John Dyer joined DIFW for the Faith & Technology Forum in 2013. Ahead of the event, I did a brief Skype interview with John on his book From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology.
Even though I struggled to get the Skype recorder working (I apologize for the slow frame speed), John was gracious as we re-recorded the brief interview several times. Here are the questions I asked:
1. First, how would you define technology?
2. So, we shape our tools – our technology – but they also shape us. In one chapter, you discuss how different mediums of digital communication – like phone calls, Tweeting, blogs, or texting – actually shape our thinking. How does this work?
3. Many see that technology is not just a neutral tool. But on the other side, some say technology itself is a determining force and shapes culture almost in spite of human beings. What’s your view on this?
4. What can the Bible - the Christian story - contribute to our understanding of technology?
5. You’re a coder and web developer. You live and breathe digital technology. What kind of questions do you ask yourself to evaluate the effect of a particular technology – perhaps even one you’re designing – on human life?
Jeff Haanen is a writer and entrepreneur. He founded Denver Institute for Faith & Work, a community of conveners, teachers and learners offering experiences and educational resources on the gospel, work, and community renewal. He is the author of An Uncommon Guide to Retirement: Finding God’s Purpose for the Next Season of Life and an upcoming two-book series on spiritual formation, vocation, and the working class for Intervarsity Press. He lives with his wife and four daughters in Denver and attends Wellspring Church in Englewood, Colorado.
