About the book ––
Believers and unbelievers alike are saturated with technology, yet most give it little if any thought. Consumers buy and upgrade as fast as they can, largely unaware of technology’s subtle yet powerful influence. In a world where technology changes almost daily, many are left to wonder: Should Christians embrace all that is happening? Are there some technologies that we need to avoid? Does the Bible give us any guidance on how to use digital tools and social media?
An experienced Web developer and writer on technology and culture, John Dyer answers these questions and more by walking through the story of the Bible and introducing key ideas about how technology and culture interact. Dyer first analyzes the biblical, theological, and philosophical foundations of technology and then studies several examples that show how technology can influence the spiritual life. For youth pastors, college-aged readers, and anyone interested in understanding how technology fits with faith, From the Garden to the City fills a gap for biblically-informed literature in a technological world.
John Dyer
(check out his blog @
donteatthefruit.com
About the author ––
John Dyer (BS, Texas A&M; ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is director of Web development at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has published articles in Collide Magazine and Christianity Today and authors the blog donteatthefruit.com. From the Garden to the City is his first book.
My review ––
I started skimming this book to determine if I would:
1. Enjoy it at all
2. Want to read it more thoroughly
Both became a quick reality. Dyer had me with the opening chapter on Perspective. I am one (was one?) who falls into Douglas Adams' third category of those who view technology: "anything that gets invented after you're thirty is against the natural order of things and the beginning of the end of civilisation as we know it until it's been around for about ten years when it gradually turns out to be alright really." (Dyer, page 26). I really do use a lot of modern technology. I just don't often care for the way it gets used by all those "young folk."
Dyer goes on, once he's helped the reader gain some healthy perspective, to lay out how he'll help us look at technology. He uses four "Rs," which is helpful in remembering each category:
Reflection: How does technology change the way we reflect God’s image?
Rebellion: How does the Fall open today’s Christians to potential evils of technology?
Redemption: How can technology be used to redeem the world for Christ?
Restoration: How does technology fit into God’s plan to restore the earth?
Rather than explore these in great depth now, I'm planning on posting more, on a chapter by chapter basis throughout this week and the in the upcoming weeks, as well.
There's also a great blog tour of this book going on, chapter by chapter, week by week, by a variety of writers over at ChurhM.ag. Check it out. It's very helpful (I only wish I'd known about this earlier; maybe I could have gotten in on it).
This book has been eye-opening, thought-provoking, and convicting. I look forward to sharing it with you.
Oh, by the way, I highly recommend it. Five out of five stars!
From the Garden to the City may be purchased here:
This book was provided free of charge for review purposes only.