Articles
Masters of Our Machines
I have a reputation of being anti-technology. This is not altogether undeserved (I still use a flip phone; I have sent one text in my life [consisting of one word]; I do not own a flat screen TV). But the truth is I am not really anti-technology. I am, however, anti-enslaved-to-mechanical-devices-to-the-degree-that-I-lose-all-common-sense. I am also anti-naive-to-think-that-electronic-devices-have-no-harmful-side-effects.
One of Satan’s tactics is to simply distract us from things that really matter and consume ourselves with meaningless drivel, self-centered amusement or other frivolous activity that squanders our spiritual potential. A recent article explored the emotional charge most of us get when we receive notifications via FB, email or other media:
“It’s all about the dopamine, the chemical associated with reward and motivation response in the brain, that emerges when we receive a Facebook notification. Every notification is a possible interaction opportunity, so every time we cater to that little (1), we get a hit of dopamine, which recharges our “addictive compulsion” to social media (Elite Daily, General Notification: Why Our Brains Literally Love Notifications).
While anything can become our master, having the world at our fingertips via smart phones, notebooks and other machines is a mighty powerful enticement – so much so that Stephen Hawking recently suggested that artificial intelligence will eventually destroy the human race. An overstatement, perhaps, but more realistic is the threat to our spiritual health.
The question for each of us is: does anything have such control of my mind that I cannot focus on truly important things? Inanimate objects have power over us only as we cede that power to them. Long ago (even presently in some places) people were dominated by carved images, which were lifeless personifications of human desire. But now our “idols” talk to us, educate us, take around the world. Our idols are interactive and captivating (picture the person who literally can’t take their eyes off of the 3”x5” box in their hand, even to drive or interact with their children).
Are you able to ignore your sound prompts or turn off your device when your attention should be elsewhere? Another way to ask it is: Are you the master of your machine, or does your machine have the upper hand?
