Theologians explore the spirituality of cyberspace
Vancouver, 14 October (WACC) ? What does it mean to be a spiritual person in the digital era? This was the central question of debate for 30 theologians, scholars, students and technology visionaries from across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom gathered at the Vancouver School of Theology for the David Lochhead Memorial Symposium Virtual Un/Reality: The Spirituality of Cyberspace , October 12-14, 2006.
Participants explored the spirituality of cyberspace and the impact of virtual reality on theology and culture today, based on the work of the late Rev. Dr. David Lochhead, a renowned Canadian pioneer in the field. Lochhead, a professor of systematic theology at the Vancouver School of Theology and noted author of Theology in a Digital World and The Dialogical Imperative, died in1999 leaving unpublished and uncompleted work which continues to engage scholarly attention.
Internet technology can dehumanize, warned Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite, president of Chicago Theological Seminary. While recognizing the importance of public statements of faith, Thistlethwaite stressed that face-to-face gatherings are necessary to make online relationships and virtual communities truly human.
Rev. Curt Ackley, who helped Lochhead create Ecunet - the first ecumenical computer network launched in the 1980's based on early e-mail technology - referred to Lochhead's struggle to understand the computer in relation to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel. Ackley, reflecting on the the exodus from Eden, asked ?Could it be that we, as a species, continue our desire to be more and more like our Creator??
Discussion and presentations ranged across a broad spectrum of theology and technology issues of concern to people of faith in the 21st century. Writer and journalist, Ann Bemrose, asked ?Does God love cyberspace?? Rev. Dr. Roberta Clare, a distance educator, spoke about transformative teaching and learning in cyberspace through online education. Theologian Dr. Debbie Herring probed the religious nature of community online. Rev. Dr. Gary Kush analyzed the quality of virtual theological education and Dr. Ian MacKenzie addressed virtual reality and First Nations religion.
All presentations, both in print and in audiovisual form, will soon be available at
www.virtualtheology.info
For further information
Keith Knight
President, North American Regional Association
WACC kknight@presbyterian.ca