Shaping a Digital World - by Derek C Schuurman (Paperback)

About the Book

Building on the work of Jacques Ellul, Marshall McLuhan and Neil Postman, as well as a wide range of Reformed thinkers, Derek Schuurman provides a brief theology of technology--rooted in the Reformed tradition and oriented around the grand themes of creation, fall, redemption and new creation.

Book Synopsis

Digital technology has become a ubiquitous feature of modern life. Our increasingly fast-paced world seems more and more remote from the world narrated in Scripture. But despite its pervasiveness, there remains a dearth of theological reflection about computer technology and what it means to live as a faithful Christian in a digitally-saturated society.In this thoughtful and timely book, Derek Schuurman provides a brief theology of technology, rooted in the Reformed tradition and oriented around the grand themes of creation, fall, redemption and new creation. He combines a concise, accessible style with penetrating cultural and theological analysis. Building on the work of Jacques Ellul, Marshall McLuhan and Neil Postman, and drawing from a wide range of Reformed thinkers, Schuurman situates computer technology within the big picture of the biblical story. Technology is not neutral, but neither is there an exclusively "Christian" form of technological production and use. Instead, Schuurman guides us to see the digital world as part of God's good creation, fallen yet redeemable according to the law of God. Responsibly used, technology can become an integral part of God's shalom for the earth.

Review Quotes

"Shaping a Digital World is ideal as a textbook for computer science courses, but it should also appeal to science and technology readers from any Christian tradition."

--Burton K. Janes, Faith Today, May / June 2013

"Shaping a Digital World is recommended enthusiastically for any thinking person, but it is especially important for those who work in and teach about technology. . . . Given its many virtues, I will be using this gem as a required text the next time I teach Christian Ethics and Modern Culture at Denver Seminary."

--Douglas Groothuis, Denver Seminary Journal, October 2013

"'What does Silicon Valley have to do with Jerusalem?' With that play on Tertullian's ancient remark about Athens and Jerusalem, Derek Schuurman begins his discussion of the relationship between Christian faith and computer technology. It turns out that the answer is 'quite a lot.' The book presents a broad but thorough overview of issues a Christian in the computer field ought to consider. . . .[T]his is a well-written book that fills an important gap. I know of no other book that is like it."

--Russel C. Bjork, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, March 2014

"Admitting that technology is a human cultural activity that is 'value laden, ' Schuurman does not juxtapose technology and theology oppositionally, but instead offers an optimistic vision of how belief imbues technology with greater purpose; he also takes time to critique humanity's negative use of technology and discusses some of technology's potential pitfalls. . . . the book is succinct enough to keep even the non-technical reader engaged."

--Publishers Weekly, April 8, 2013

"In the end, Shaping a Digital World provides a useful introduction to how the technology of a digital age relates to Christian morality. Schuurman provides a helpful outline for framing this discussion through the grand redemptive-historical themes of creation, fall, redemption and new creation. . . . Shaping a Digital World makes strides in understanding how technology, as one part of God's good creation, can be leveraged to the praise and glory of God."

--Peter M. Anderson, Themelios, 38.3

"Read Shaping a Digital World and be reminded that all culture, even our computer culture fits within God's sovereign control and fits within our narrative of creation, fall, redemption and restoration."

--Dave Sikkema, Christian Renewal, April 16, 2014

About the Author

Derek C. Schuurman (Ph.D., McMaster University) is associate professor of computer science and chair of the mathematics/physics/computer science department at Redeemer University College, Ancaster, Ontario. Coauthor of PSpice Simulation of Power Electronics Circuits (with R. S. Ramshaw, 1997), Schuurman is also an active researcher and speaker in the areas of robotics and computer vision as well as faith and technology issues.