I will admit that I initially did not intend to read the book Shaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture, and Computer Technology. From my various roles at my school, I thought had a solid grasp on this topic—how our technology shapes us and our faith, and how we, in turn, shape technology. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has stretched, solidified, challenged, and changed some of my previous ideas and perceptions. This is an important and relevant read for those involved in using technology in their work or classroom, making decisions about technology, and those who teach about technology, present-day culture, or media. Aside from being a thoroughly researched approach to our digital world, this book is a great overview of computer technology, looked at through a creation, fall, and redemption framework. The many biblical references and footnotes forced me to slow my reading and consider what scripture has to say about the very computer I am using to write this review. I do have to admit that the many interesting tidbits about the history of technology, computers, and gadgets made this a bit of a “geeky-fun” read for me as well.

Schuurman opens the book with a Tertullian quote, “What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?” and paraphrases it to, “What do bytes have to do with Christian beliefs?” Throughout the book, this question is not only answered, but unpacked with many examples of technology use within a consistent framework. The “wow factor” and mystique that are often associated with the use of technology are removed and replaced with a call to not only understand technology, but also to help shape its use on this earth.

The overarching theme presented is that technology is not neutral, but is indeed infused with values and designed with a purpose for its use.

As technology continues to shape our world and us along with it, we are only just beginning to understand the extent of the changes occurring around us. Schuurman’s work provides a platform for us to begin to explore that technology was already “built into” creation—not simply the tangible resources for laptops, tablets, and smartphones, but also the ideas, thoughts, planning tools, and coding necessary to program computer hardware. His book illustrates that the cultural mandate is still relevant for us today with new technology; there are many things still left to be discovered as we continue to fill the earth. Shaping our task to carry out this mandate is still the command for us to properly look after the earth which “will result in shalom for the creation” (35).

In the second chapter, there is a caution against trying to use technology to understand God and creation, as this may lead to reductionism; God’s love and creation are so complex that it cannot simply be reduced to lines of code or numbers (40). Using Dooyeweerd’s Modal Aspects (see page 42 or <dooy.salford.ac.uk/aspects.html#easier> for a brief overview), a more thorough viewpoint can be established to critique, observe, and understand technology and computers. These Modal Aspects are within norms and laws and, as such, provide a helpful structure as we continue to unfold the possibilities of technology within a cultural mandate context. We are also reminded that God is beyond the norms, laws, and the limits of computer technology. Having used computer technology for many years, I am extremely thankful for this!

In chapter 3, Schuurman reminds us that the curse and the “thorns and thistles” of the fall in Genesis 3:18 “extend to all types of work and all creation, including computing and technology” (54). An interesting comparison in this chapter is that computer errors and bugs are some of these modern-day thorns and thistles. Since all of creation is fallen, human interactions with technology are also fallen. This includes how we choose to use technology, from a compulsive use of social networking, to accessing online pornography, to online gambling and even a need to be constantly connected to school or work through emails and texts, thereby negating the possibility for Sabbath.

Schuurman continues to examine technology in a fallen world by speaking to its restoration, as he states that God’s creation was good, and this goodness—of which computers are a part—can still be enjoyed (56). It is when our human faith and trust are placed in human-made things, like technology, that concerns arise. The sinful pride of our discoveries (59) can come crashing down on us in the forms of technicism, idolatry, informationism, consumerism, and scientism. These concepts are further examined as we are informed that the correct response for Christians is not to throw up our hands and avoid technology, but to work to shape it to God’s will. For the restoration and redemption of technology to occur, Christians are called to help to model and shape technology, especially Christians who are gifted at using and understanding it.

The fourth chapter is my favorite, “Redemption and Responsible Computer Technology.” Having the largest chapter of the book dedicated to Redemption provided me with a feeling of hope. This chapter is packed with many things to think about, reread and wrestle with. Using the Modal Aspect’s Historical, Lingual, Social, Economic, Aesthetic, Juridical, Ethical, and Faith norms, there are many computer and technology examples provided to illustrate hope. It is also important to understand that it is redemption that we are hoping for—not the hope of a better laptop. Our aim, or the guiding values, that we instill when we use and create technology, should be to contribute to shalom. Here on this earth, we are given the task to recreate. Therefore, “Christians working with computers should explore normative and responsible uses for computer technology that contribute to shalom” (117). As we work at shalom the question we need to ask is, “How do we love our neighbor and, in a global community that is ever shrinking in part due to technology, who is our neighbor?” Schuurman urges the reader to be intentional about technology, from the moment of design to the “end of life” moment, and for us to use the Modal Aspects’ Norms as a guide. 

The Modal Aspect

Christ is our model for reconciliation and “responsible computer technology involves following Christ and discerning God’s purpose for creation” (106). Schuurman also cautions us not to reduce our cultural mandate to a technical mandate (a mandate that is primarily focused on technology), and then he provides the tools to assist us in this sometimes challenging task. The tools he gives us to think about how we are Shaping a Digital World are easily applicable and are transferable to non-digital aspects of our world as well. This is not a book about cutting-edge technology or the issue du jour, rather, it provides a solid foundation and framework that is necessary to guide us in such an unpredictable future. Technology will not and cannot bring us shalom, however, as part of God’s creation gift to us, technology can indeed aid in moving us towards shalom.