Thanks for this Austin. Due to a number of family and work matters I haven’t yet read the encyclical and I greatly appreciated your summary. I will be reading a couple Pillar contributions before I can free up to read the encyclical itself .
There are always challenges that come along but hanging in there (especially if I hang with Christ )🙂
By the way I was in NYC in late April and sent you via IM some photos of a beautiful TEC church I ran across . Had never seen it in the 12 years l lived in Manhattan. And I saw some beautiful Episcopal churches in those years . Check it out
No worries . If you ever visit NYC with your wife I have a whole TEC suggested itinerary I can recommend. I did a fair amount of church visiting (mass on Saturday facilitates that ).
Excellent!! This encyclical is just what we need! I'm particularly thankful for what this might mean for the church's development of doctrine on certain issues! I have my own gripes with skipping weekly mass as grave matter, rejection of consubstantiation as a valid option, the inconsistencies of when/how "openness to procreation" is required for ethical sexual activity, and the male-exclusive priesthood. I don't know for sure if it's in God's will to have these change, or when, but Pope Leo seems to agree that the underlying spiritual principles should be the continuity (as you say) and that the concrete instantiation can change across generations as the Spirit leads:
"I am convinced that the concrete way of living out social relationships in the light of the Gospel is not established once and for all, but remains a task entrusted, from generation to generation, to the Christian community." (91)
That’s a really interesting quote you pulled out there! Only time will tell what happens with the topics you mentioned, but it will be interesting to see what direction development takes in those areas.
I’m curious: Do you think AI in itself is honouring to imago dei, given that it is a robotic amalgamation? ie, are there some technologies that are just intrinsically dishonouring?
I think we’d have to be more specific. I’m not convinced that all AI is contrary to honoring the Image of God. When we talk about AI, most people have generative AI in mind, but that’s only a fraction of what AI really is. A lot of AI is basically advanced computation. However, if we’re talking about AI in creative fields, then I think it is often contrary to the image of God, though perhaps not intrinsically so (that would imply that it would be regardless of application).
I lean in the direction of “Against the Machine” (Paul Kingsnorth), ie, I perceive the whole of screen/tech culture as causing more harm than good, especially spiritual harm. Yet it’s impossible to interact unless using tech.
Guess it’s another opportunity to strengthen faith & discernment.
Thanks for this Austin. Due to a number of family and work matters I haven’t yet read the encyclical and I greatly appreciated your summary. I will be reading a couple Pillar contributions before I can free up to read the encyclical itself .
Glad it was helpful for you! Hope all is well with family and work.
There are always challenges that come along but hanging in there (especially if I hang with Christ )🙂
By the way I was in NYC in late April and sent you via IM some photos of a beautiful TEC church I ran across . Had never seen it in the 12 years l lived in Manhattan. And I saw some beautiful Episcopal churches in those years . Check it out
I’ll check them out now! I took FB off my phone so I’ve been bad about checking it. Apologies for the delay!
No worries . If you ever visit NYC with your wife I have a whole TEC suggested itinerary I can recommend. I did a fair amount of church visiting (mass on Saturday facilitates that ).
Excellent!! This encyclical is just what we need! I'm particularly thankful for what this might mean for the church's development of doctrine on certain issues! I have my own gripes with skipping weekly mass as grave matter, rejection of consubstantiation as a valid option, the inconsistencies of when/how "openness to procreation" is required for ethical sexual activity, and the male-exclusive priesthood. I don't know for sure if it's in God's will to have these change, or when, but Pope Leo seems to agree that the underlying spiritual principles should be the continuity (as you say) and that the concrete instantiation can change across generations as the Spirit leads:
"I am convinced that the concrete way of living out social relationships in the light of the Gospel is not established once and for all, but remains a task entrusted, from generation to generation, to the Christian community." (91)
That’s a really interesting quote you pulled out there! Only time will tell what happens with the topics you mentioned, but it will be interesting to see what direction development takes in those areas.
Thank you for this helpful analysis.
I’m curious: Do you think AI in itself is honouring to imago dei, given that it is a robotic amalgamation? ie, are there some technologies that are just intrinsically dishonouring?
Also, do you use AI in your writing?
I think we’d have to be more specific. I’m not convinced that all AI is contrary to honoring the Image of God. When we talk about AI, most people have generative AI in mind, but that’s only a fraction of what AI really is. A lot of AI is basically advanced computation. However, if we’re talking about AI in creative fields, then I think it is often contrary to the image of God, though perhaps not intrinsically so (that would imply that it would be regardless of application).
No
Thank you, I acknowledge that sounds fair.
I lean in the direction of “Against the Machine” (Paul Kingsnorth), ie, I perceive the whole of screen/tech culture as causing more harm than good, especially spiritual harm. Yet it’s impossible to interact unless using tech.
Guess it’s another opportunity to strengthen faith & discernment.