iGods: How Technology Shapes Our Spiritual and Social Lives

In this book, Craig Detweiler asks us to take a step back from our devices and…think. Yes, the actual human act of engaging our moribund intellects without outside algorithmic assistance. Yes, to think without first genuflecting to the streaming ticker at the bottom of the news channel, website, app, or push notification. The reader is challenged to carefully consider how consumer technologies act upon us and what spiritual, cognitive, and behavioral changes follow.Although a book from 2013 can seem outdated in our Jetsons meets 1984 era, I found it to be relevant and beneficial in many respects. Since the dawn of time, technology has shaped the lives of humanity. A major tailwind for this book is the way Detweiler circles the wagons around a working definition of technology (Chapter 1) that holds up well throughout the book and bears close scrutiny. It is more than gadgets and viral videos. Detweiler connects the reader with the techne of the ancient Greek thinkers and those before and after them who created and cultivated things toward the goal of harnessing, predicting, or controlling aspects of the world to facilitate some form of human flourishing.The author nicely interweaves themes from the Genesis 1 ‘dominion/subdue’ mandate and Genesis 2 work directive. He also brings an important eschatological perspective into the fold, reminding us that there is a telos (end, objective) to technology that is beyond itself, and encouraging us to explore what that might be.iGods provides helpful profiles on the history and business model(s) of four major consumer technology companies. Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook. Detweiler also briefly covers YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. A return to basics helps us to know more precisely what these companies do that adds sufficient value to command so much web and headspace, not to mention money. If you have ever wondered how Facebook became so popular, you will find some good starting answers here. If you are really interested, you can dig further into some of the abundant source material provided in the endnotes (some of which might be a bit dated).The personal and theological implications of these technologies in our lives is helpfully explained throughout. I especially appreciated the concluding chapter, which tied the previous analyses together nicely when they seemed to otherwise be quite siloed. It would have been helpful to read more on how a parent might approach technology, offering ideas to handle the constant dilemmas we face about screen time, content filtering, and gaming. The latter of these was a bit of an oversight in its absence from the book. Gaming is of course now an 800 lb. gorilla in the digital world, with Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite and the like gobbling up server space and bandwidth at a breathtaking pace.Detweiler seems to just barely glance upon some of the issues creeping up from the underbelly of digital consumer technologies. For example, the ease with which illicit content can be made and disseminated is not sufficiently covered as a perilous downside. Perhaps these issues were beyond the scope of the book. From a Christian standpoint, we must acknowledge that sins made easier by technology can be that much more insidious. Further, there is an important question about how much moral culpability a company might have in making such material available and profiting from it, directly or indirectly.This book is worth reading and would be especially helpful for Christian parents and those in ministry who face the constant dilemma of how to reach more people for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in a digital age. Read it with an open mind, though perhaps not on a Kindle or iPhone.

This is an enlightening book. A substantial part of the book is an overview of the rise of computer giants in the internet age. But as the history of these organizations (Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook and a few others) are discussed, the author delves into the social and theological implications of this shift in technology. Detweiler does not condemn the rapid advance in technology nor does he just focus on the negative side of the internet. He celebrates the positive impact of much of this technology and how it helps us handle the vast amount of information available. He reminds us that God was the first technological genius when, at creation, he brought order into the chaos (something the Google does with every search). Using a Greek word study of tekton (the word translated as carpenter in the New Testament), Detweiler reminds us that Jesus was essentially involved in the technology of his age. We’re not to be afraid of technology. Yet, at the same time, he feels a need to put the “iGods” in their proper place. He reminds his readers of their purpose and limitations. Although we have a tendency to place “blind trust” in technology, we must remember that our trust and faith belong to another realm.Detweiler, in digging into the human call in Genesis to “cultivate,” reminds us of our need to organize. Our use of technology is linked to our calling by God. But we have to be careful. Thanks to the iPhone, as one of Detweiler’s sources points out, “we have evolved from a culture of instant gratification to one of constant gratification.” Today, we’re “tempted to relate to the iPhone rather than the world.” (65) Have we replaced God with Google’s algorithms? Will “I’ll google it” replace “I’ll pray about it”? (117) Can we really trust Google when our own search history leads to “confirmation bias” and our self-selecting of friends on Facebook supports our own ideas about the world. In this manner, instead of this technology leading to a more open society, we feed our own biases. Although there is a “democracy” to Facebook (freedom to like comments), it also results in targeted marketing. In the end, social media supports the “hyper-partisanship in Washington” and can lead to our own “faith bubbles.”. (122-3)The “Google Doctrine” may be changing the world, but it’s not as free as one might think. Although social media has helped spur revolution and the downfall of brutal dictators, such brutes have caught on. Misinformation is a problem. A study of the 2011 protests in Russia found that half the tweets sent out were by “bots” used by the government to counter the protests. (193). While Twitter is often condemned for being too short to have said anything meaningful, Detweiler reminds us that in a world where we are drowning in information, there is something refreshing about reducing ideas to their simple base (“an electronic haiku”). Humorously, he links Twitter to the book of Proverbs in the Bible, which he refers to as the “original Twitterverse” (184)Detweiler reminds his readers of our need for “Sabbaths.” We need to step away from social media as a way to remind ourselves what is important. Although the “iGods” taunt us with faster speeds, we should remember that the Bible lifts up the virtue of patience. We should “celebrate technology as a gift, but resist the temptation to prostrate ourselves before it.” (225)Although some will find this book deep, it is well-written and should be read by anyone wanting to understand the implications of this new technological world. Detweiler quotes theologians, sociologists, historians, and philosophers. However, the reading is not easy. I am sure many, especially those who may not be comfortable in the many disciplines from which he draws, may find the way Detweiler shifts from one paragraph to the next from a discussion of technology to theological to issues of faith or social importance a bit confusing.

Technology's woo and those iGods (aka Amazon.com, Google, Facebook, Twitter) who leverage technology to influence our buying, communication, querying, source of information, and interaction are often adopted and adapted to "without pausing to consider whether they are good or bad, helpful or hurtful" (p. 7). Access, aesthetics, abundance, algorithms, authority, and authenticity are key words through which technology and iGods were examined. Strengths of the book were the case study descriptions and discussions along with the very thought provoking questions within the text and at the end of each chapter.During my reading, I confess I wasn't clear on the theological discussion or the connection to spirituality. A case (e.g., Google) was discussed followed by Biblical references and discussion relevant to the passages selected but in reading these elements felt tacked on....that is until the end - the Conclusion tied together the spiritual aspects.If you like books by Sherry Turkle or Baym's Personal Connections in the Digital Age - you will like this book. Through the case descriptions and the lens or specific key words and the Biblical/spiritual perspective - Detweiler provided a super addition to the conversation about technology use within our society and culture. It's worth a buy for the questions used throughout - I can see these questions providing rich conversation starters in the classroom!One critique - along with footnotes (provided), I wanted this book to have a bibliography so I could, at a glance, figure out key cited authors and works.

A book worth reading and offers a reasonable overview and insight to media.

Really interesting book to read. Needed it for a sociology course in undergraduate school.

Kept thinking, there is a difference between technology and love of technology. As well, it's great to have all the gadgets he has as he travels the world but I don't have those resources and neither do billions around the world. Does that mean we have no say on technology?