spirituality in a digital age: a talk given at greenbelt 2014

Spirituality in a Digital Age

Pete Phillips : CODEC : University of Durham

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Using the digital to

re-member our existence and our

context

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Remember

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Remember

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Remember

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Remember to remember -

outboard brain

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Remember to re-member

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Remembering to build a future

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Deuteronomy

18 You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem[e] on your forehead. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

Remembering to build a future

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Bible Society “Pass It On” Report:http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/about-bible-society/our-work/pass-it-on/

Remembering is not just data retrieval, info-edu-

tainment-esque

Remembering is engaging with both past and future to create a new

relationship with the now.

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Art by Tabor Robak (http://www.taborrobak.com/2014/)Music by Mumford and Sons

Incorporating

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Art by Tabor Robak (http://www.taborrobak.com/2014/)Music by Fatima al Qadiri

Making the digital a

real part of who we are:Ready Player

OneShoto’s Grief

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Incorporating into our being

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Incorporating to be

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Kierkegaard’s Geese...2

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Composed by Kathryn Rose (http://www.artsyhonker.net)Words by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)

Connecting & Engaging

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

So much to link toSo much to seeSo much to consumeSo much to shareSo much to createSo much to readSo much to watchSo much more... ...every minute

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling LightDigital Spirituality...

A decision to bridge the digital divides...

Age, connectivity, location, wealth, technology, power, culture, gender

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

A veritable of opportunities for digital spirituality

•Digital Spirituality is not about tech, or data, or the

overabundance of information

•Digital Spirituality is about the disciple’s heart, the disciples

desire to serve the living God.

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Abide

Digital Spirituality, summed up in one word:

A prayer written by Sister Catherine Wybourne, DigitalNun

Father, Creator God,

You sent your Word, Jesus Christ, to reveal your love and compassion to the world;

you have called us to be his disciples, true images of your beloved Son,

proclaiming his Gospel to all creation.

His story is now our story.

Keep us faithful to what we have received, and generous in our sharing.

Holy Father, we thank you also for the gift of the Holy Spirit

whom you sent to sanctify and bless all you have created

and be the bond of love that unites all of us with you and your Son.

Send forth your Spirit upon us now.

Purify our hearts and make us attentive to your promptings

that we may be true missionaries in the digital world.

Grant us the humility to seek you above and before all other things

that all we say and do may be done in your name and for your glory.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light

Spirituality in a Digital Age

Pete Phillips : CODEC : University of Durham

Greenbelt 2014: Travelling Light