Chapter 4 covered by Lon as part of our Group Blogging Project discussing the book Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps. If you need a quick overview to what Flickering Pixels is about, please go here.
Walking and talking comes intuitively to humans, but reading the words you’re reading right now does not. Shane Hipps goes as far as saying it’s completely unnatural. The basic technology of writing that “compresses reality into line after line of strange shapes arranged in sequence” transforms not only our world, but the way in which we view the world.
Hipps states one of the primary differences between eastern and western civilizations is due to the technology of language. Chinese pictographic characters are non-linear, less efficient, but more holistic. While the phonetic alphabet system of the west is linear, efficient, and rational.
With simply 26 symbols and the printing press communication and learning has changed forever. Higher order learning and the Industrial revolution were made possible because of this. However the values of efficient have also shaped the gospel often compressing it into a linear sequential formula.
The even greater danger Hipps suggests is that our culture’s love for mental reasoning and efficiency ends up deadening deep desire:
- We acquire the bland taste of a domesticated god who resides somewhere in our head.
- We are what we behold.
- Our thinking patterns actually mirror the things we use to think with.
- My two year old can now string together all her ABC’s. Pastors can now become social media literate through churchcrunch.
- It might be ‘unnatural’, but we do need to spend ample amounts of time preparing ourselves to interact with the world as it is.
- We live in a fast-paced, efficient, and tech savvy world.
However, I wonder what it would look like to spend just as much time creating the world as it should be?
- It’s not cost-effective to meet in person when we can just skype or tokbox.
- It doesn’t make sense to share an idea with an individual, when I can broadcast it to thousands online with a global reach.
- It goes against logic to spend prolonged time with another person, when I can extract their latest and greatest thoughts on their blog.
But does any of this make us more human or Kingdom-oriented?
What’s one thing we could do today, that might possibly be less efficient, but more natural, and more life engaging?
[Image from Pensiero]
dewde says
Hugs. That's my one thing… more hugs. Can't do it online and sometimes a hug can say more than words.
peace|dewde
Josh Wagner says
I think at some point people will revolt over no physical contact. We need true community (as in flesh and blood in the same room with you). If you remove physical contact, the soul is diminished, and at some point people will realize this. Hopefully sooner than later…
lon says
good one… i feel like i'm missing out already.
Susan_Stewart says
Efficiency has become a god.
This past weekend as I wandered the vendor area at a conference where I was speaking, I came across a book of reflections meant to be one minute meditations. I began to think, "Why do we NEED to rush through everything? Wouldn't five-minute, thirty-minute, or even sixty-minute meditations be more productive?"
In the name of efficiency, we have chopped everything into little time slots — fifteen minutes of "quiet time" with God, 140-character messages (don't have time for more), or "quality" time with kids and/or spouse.
In addition to thinking linearly, we act linearly. Everything becomes one more item on the to-do list, including personal contact time.
Sometimes we just have to take the time to be more personal, without conditions. While I was in the Los Angles area, I met with someone I do freelance work for. In addition to be co-workers, we are very good friends. We left the office where our discussion would have been efficient time wise, and went to a cozy tea shop. Yes, we discussed business. Business we could have even talked about on the phone. I believe we accomplished so much more as we talked over a cup (or three) of tea in a more relaxed manner without an agenda in front of us.
Another difficulty that comes up with doing everything in a linear, efficient manner is the loss of emotion. We can read the Twitter, Facebook, or email, but not see the face that may have joy or pain.
As dewde points out some things communicate better than mere words.
Adam_S says
I remember reading an article about the most recent shuttle disaster. (Or maybe it was the mars prob, I don't remember.) But in the official report, there was some time devoted to the water cooler problem. As NASA grew and contracted a lot of its work out (in the name of efficiency) there was less water cooler time for people from varying parts of the project. So people think only about their part and not as much about the whole. When you have time to talk and interact problems get solved that we didn't even know were problems because there is conversation across disciplines and throughout the organization. Obviously, there are some limits to that, but quite often efficiency is giving up the long term for the short term.
lon says
agreed… especially on the linear thing – everything seems so precise and well thought out, I think we get use to it, and freak out when we come in real contact with people and things aren't as sleek and clean.
Paul Steinbrueck says
The points made in this chapter about the rise in prominence of linear, rational thought because of the the written word are really interesting to me. I think the rise in multimedia in the last few decades is changing all that. I think those of us who are under the age of 40 don't realize how dramatic the change has been.
Think about people who are over 50 and churches that are dominated by people over 50… They are so focused on text and reason. They still use hymnals, text-only Sunday bulletins, and if they have a website at all it is entirely text containing the facts. Many don't think worship should be emotional. Their relationship with God is about obedience and discipline.
Contrast that with those who are under 40 and are focused images, media, emotion, and the experiential. We want our relationship with God to be one of passionate love for God and others. It's no wonder we have moved from the modern era to the post-modern.
andydarnell says
I'm reminded each week about the place that we've taken our traditional Southern Baptist Church… Although we're not Six Flags over Jesus, the over 50s remind me week after week that we're singing and playing music that isn't their way to worship.
The 33 year old in me wants the visual, emotion, experiential… I think that will make the most impact on the culture that is visiting our church, but they're met with 1980s and maybe 1990s "church."
stephenbateman says
Rational and linear thought forces the thinker to be focused. I think it's important to remember that there are positives to our writing system, technology, and whatever other medium, not just drawbacks. It's all about balance.
Our technology allows me (and you) to meet people from all over the world. I'll never be in a room with them, but I still get to hear their views and thoughts…That certainly doesn't replace deep relational connection, but in balance, can greatly supplement it!
Paul Steinbrueck says
"It's all about balance."
Exactly. IMO, for too long Christians denied the emotional and the experiential. Yet it would be a huge mistake to totally throw out reason, logic, linear thought, and objective truth.
We have a God that is rational and emotional, logical and experiential, who expresses Himself through the written word and vivid imagery. He created us in His image. To whatever extent we can, we ought to embrace all of who God is and all of who He has created us to be.
Phil says
It's so easy for me to just send an email, text, Tweet etc. And feel like I have connected with people. Even with my wife, which is crazy. I can just hide and feel like I have done my part. This is a good reminder that taking things off line takes time and effort, but moves toward realionship in a more intimate, phisical and engaging way.