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Techno-demonology: Naming, Understanding and Redeeming the A/Human Agencies with Which We Share Our World.

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Techno-demonology: Naming, Understanding and Redeeming the A/Human Agencies with Which We Share Our World. / Szerszynski, Bronislaw.
In: Ecotheology, Vol. 11, No. 1, 03.2006, p. 57-75.

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@article{33f58f567f61473ab3e52a1fe06cc6be,
title = "Techno-demonology: Naming, Understanding and Redeeming the A/Human Agencies with Which We Share Our World.",
abstract = "In this paper I argue that an important strand of ecotheology should be an articulated techno-demonology - an understanding of the ways that technologies increasingly confront us as indifferent or malign agencies. Drawing particularly on the New Testament language of spiritual agencies, I consider in turn three necessary components of techno-demonology. First, techno-demonology needs a taxonomic nomenclature, one which names techno-demonological phenomena in a manner that reveals the specific ways in which the technologies can stand before us as autonomous powers. As a contribution to this task I distinguish between elementals (stoicheia) and powers (dynameis) - between technical systems which have become treated as ends in themselves, and have thus started to control human action, and technologies whose unanticipated side-effects overwhelm their intended purposes. Second, I suggest that techno-demonology should include an understanding of how such techno-demons arise; I thus give historical explanations for the proliferation of technological elementals and powers in the contemporary world. Finally, I argue that techno-demonology should include the redemptive task of restoring technology to its rightful place in creation.",
keywords = "technology, theology, demons, angels",
author = "Bronislaw Szerszynski",
year = "2006",
month = mar,
language = "English",
volume = "11",
pages = "57--75",
journal = "Ecotheology",
issn = "1363-7320",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Techno-demonology: Naming, Understanding and Redeeming the A/Human Agencies with Which We Share Our World.

AU - Szerszynski, Bronislaw

PY - 2006/3

Y1 - 2006/3

N2 - In this paper I argue that an important strand of ecotheology should be an articulated techno-demonology - an understanding of the ways that technologies increasingly confront us as indifferent or malign agencies. Drawing particularly on the New Testament language of spiritual agencies, I consider in turn three necessary components of techno-demonology. First, techno-demonology needs a taxonomic nomenclature, one which names techno-demonological phenomena in a manner that reveals the specific ways in which the technologies can stand before us as autonomous powers. As a contribution to this task I distinguish between elementals (stoicheia) and powers (dynameis) - between technical systems which have become treated as ends in themselves, and have thus started to control human action, and technologies whose unanticipated side-effects overwhelm their intended purposes. Second, I suggest that techno-demonology should include an understanding of how such techno-demons arise; I thus give historical explanations for the proliferation of technological elementals and powers in the contemporary world. Finally, I argue that techno-demonology should include the redemptive task of restoring technology to its rightful place in creation.

AB - In this paper I argue that an important strand of ecotheology should be an articulated techno-demonology - an understanding of the ways that technologies increasingly confront us as indifferent or malign agencies. Drawing particularly on the New Testament language of spiritual agencies, I consider in turn three necessary components of techno-demonology. First, techno-demonology needs a taxonomic nomenclature, one which names techno-demonological phenomena in a manner that reveals the specific ways in which the technologies can stand before us as autonomous powers. As a contribution to this task I distinguish between elementals (stoicheia) and powers (dynameis) - between technical systems which have become treated as ends in themselves, and have thus started to control human action, and technologies whose unanticipated side-effects overwhelm their intended purposes. Second, I suggest that techno-demonology should include an understanding of how such techno-demons arise; I thus give historical explanations for the proliferation of technological elementals and powers in the contemporary world. Finally, I argue that techno-demonology should include the redemptive task of restoring technology to its rightful place in creation.

KW - technology

KW - theology

KW - demons

KW - angels

M3 - Journal article

VL - 11

SP - 57

EP - 75

JO - Ecotheology

JF - Ecotheology

SN - 1363-7320

IS - 1

ER -