Brian Jones on Technology, Holiness, and Wholeness

"During a recent group conversation about contemporary technology, a friend mentioned what he considered to be the elephant in the room, namely, that we live in a technological age. 'To be anti-technological,' my friend concluded, 'seems to be rather extreme and dangerous.' Typically, when criticisms are made about technology, it is not uncommon for some people to wonder if you are some kind of Luddite or (even worse, apparently) Amish. They envision you out in the countryside, devoid of any and all technology, tending cows, churning butter, cut off from others and, perhaps most importantly, being more than a little strange.

"I think it is necessary to respond to such claims, for while they are intelligible, they seem to be symptomatic of the wrong questions and ideas. When we think about technology, we often do so simply in terms of 'use.' In other words, it is typical to consider technology primarily in terms of what we should not do with it. Looking at pornography or fostering vitriol towards others using social media would be considered bad uses of the internet and digital technology. By not engaging in these activities, and many others that one could think of, suggests that we are using technology as it was meant to be.

"Such a position is not misguided. To use technology in a virtuous way is part of the correct way to see and understand such things. However, it is only a part. What is often neglected are considerations pertaining to more fundamental questions about what technology is. And this is where conversations can get a bit awkward and messy. To take seriously the question 'What is it?' is not to be anti-technology. Rather, it is the natural human inclination to know what things are; it is the spring of philosophy and, might I add, human happiness."

In a recent commentary, writer Brian Jones reflected on contemporary technology and its relationship to health, wholeness, and holiness.

To access Mr. Jones' complete post, please visit:

Catholic World Report: The Dispatch: Seeking holiness and wholeness in an age of technology (29 MAY 17)