We embraced the mediated life―from Facetune and Venmo to meme culture and the Metaverse―because these technologies offer novelty and convenience. But they also transform our sense of self and warp the boundaries between virtual and real. What are the costs? Who are we in a disembodied world?
In today's episode, Dr. Groothuis reviews Christine Rosen's book "The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World," which critiques the impact of technology on human life. Dr. Groothuis highlights Rosen's argument that technology impoverishes our lives by replacing human interactions with digital ones, such as handwritten notes with texting and in-person education with online learning. He notes that Rosen's secular perspective can be applied to religious practices like online church services. Dr. Groothuis also criticizes the reduction of art to mere entertainment and the negative effects of technology on attention and safety. Despite these criticisms, he acknowledges the convenience of technology but emphasizes the importance of preserving distinctively human experiences.
Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is Distinguished University Research Professor of Apologetics and Christian Worldview at Cornerstone University and the author of twenty books, including Beyond the Wager: The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal (InterVarsity, 2024).
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