Sunday, August 3, 2014

Paul Douglas

The Weatherman for the Star Tribune wrote this in his 8-3-2014 weather report: "Limits of technology--Technology will save us from ourselves, and it may be true, at least some of the time. I'm a techn-optimist, but there are limits to my exuberance."

Like Douglas, I am a techno-optimist that believes that science, materialism, machines, computers--in short technology--improve our lives in innumerable ways. Of course there are limits.

Technology is a tool like any other tool. A machete can be used to hack down jungle growth, or to wipe out hundreds of thousands of loathed neighbors, like in Rwanda 20 years ago. Technology is mostly good, but it can then be perverted to evil ends. The Nazis rode motorcylces when they invaded Poland.

Nothing can save us from ourselves, but each of us has the power and divinely driven duty to save ourselves. This is not a burden dumped on us by God. Rather, it is a glorious chance for each of us to demonstrate what we have become, and how loving we can be. Technology is a extension of one's good will or one's bad will.

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