 2013. Shaping a DigitalWorld: Faith, Culture and Computer Technology. IVP.
   Byron Borger has a review/ summary of the book here.
   A website to support the book is here.

Bert Cusveller, Maarten Verkerk and Marc de Vries 2011. The Matrix Reformed
Science Fiction, Technology and Christian Philosophy. Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.

John Dyer 2011. From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology. Kregal.

Tim Challies 2011. The Next Story: Life and Faith after the Digital Explosion. Crossway.

Quentin J. Schultze and Robert H. Woods Jr. (eds) 2008. Understanding Evangelical Media. IVP.

Robert A. Wauzzinski 2001. Discerning Prometheus: The Cry for Wisdom on Our Technological Society. London: Associated Press.

Articles
Charles Adams 1980. "Engineering in Reformed perspective." Pro Rege 9 (September): 9-21.

Charles Adams 1991. "Automobiles, computers and assault riflesPro Rege 19(3) (March): 1-7.

Charles Adams 1997. "Formation or deformation: modern technology and the cultural mandate." Pro Rege 25(4) (June): 1-8.

Charles Adams 1997. "Galileo, biotechnology, and epistemological humility.Pro Rege 35(3) (March): 1-19.

Charles Adams 1995. "Transcending technophilia and technophobia: a Reformational perspective on technology." Christian Educators Journal 35 (October): 2-3.

Charles Adams. 2013. "Teaching technical engineering courses from a Christian perspective: Two examples." Pro Rege 41 (March): 1-11.

Willis Alberda 1984. "Norms for an information age." Pro Rege 13:22-28.

Elwood Bass 1974. "Science, technology and society - a historical perspective." Pro Rege 2:  11-18.

J. D. R. de Raadt. 1998. A New Management of Life. Toronto Series in Theology (Vol. 75). Lampeter: Edwin Mellen.

Ken Funk 2007. "Thinking critically about technology" PSCF 

Calvin Jongsma 1985. "Responsible technology: the challenge of our age." Pro Rege 13: 7-11.

Vanden House 1997. "In the beginning was Information." Pro Rege 25(4) (June): 19-28.

David Lyon 1997. "Spiders, flies and the Internet." Pro Rege 25(4) (June): 9-17.

Russell Maatman 1984. "The validity of science and technology." Pro Rege 13: 14-21..

Byron Newberry 2005. "The Challenge of Vocation in Engineering Education," Christian Scholar’s Review 35(1): 49-62.

Derek C. Schuurman 2007. "Forming a Christian view of computer technology." Journal of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences (ACMS).

Derek C. Schuurman 2012. "Technology has a message." Christian Educators Journal 51(3): 4-7.

Derek Schuurman "A summary of a Christian perspective on computer science"

Egbert Schuurman 2006. "Struggle in the ethics of technology." Koers 71(1):155-173.

Wayne Tinga 1985. "Computers and robotics." Pro Rege 13: 2-10.


Organisations

Christian Engineering Society
ISCAST

Blogs
A theology of technology
Engineering at Dordt
Technically speaking
Transforming Vision: Connecting theologia & techne


Web pages
Technology and Christian 'Values'
Last updated in 1999 but contains some useful materials.


Thursday, 24 March 2022

Review of God, Technology and the Christian Life

 God, Technology, and the Christian Life
Tony Reinke

Crossway Books

9781433578274

320pp, pbk

Book website here


Recent years has seen Christians are becoming aware of the impact of technology on cultural life. Although technology has always been with us, from the time Adam used a branch to reach fruit on a tree (as Calvin Seerveld observes) it is good to see books written on a Christian view of technology (see a list here). The 1986 book Responsible Technology was one of the first in recent decades to take it seriously. They pointed out that technology was not a neutral activity and that it must be done under the Lordship of Christ. One of the authors of that book Egbert Schuurman has written extensively on the impact of technology.


It is good to see that Christians are taking this issue seriously and in the last 12 months has seen several books on this topic. One of them is this book by Tony Reinke. Reinke is no stranger to technology he has previously written on 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You. In this book, he examines the border effects of technology ostensibly drawing on the insights of John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, Jacques Ellul, Wendell Berry, Kevin Kelly, Elon Musk, and Yuval Noah Harari. 


He identifies and debunks 12 common myths regarding faith and technology. These are:


Myth 1: Human innovation is an inorganic imposition forced onto the created order. 

Myth 2: Humans set the technological limits and possibilities over creation. 

Myth 3: Human innovation is autonomous, unlimited, and unchecked. 

Myth 4: God is unrelated to the improvements of human innovation. 

Myth 5: Non-Christian inventors cannot fulfill the will of God. 

Myth 6: God will send the most beneficial innovations through Christians. 

Myth 7: Humans can unleash techno-powers beyond the control of God. 

Myth 8: Innovations are good as long as they are pragmatically useful. 

Myth 9: God governs only virtuous technologies. 

Myth 10: God didn’t have the iPhone in mind when he created the world. 

Myth 11: Our discovery of atomic power was a mistake that God never intended. 

Myth 12: Christian flourishing hinges on my adoption or rejection of the technium.


Each chapter ends with a numbered list of take-always. 

I was hoping to see more on Kuyper and Bavinck - but they like to other authors mentioned are only utilised in passing. It is a shame that the two (unrelated) Schuurman’s are not drawn upon mere extensively - as both Schuurman’s provide some of the best Christian insights int technology. This is no academic book but provides a good introduction to the subject.


One point I found stimulating was Reinke’s observation in Chapter 3 he makes an interesting observation: Cutting-edge advances will mostly come through God rejectors. 


Of course, this is not always the case - most of the early scientists were Christian. And we have the Christian Faraday to thank for discovering electromagnetism. Reinke’s point does however show the effect of common grace. It begs the question is this descriptive or prescriptive?


Why is it the case? Is it because Christians are too heavenly minded to be if earthy use? Is it because technological involvement takes second place to church-based activities? Of course, it shouldn’t be the case - that it is is an indictment on dualistic Christianity.


Contents:

Chapter 1: What Is Technology?

 Chapter 2: What Is God’s Relationship to Technology?

 Chapter 3: Where Do Our Technologies Come From?

 Chapter 4: What Can Technology Never Accomplish?

 Chapter 5: When Do Our Technologies End?

 Chapter 6: How Should We Use Technology Today?

General Index

 Scripture Index


My thanks to Crossway for a review copy.



Thursday, 29 September 2016

Philosophy of Technology by Maarten J Verkerk, Jan Hoogland, Jan van der Stoep, Marc J. de Vries

Philosophy of Technology
An Introduction for Technology and Business Students
By Maarten J Verkerk, Jan Hoogland, Jan van der Stoep, Marc J. de Vries

A new book has been published by Routledge.

'Philosophy of Technology: An introduction for technology and business students is an accessible guide to technology’s changes , their ubiquitousness, and the many questions these raise. Designed for those with no philosophical background in mind, it is ideal for technology and engineering students or specialists who want to learn to think critically about how their work influences society and our daily lives.'






Contents
Part I: Thinking & Making
1. Thinking & Technology: Between analysis & criticism Portrait Carl Mitcham
2. Speaking in a Two-Sided Way: The meaning of disclosure & the disclosure of meaning Portrait Martin Heidegger

Part II: Making & Designing
3. The World of Technology: Three kinds of complexity Portrait Lewis Mumford
4. The Artefact [I]: Diversity & coherence
Portrait Alasdair MacIntyre
5. The Artefact [II]: Identity, function & structure
Portrait Gilbert Simondon
Case Study I: Nanotechnology
6. Knowledge of Designing: The role of the engineer
Portrait Herbert Simon
7. Design & Reality: Methodological obstinacy Portrait Bruno Latour
8. Technology & Production: From dehumanisation to the human measure
Portrait Larry Hickman
Case Study II: The New Factory

Part III: Designing & Thinking
9. The Rules of the Game: Technology as a social practice Portrait Langdon Winner
10. Symmetries: Between pessimists & optimists Portrait Jacques Ellul
11. Clashing Worlds: Globalisation & cultural diversity
Portrait Albert Borgmann
Case Study III: Network Enabled Military Operations
12. The Homo Technicus: From device to cyborg Portrait Don Ihde
13. ‘Good’ Technology?: Normative artefacts & the web of responsibilities Portrait Egbert Schuurman Case Study
IV: Innovation in Health Care
14. Expectations for the Future: The secular sacred and the limits of technology
Portrait Andrew Feenberg

Saturday, 31 December 2005

Egbert Schuurman: a Christian philosopher of technology


Professor Egbert Schuurman (1937 - ) is a professor of Reformational philosophy at the Universities of Delft and Eindhoven and at the Agricultural University of Waneningen in the Netherlands. He is also a member of the Senate of the Dutch parliament. He studied under Dooyeweerd and Van Riessen at the Free University in Amsterdam.


He is the author of :
He also contributed to the Calvin Center for Scholarship book Responsible Technology edited by Steven V. Monsma - sadly now out of print.

An audio tape of Egbert speaking on the ethics of technology is available from WYSOCS.

On-line articles include:
There is a Wiki article on him here.

Update
Another on-line article is available here [HT Macht]
Update 2
Another on the ethics of responsibility is here

Technorati Tags: , ,

Friday, 9 February 2007

Loving technology, loving God ...

Loving technology, loving God is the title of the new Comment by Rosie Perea.



Among other things, the sense of a disconnect between my faith and my interaction with technology led me to leave a successful career as a software engineer and become something of a Luddite, resisting new tech toys and computer or software upgrades for years, in order to seek out spiritual growth, instead, as if this were an either-or proposition. This ultimately brought me full circle to examining the relationship between technology and Christian faith. The examination led me to consider the goodness of technology when it is used for good, and employed in a healthy way. Only over the past few years have I begun to integrate two formerly disparate parts of my life, and to find pleasure once again in being a "techno geek." I have come to the conclusion that our love for technology, if not derived from and subordinate to our love for God, can compete with our love for God. That danger is still a reality for me, and I am always looking for ways to keep my love of technology grounded in the deeper love of God. Here follow some thoughts on how to keep a proper balance.


Monday, 8 July 2013

Derek Schuurman Shaping a Digital World


Book cover

Shaping a Digital World
Faith, Culture and Computer Technology
Derek C. Schuurman
Downers Grove: IVP Academic
ISBN-13: 978-0-8308-2713-8
Pbk, 138pp, £12.99

Derek Shuurman, professor of Computer Science at Redeemer, Ontario, has done all Christian technophobes and technophiles a favour. He has written a superb book on how to view technology from a Christian perspective. This book could be described as Creation Regained upgraded for a computer age.

Like Al Wolter's Creation Regained, Schuurman writes from an unashamedly neo-calvinist perspective. Kuyperian themes are embedded in the book. The first chapter introduces technology and exposes the myth that technology is neutral; others deal with Creation (ch 2), Fall (ch 3) and Redemption (ch 4); structure and direction, the antithesis, Dooyeweerd's modal aspects and the norms associated with each are discussed in relation to computer technology (ch 4). This might give the impression that this book is only for graduates - this couldn't be further from the truth. The book will be accessible to most with a good secondary education.

Four pages of discussions questions - a set for each chapter - provide an excellent basis for small group discussions. Further resources to support the book can be found on the book's companion website.

The book began as a series of notes to the question: "What does my faith have to do with my work as an electrical engineer?" In the book Schuurman seeks to answer the question: "What do [computer] bytes have to do with Christian beliefs?" He ably shows us how a Christian worldview informed by the scriptures can help us see the lordship of Christ in the area of (computer) technology.

This book is essential reading for all Christians who have contact with computers - and that would include most Christians! But even the Amish would find much here to illuminate and edify. If you are pastor buy several and give one to each of your students who are leaving for university in September. It will give them an excellent model through which to think about not only technology but also their chosen subject.



Saturday, 10 May 2008

Good technology, bad technology

This week's Comment has an interesting piece on technology by Wan Phek How of Regent College: 'Good technology. bad technology: how do we tell the difference?'. He asks:
Are these criteria—uninterrupted availability, personalization, standardization, modularity, ease of maintenance—sufficient to determine whether or not a particular technology is ultimately good?

Saturday, 6 July 2013

Intermediate resources for a Christian approach to most areas of life

There is some overlap with the introductory resources found here. A list of advanced resources will appear shortly. Like the introductory resources these intermediate ones are all written from a broadly neo-Calvinist perspective and are books rather than articles.
The list is testimony to the comprehensiveness of neo-Calvinism.

Feel free to make suggestions in the comments.


Mathematics
James Nikel 2000. Mathematics: Is God Silent? Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books
Andrew M. Hartely 2008. Christian and Humanist Foundations for Statistical Inference. Resource Publications, Wipf and Stock.

Physical sciences
M D Stafleu 2006. Relations and Characters in Protestant Philosophy. [online]
M D Stafleu 1980. Time and Again: A Systematic Analysis of the Foundations of Physics Toronto: Wedge Publishing Foundation.
M D Stafleu 1987. Theories at Work. Toronto: UPA.
Lydia Jaeger 2012. What the Heavens Declare. Eugene, OR: Cascade.
Nancy R. Pearcey and Charles B. Thaxton The Soul of Science Wheaton: Crossway Books


Biology
Jacob Klapwijk. 2008. Purpose in the Living World? : Creation and Emergent Evolution, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Russell Maatman. 1993. The Impact of Evolutionary Theory: A Christian View. Dordt: Dordt College Press.


Geography and place
Henk Aay and Sander Griffioen (ed.)1998. Geography and Worldview: A Christian Reconnaissance. Toronto: UPA
Craig Bartholomew 2011. Where Mortals Dwell. Grand Rapids: Baker.

Environment and Green issues
Steven Bouma-Preiger 2001. For the Beauty of the Earth. Grand Rapids: Baker
Loren Wilkinson et al. 1980. Earthkeeping in the 90s. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Built environment
Eric O Jacobsen 2012. The Space Between: A Christian Engagement with the Built Environment. Grand Rapids: Baker.

Technology
Stephen V. Monsma, (ed). 1986. Responsible Technology: A Christian Perspective. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Egbert Schuurman 1995. Perspectives on Technology and Culture Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.
Egbert Schuurman 1980.Technology and the Future - A Philosophical Challenge. Toronto: Wedge 
Andrew Basden 2008. Philosophical Frameworks for Understanding Information Systems. IGI Publishing.

History
M C Smit 2002. Toward a Christian Conception of History.  Edited and translated by Herbert Donald Morton and Harry Van Dyke. Toronto: UPA.

Psychology
Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen 1985. The Person in Psychology: A Contemporary Christian Appraisal. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Willem Ouweneel. 2008. Heart and Soul a Christian View of Psychology. Grand Rapids: Paidea Press.
Arnold H. De Graaff 1977. Views of Man and Psychology in Christian Perspective: some readings. Toronto: Institute for Christian Studies. 

Language and Lingustics
Albert Weideman. Beyond Expression. Grand Rapids: Paideia Press.
David Smith with Barbara Cavill 2000. The Gift of the Stranger: Faith, Hospitality and Foreign Language Learning Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Sociology
Alan Storkey 1979. A Christian Social Perspective. Leicester: IVP.
Herman Dooyeweerd A Christian Theory of Social Institutions. La Jolla: The Herman Dooyeweerd Foundation.

Economics
Bob Goudzwaard. Capitalism and Progress: A Diagnosis of Western Society. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Alan Storkey Transforming Economics. London: SPCK/ Third Way Books.

Politics
David Koyzis 2003. Political Visions and Illusions. Downers Grove: IVP.
Jan Dengerink 1978. The Idea of Justice in Christian Perspective. Toronto: Wedge.
James Skillen 2013. The Good of Politics: A Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Introduction. Grand Rapids: Baker, forthcoming.

Business
Jeff Van Duzer 2010. Why Business Matters to God (And What Still Needs to Be Fixed) . Downers Grove: IVP Academic.

Art and aesthetics
Hilary Brand and Adrienne Dengerink 2001.  Art and Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts Carlisle: Piquant.
Geoff Hall 2011. The Wilderness and the Desert of the Real. Upptacka Press (and others in the quadrilogy)
Calvin Seerveld 2000. Bearing Fresh Olive Leaves: Alternative Steps in Understanding Art. Carlisle: Piquant.

Music
Karen A. De Mol. 1999. Sound Stewardship: How Shall Christians Think About Music? Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.
Hans Rookmaaker 2002. New Orleans Jazz, Mahalia Jackson and the Philosophy of Art: The Complete Works Vol 2. Carlisle: Piquant.
Quentin Schultze et al. 1991. Dancing in the Dark: Youth, Popular Culture and the Electronic Media. Eerdmans. 

Education
Doug Blomberg 2007. Wisdom and Curriculum: Christian Schooling After Postmodernity. Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.
John Van Dyk 2000. The Craft of Christian Teaching. Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.
Harro Van Brummelen 1992.  Walking with God in the Classroom. Burlington, Ont: Welch.
Jack Mechielsen (ed.) 1980. No Icing on the Cake: Christian Foundations for Education. Brookes-Hall.
Stuart Fowler, et al. 1990. Christian Schooling: Education for Freedom. Potchefstroom: Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education.
Albert E. Greene Jr. 2003. Reclaiming the Future of Christian Education, Purposeful Design Publications; 2nd edition.

Law
Michael P. Schutt 2007. Redeeming Law: Christian Calling and the Legal Profession. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.

Ethics
Andre Troost The Christian Ethos. Bloemfontein: Patmos.

Theology and biblical studies
Gordon Spykman Refomational Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Michael Goheen 2011. A Light to the Nations. Grand Rapids: Baker.
Dave Beldman and Craig Bartholomew 2012. Hearing the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Worldview
Al Wolters 2005. Creation Regained. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans (2nd edn).
Richard Middleton and Brian J. Walsh Transforming Vision. Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press.
David K. Naugle 2002. Worldview. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans
Mike Goheen and Craig Bartholomew 2008. Living at the Crossroads. SPCK.
J. Mark Bertrand 2007. (Re)Thinking Worldview. Wheaton: Crossway.
John Peck and Charles Strohmer 2001. Uncommon Sense. London: SPCK.

Sport
John Byl and Tom Visker 1999. Physical Education, Sport and Wellness. Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.

Philosophy
Roy A. Clouser 2005. Myth of Neutrality. Notre Dame: UNDP (2nd edn).
Roy Clouser 1999. Knowing With the Heart. Downers Grove: IVP.
Andre Troost 2013. What is Reformational Philosophy? Grand Rapids: Paideia Press, 2013.
Steve Bishop (ed.) 2011. Like the First Gleam of Dawn: Reformational Studies - a B. J. van der Walt Reader. Potchefstroom: Institute for Contemporary Christianity in Africa.
Kornelius A. Bril 2005. Vollenhoven’s Problem-Historical Method. Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.
Herman Dooyeweerd In the Twilight of Western Thought. Grand Rapids: P&R

Leisure
P Heintzman, G A van Andel and Tom Visker 1994. Christianity and Leisure: Issues in a Pluralistic Society. Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.

Media and film
William Romanowski 2007. Eyes Wide Open. Grand Rapids: Brazos.
Quentin J Schulte and Robert Woods (eds) 2008. Understanding Evangelical Media. Downers Grove: IVP.
Brian Godawa 2002. Hollywood Worldviews. Downers Grove: IVP.

Family and Marriage
James H. Olthius 1975. I Pledge You My Troth. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
James H. Olthius 1986. Keeping Our Troth. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Alan Storkey 1996. Marriage and its Modern crisis: Repairing a Married Life. London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Harry Van Belle 1991. Two Shall Become One. Burlington, On: Welch Publishing.

Work and vocation
Amy L. Sherman 2011. Kingdom Calling. Downers Grove: IVP.
Lee Hardy 1990. The Fabric of This World.  Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Gender
Elaine Storkey 2000. Created or Constructed? Milton Keynes: Paternoster Press
Mary Stewart van Leeuwen 1990. Gender and Grace. Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press.


Many of these books if they are in print are available from Byron Borger's Hearts & Minds Bookstore in the USA

Fuller bibliographies for most of the above areas are available here and here.

Saturday, 17 February 2018

Media, Journalism, and Communication by Read Mercer Schuchardt

Media, Journalism, and Communication: A Student's Guide
Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition
Read Mercer Schuchardt
Crossway Books
Pbk; £8:56; 128pp.
ISBN 978-1-4335-3514-7




Media, Journalism and Communication is the latest addition to Crossway’s Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition.

Schuchardt seems to be channelling Ellul in his critique of media. He provides pertinent and apposite warning of the proliferation and all-encompassing nature of the media. This is a warning that needs to be heard and taken on-board by all students.

It has often been said we can identify someone’s worldview by what they do rather than what they think. As Schuchardt points out:

‘When times are compared, our media consumption habits, in terms of hours spent, are far more holy to us than the Sabbath, by any stretch.’
The aim of the book is ‘ to make you a more conscious user, and a less susceptible usee’. The book certainly does that. He ably demonstrates the ubiquity of media and why it matters, particularly today:

‘In the past, media was something you picked up, used, and then put down to get on with your life. Now media is your life, or at least the way you access everything else necessary to get on with your life.’

So much so that media is shaping us into its image.
‘Emojis are the new hieroglyphics’
And
‘Txtng is the new Hbrw’
This book will help all who read it to better discern the ideologies and assumptions behind most media (clue: it’s usually mammon).

My only gripe with the book is that it focuses on the fallen aspects of technology. And it seems, following Ellul (?), that Schuchardt regards technology as a product of the fall and not creation.
‘There was no technology in this environment [Genesis 1] because in a perfect world, you cannot improve it by inventing any form of labor saving or time-saving devices.’
What we need then is a complementary book that deals with the creative and redemptive aspects of technology and media. Nonetheless, this is an important book that demands to be read by all students, and not just students of media.



Book website: https://www.crossway.org/books/media-journalism-and-communication-tpb/




Friday, 1 July 2005

Macht on technology

The Evangelical Outpost has an excellent 'expert witness' article by Macht - who blogs at Prosthesis - on Technology; he quotes from one of my favourite books on technology Responsible Technology. It's a great piece and well worth reading.


Sunday, 14 September 2014

The drama of Scripture II: The fall

Here are the slides and notes from my talk on Sunday. It was the second in a series based on the excellent book by Goheen and Bartholomew.


It’s been said that the history of the world can be told with three apples:
The apple Adam ate, the apple that fell on Newton’s head and the Apple Steve Jobs gave us. Of course, that’s not quite true as nothing in the biblical text suggests that it was an apple Adam ate! The apple is a good image for what happened.

…And then there was sin.

One thing is certain sin has tarnished, disrupted and distorted God's good creation.

Because of the "apple" humanity, God and the world are estranged (Gen 3:17; 9:2). This decisive biblical event is well described by Walther Eichrodt:

This event has the character of a "Fall", that of a falling out of line of the development willed by God.

The fall is a falling out of line of the development willed by God. It’s not the way it’s supposed to be. As Romans 8 has it the creation is now groaning. God’s intention in creation was for humans to fill and subdue the earth, to till and to keep it: in other words to build civilisation. When we think of creation we think of solar systems, sun, sea, sky, sharks, starfish and spiders. But creation is more than that; within the creation order there is culture and civilisation. Humans were to develop and help the whole of creation to flourish. This unfolding of creation was to result in institution such as government, education, farming, art and music, business, science and technology.

However, Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They didn’t want to do things God’s way, they wanted to be their own bosses. That is the essence of sin – it wasn’t just what they did it was about the heart, an act of the will, an act of defiance. In essence it’s: We don’t want to be ruled by God we want to rule ourselves.

It might seem odd to suggest that science, technology, government, work and so on were part of creation. But look at the activities that Adam was doing before the fall.

Genesis 2: 19
God bought the animals to Adam – and Adam had to name them. He would have to distinguish between each animal, numbering them – the start of mathematics, he had to name them, observation and classification, the start of science.  We could go on.

Genesis 2: 5
There was no man to work the ground – so humans were created. We were created to work! We don’t work to get money, we work as part of our God-given creational task.

So what went wrong? There was a falling out of line of the development willed by God. It’s not the way it’s supposed to be!

God placed humans in a garden. The Bible ends in a city, the new Jerusalem. That involves development and the production of culture and civilisation. But then came the fall – a falling out of line. That, fortunately, is not the end of the story. God is in the business of redemption.

Structure and direction
The distinction between structure and direction is important here. Structure refers to the form in which things have been created; direction refers to the pull of sin or grace on that structure. The fall means that it is the direction not the structure of the world that has altered.

In Genesis 1:28 we were given what has been called the cultural mandate; it has not been annulled because of the fall.

Be fruitful and increase in number
Fill the earth
Subdue it
Rule over the animals

Genesis 2: 15
Placed in the garden of Eden to
Work it and
Take care of it

That is still our task and our calling.
What has happened, though through the fall, is that it has been made all the more difficult.

Genesis 2: 16
Filling the earth is made all the more painful as childbearing pains are increased.

Rulership becomes deformed: "the husband shall rule over the wife".

Genesis 2:17-18
Subduing is made all the more difficult as work in the garden will be a "painful toil".

Most initiatives of the development of creation such as cities, music and technology (metal working) arise out of the line of Cain (in Genesis 4). The development of clothes also comes as a result of the fall (Gen 3:7, 21). Were humans intended merely to remain in a pristine garden?

If we take the example of cities we cannot declare them inherently evil, because the new heavens and earth are pictured as a city in Revelation. To see all human post-fall development as evil is to confuse the structure and direction of creation. Cities, music, fashion, science, technology, art ... all have a creational structure, the fall has not affected this but has changed their direction of these God-given aspects have been distorted and mis-directed. They can be developed obediently or disobediently to creational norms.

The task of civilisation, however is rooted in the creation narrative. When God created the heavens and the earth he first formed it and then began to fill it. It is this task that humans have to continue. This is what civilisation is about; it is part of the human task to be the image bearers of God.

Ironically it seems that it is a step of rebellion that leads to a development of "civilisation". God works all things together for good. God wasn't taken by surprise.

No area of life is left untainted by sin. Sin affects every area of life.

All relationships are broken: with God, with the world, with other humans and with ourselves.

Adam and Eve are banished from the garden. It appears that out of defiant rebellion God is working out his purposes for the fulfilment of the cultural mandate. Adam's expulsion from the garden means that the rest of the world can be "civilised"; similarly with the tower of Babel it means that humanity is scattered throughout the globe and as they are they take the image of God with them.

We may live in a world that is not the way it’s supposed to be, a world that has fallen out of line of the development willed by God. But God is working on that. The expulsion from the garden is the beginning of redemption. The remainder of the Bible is the story of God redeeming, through Christ, his good but fallen creation.

As sin has affected every area and aspect of life, so too does redemption.

And that’s the story that will be unfolded in the next few weeks.