God’s truth isn’t locked out of our smartphones

“I think the Spirit doesn’t lead us to abandon technology but enables us to better use it. Our Society began with the clearness that the entirety of God’s teaching and truth didn’t end on the last page of the Bible: that God is still teaching! Can we still listen to the Inward Teacher when we impulsively check our smartphones throughout the day? I think that we can. God’s truth isn’t locked in a book or in a specific moment in history; that truth is also not locked out of our modern technologies.

When I was young, the line between what was called ‘real life’ and technology (in my case a Nintendo 64) seemed distinct. I could plug in a cartridge, turn on the console, enjoy the story, turn it off, and then go outside. I am more aware of the lack of the distinction today. From my interactions with children today, I notice that they see their presence on the Internet in a different way: there is less of a separation between a digital persona and a ‘real life.’ I worry about how our middle school-aged children should deal with having constant connection to their social networks in their pocket. I worry too about cyberbullying. My worry isn’t because I think they aren’t a capable generation, but because I don’t know how to deal with it perfectly either. We are all figuring it out. There are no elders to turn to for answers.

Although I feel some fear, I don’t want the world to return to the way it used to be. This new lack of the separation in our lives is probably a good development. As we venture into this unknown territory together, I believe that the Friends tradition of collective listening and discerning is more needed than ever.”