A New Chapter: The Theologian and The Tech Specialist

It's been nearly a year since my last post. As my last post ended, I began a new job and still continue in that office. A new life transition has passed and the shock of being outside of academia has diminished. 

A most striking realization occurred a few months earlier when I realized my most prized attributes in the office had nothing to do with years of training in critical thinking. My shining star was the ability to understand technology, analyse it, dissect it, and create a useful tool to manage thousands of bits of data. Granted I would not exchange my education experiences for a trade school experience nor will I be joining the ranks of computer science junkies, but the curse of hindsight wishes I prepared for the likelihood of this realization.

As such, my reading materials transformed into the challenging theological/philosophical proclamations on human existence in the 21st century to mastering manuals on mathematical codes and grasping the unseen theory of network connections (in relation to databases, of course!).

Since my realization that technology would permeate my professional life in a pronounced way, I have sought to find a synthesis between the theologian and the database administrator/configuration manager. I, as some might imagine, rely on existential theology, "spirituality management" theory, and some multi-faith commentaries on the Market governing our economic thought. [Translation: this is a part 1 in a series of posts.] A driving question for reflection is: where do sage theologians intersect with the technology wielding Millennial/Generation Y frontier? 

First, I must name why such a task is necessary. The easy answer: I will sink into insanity if I cannot reach a synthesis within myself. The theologian and the technology specialist must find a common space of fellowship in my being lest I accept a modern type of schizophrenia.

The longer answer: the theologian cannot ignore the existential yearnings brought with a mundane schedule of corporate office life. Paul Tillich outlines expresses the "analogous burden" of the theologian. "Instead of turning away from his [sic] existential situation, including his ultimate concern, the theologian turns toward it...not in order to make a confession of it, but in order to make clear the universal validity, the logos structure, of what concerns the theologian ultimately." (Systematic Theology, vol 2, 25.) This theologian cannot immediately identify the intersection of work, technology, and a Christian Ultimate Concern. 

As an experienced traveler, it is easy to spot privileged and less privileged nations as soon as I exit the airport by the ease of accessing grocery stores and the internet. "First world" or "developed world" vs. "third world" or "developing world" grades correlate with the number of computers/internet cafes available to the international visitor and the technological conveniences for the general citizen population. "Developing world" labels conjure visions of Latin America, Africa, South America, and Asian poverty with primitive markets (i.e. no refrigerators or cleanly plastic packaged meat). "Developed world" for many American travelers is the sigh of relief when you find a the Starbucks logo in a China square or nestled in the winding streets of Zurich. These labels directly affect the perspective of the word "work."

As an Anglo-American with a university education, the word "work" equates with the use of my mind to promote a service and contribute to existing ideas in order to receive wages for my survival in the economic conditions of our world. Reviewing an old journal entry of a passing acquaintance from Guatemala, the word “work” equates with labor to earn food and shelter within a community. In biblical texts, the primary mode of work is agriculture with supporting trade positions. “Work” is a by-product of the body in motion to meet basic needs of the family and immediate community.

But, “work” in my daily thought is not a by-product of a body in motion. (Like many office workers, motion is not really part of the job description.) “Work” is an intangible concept to analyse and wrestle when “worker dissatisfaction” becomes a personal issue. The dreaded question when someone asks me, ‘What do you do?’ ignites a chain of thoughts of how my current title may shape the conversation partner’s impressions of me and my values. Typical conversations move quickly from my job to my education degrees as an attempt to explain my career interests. Here is the problem of the theologian and the technology specialist communicating with each other. It’s predictable when the next question comes, ‘What do you want to do with that?’ needs theological and practical answer. My “First World” problem is expecting to find threads of my Ultimate Concern gleaming and connecting like a spider web in my daily work engagement. This problem is a luxury that would cause millions of troubled communities shake their heads (if they had access to read this blog), but I shall cautiously continue with such knowledge.

In summary, this post renewing my blog interests names a new consuming issue for a 21^st century Generation Y technology trail blazers to seek a place of dialogue with theology, technology, and identity. The next entry will examine more closely my “First World” problem of “work” and the spiritual self in the workplace.

Ghastly Ghosts and Bone Crushers

Perhaps I should edit the title of my blog as this is the second non-book inspired post, but oral history dominated earlier human societies so oral history should not be dismissed. Last Monday, All Hallows Day, I walked the shadows of Tampa's business buildings and stood on the banks of the Hillsborough River looking for a distraction. The distraction happened to be a planned attendance on a ghost tour... I've lived in Tampa for most of my life and know very little of its history so this seemed a fun way to learn some of the lore in my hometown. 


I don't attend events without prior research because like a good student I enjoy testing the expertise of my information sources. My mind's decayed state in post-graduation life was too lazy to feel its usual curiosity. The rationale went like this: how could a local ghost tour in downtown Tampa really be provocative? Of course, showing up unprepared followed with a nasty surprise.

The tour began with the usual antidotes. Some funny and sad stories were expected such as the ghost of an old Tailor who now protects the bookstore where his shop used to be. The Tailor ghost chased a criminal with a pair of shears and carved up the criminal significantly. A ghost of a young female teen runaway who died in the old Redlight District waits for her mother to see her. A ghost of a workaholic film editor haunts one of the old theaters and turns projectors on. A ghost of a pirate scout wanders the river bank looking for a good landing site. Ghost ships sail in and out of the Bay. Typical lore of a city and spooky history lesson for an evening jaunt.

Then we arrived at Gaslight Park in the center of downtown Tampa. Here was the place where I learned about the Tocobaga Indians. The short version goes like this: the Tocobaga tribes resided in the region known today as Tampa Bay. The tribe was completely wiped out by European diseases introduced by Spanish traders. Like many Indian tribes, the Tocobaga used burial mounds as a resting place for their dead. Because shells are so plentiful along the Gulf Coast, generations were separated by layers of shells. When the next wave of European settlers arrived in Tampa the area was uninhabited and dotted with as many as 15,000 burial mounds.

As the newest European settlers cultivated the land and established a city, they wanted to build roads. They began to level the thousands of mounds and discovered a wealth of "materials" to use in road construction. Shells and the bones on the Tocobaga Indians were crushed to make the first foundation for brick paved streets. The construction of the University of Tampa (formally the grandest hotel built by a wealthy businessman) alone used 1200 burial mounds to set its foundations. We cannot say how many bodies resided in each mound because they were all destroyed.

I stare down at the concrete supporting my feet. To know the literal bones of humans were ground into small pieces to support "progress" nauseated me. Later I went home to research the story to corroborate the guide's information, but short of digging up old records at the downtown library I could not find credible supporting evidence. I do know and have seen documents supporting a similar kind of attitude of European settlers in this region disturbing Indian burial mounds for the sake of real estate development. If the European settlers, like many other documented cases from early colonial period, viewed Indians as sub-human, then it is not much of a stretch to suppose workers crushed human skulls, rib cages, legs, etc for gravel.

Further reflection accepted the initial shock and horror of the possibility and examined our present economic state as Euro-American society. Conservative news networks dismiss the Occupy Movement as "anti-capitalist naivete" or similar condemning socialist hinted terms. The Occupy protesters (the non-violent ones, I should add...) are precisely those balancing voices who make us stop and ask 'whose bones are we crushing to pave our road to wealth?' Even if you think the Occupy Protesters are off mark with reality, we all should reflect together why even the perception of Wall Street dominating the political and economic powers disturbs so many people in our nation. Why should we fear a nation operate like Wall Street?

The place for humanity on Wall Street is precisely the problem. Attempts to remove Wall Street Occupiers is a visual depiction of why Wall Street repulses so many middle class- working class individuals. Wall Street philosophy eliminates the bother of morality and kinship as far as the SEC will allow. The Bear and the Bull run rampant in the street and obliterate lives in a single breath. The "forces" of the market cannot be judged by humans and we (the majority of Americans) should be happy some (Wall Street brokers) are keen enough to manipulate the market for profit. Profit generates jobs so please go home and be happy. Do you really want the government to try to do what we do? Let the few rule the many with economic thrusts and strategies. After all, we wear the $2,000 suits and you shop at Walmart. Trust us and bail us out when we screw up. You might even get a lower interest rate if you do!

My mind's eye sees the European settler desecrating graves and crushing an Indian bone for a path carriages can ride easier. It takes quite a bit of force to crush newer bones and I assume some men turned faces of skulls away as they used shovels to crack them. Our present economic and political troubles echo the unapologetic, violent disrespect exercised against Indian nations. Like many historic empires, the wealthy trod on the poor and use all manner of persuasion or fear to ensure dissenting voices remain few. The slavery of debt still haunts our human community and effectively subdues many into silence.

After several gut wrenching research papers on the evils done by my Euro-American ancestors, I wish more Americans of European heritage reflected on the horrors we inherited. Some things have changed thankfully, but injustice exists in every generation and in every community.  Hope promises the coming of age generation can redeem the evils of the previous generation. It's an endless cycle of hope, disappointment, cynicism, and hope renewed. The hope I have transcends merely my own actions. I do hope to avoid bone crushing for personal comforts. I also hope to stop the shovel of a neighboring bone crusher and help her see the humanity of the remains she was willing to trample.

God ...of War and Genocide

This afternoon I watched the recent movie Thor depict the coming of age tale of the Norse mythic hero. Thor, son of Odin, is known as the God of War. The movie depicts the handsome, arrogant, and violent immortal from another realm who is sent to Earth to learn a lesson of humility. A beautiful, smart, and spunky mortal scientist "softens" Thor and restrains Thor's thirst for the blood of a historic enemy race. It is Thor's adoptive brother from motives of self-loathing and parental affirmation seeks the genocide of the same enemy race. Thor sacrifices his chance to return to Earth to retrieve his mortal love and prevents the genocide. The movie outlines the selfish blood thirsty god of war to a wiser, pensive future king. But the audience knows Thor will not forsake his hammer when 'there is no other way.'

The above is an unremarkable summary of a well told cinematic story. My point of interest occurred at the moment when Thor's brother commenced with destruction of the 'enemy' race. One of the persons with whom I watched the movie commented, 'I don't really see why Thor is upset his brother is killing them. He doesn't really need to give up his only way to Earth.' The unexpected comment shocked me. I replied, 'I think the point is Thor learned the value of life during his powerless stay on Earth. His character evolved to see annihilation of an entire race is wrong.' My companion pointed out genocide has biblical precedent at God's command.

Yes, indeed the Bible orders genocide. The historical reality of such orders is circumspect, but the ideological influence on human history in the West has been significant. My conversation unfortunately is not unique and our American psyches have long accepted war as a perpetual if not necessary part of our economy. The more radical anti-violent teachings of Jesus are overlooked to accommodate a violent status quo. Would I or you stop genocide of our enemy if it eliminated a serious threat to our safety? I challenge Hollywood's romantic depiction of Thor. Further to this point, I found a poem entitled The Challenge of Thor by Henry Longfellow.

...Force rules the world still/Has ruled it and shall rule it/Meekness is weakness/Strength is triumphant/Over the whole earth/Still it is Thor's day!

Thou art a God too/ O Galilean!/And thus single-handed/Unto the combat/Gauntlet or Gospel/Here I defy thee!

Longfellow certainly captures a darker side of Thor--even in this snippet of a longer poem. The legacy of Thor is power and violence. Yet, we in contemporary vision want this character to practice compassion through a lesson of love. We soften the stormy legend. We profit from a humanized version of an angry god. Many probably remember Mel Gibson's passion narrative of Jesus. I remember as a younger high school student the atrocious violence...and the blood. So much blood and human cruelty. Longfellow's poem retrieved the memory and Gibson's movie seems to support the Thor according to Longfellow, 'Still it is Thor's day!' We remember violence and strength above the Gospel of love. I like many others have yet to find a way to defy Thor's day and the continued praise of violent legacies.

 

 

The Golden Bull

The photo on the left appeared in my Facebook Newsfeed as a "recommendation" by several of my divinity school friends. It appropriately cautions Christians who inhabit Capitalist worldviews. Believers in Capitalism cannot but reflect at possible judgment of the Hebrews worshiping a golden calf in the book of Exodus. To those who are familiar with the exploits of Israel's Egypt escape in Exodus, then you will catch the irony of the comparison. (The reader should note: The calf idol according to the biblical narrative was constructed not in Canaan but in the Sinai Peninsula while waiting for Moses. The incident was the reason for 40 years of wandering harsh wilderness.) The Bull and the Bear determine the range of happiness for our economies--personal, national, and international. The Bull is our good luck charm to ensure "AA" and even "AAA" ratings, steady profit margins, as well as increasing jobs availability. I cannot belittle ideas of economic security. I like most people in the world am a slave to debt, international politics, and the caprice of economic markets. The Bull means an easier future for me and many others.

However, the prosperous Bull marked the beginning of theological/moral troubles for the Hebrews. This event marked the beginning of a curse on an entire generation and a weighty load for an emerging generation to carry forward. YHWH guided the Hebrews to safety outside of Egyptian slavery, through a parted Reed Sea, and yet, insecurity in Moses' long meeting with YHWH up the mountain moved the Hebrews to re-establish security and purpose. The Hebrews could now see and hope for stability in the good luck of the Calf--created from the wealth of the people. New purpose and security replaced anxiety of an unknown future.

Is the Bull in Capitalism very different from the image of security the Calf represented to the Hebrews? Wall Street financial  markets are "melted down," or created, from the wealth of our society and supposedly governed by principles managed by educated advisors/brokers. Education can blind as well as illuminate the world. The myth of the Bull symbolizes the dual edges of illumination and blindness. If I find security in news of the Bull running through Wall Street, then do I see the moral compromise of amassing wealth at the exploitation of thousands--even millions--of people in my own country and around the world? In my pursuit of economic security I may blindly seek the Bull and yet only find I have been led deeper into the wilderness away from a path of justice and God-seeking.