I’ve had the opportunity to speak to a few different groups of people now about some of the ideas in my forthcoming book. Two things stand out to me so far. First, the idea that the digital age is having a serious spiritual effect on us is resonating with a lot of Christians. The problem is not awareness; what most people lack is the
I respect your humility here and agree we should embrace finitude. Well said.
I'd also say that those in their early-to-mid-30s were still "youth" when social media entered mainstream culture. They can be more perceptive of it's effects than those 40+ and so may play an important role in speaking about digital technology habits and parenting.
I'm biased about this, as I just wrote something for parents about tech boundaries and I'm only 33. And yes, I agree people should be reading Andy Crouch. I just know many parents who feel too busy to do so, and so may appreciate when you or I who are less experienced in our parenting speak on this issue, especially in Q&A sessions or conversation. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it even if those thoughts come with caveats.
Thanks for your post Samuel. I have been writing about his topic over the last three months on School of the Unconformed. The digital incursion into the deepest fibres of our lives needs the centre stage of our parental attention. Our kids are older, (or oldest just started university at 16 and along with it got her first phone) and I can affirm that phones are a leviathan, no matter how much youth may know about the influence of attention-sucking algorithms. I have proposed a 'cure' (involving parents, school and getting real https://schooloftheunconformed.substack.com/p/tiktok-brain-cure-with-three-ingredients), but think the most essential step is to take the lead as parents (Reclaiming your stolen focus https://schooloftheunconformed.substack.com/p/reclaiming-your-stolen-focus)
Finally to your point:
"whether parents and older kids communicate and share a vision of what a healthy relationship to the physical world looks like". I highly recommend A Pilgrims Creed by Pilgrims in the Machine https://pilgrimsinthemachine.substack.com/p/a-pilgrims-creed for clear, solid foundation for this.
Well written and on target as ever! And parents need to spend TIME with their children, fathers very much included. It is quantity time not quality time that fathers must give if they are to be scriptural in their approach. Mine was the generation (1950s-1960s) of father as breadwinner and it is not surprising that so many of the 1960s generation of children went astray. God gave each child TWO parents, father as well as mother. (And grandparents - my maternal grandparents were beyond fabulous and a profoundly life-changing positive spiritual influence on my life for which I am ceaseless in thanking God).
Parenting and the Digital Liturgies
I respect your humility here and agree we should embrace finitude. Well said.
I'd also say that those in their early-to-mid-30s were still "youth" when social media entered mainstream culture. They can be more perceptive of it's effects than those 40+ and so may play an important role in speaking about digital technology habits and parenting.
I'm biased about this, as I just wrote something for parents about tech boundaries and I'm only 33. And yes, I agree people should be reading Andy Crouch. I just know many parents who feel too busy to do so, and so may appreciate when you or I who are less experienced in our parenting speak on this issue, especially in Q&A sessions or conversation. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it even if those thoughts come with caveats.
Thanks for your post Samuel. I have been writing about his topic over the last three months on School of the Unconformed. The digital incursion into the deepest fibres of our lives needs the centre stage of our parental attention. Our kids are older, (or oldest just started university at 16 and along with it got her first phone) and I can affirm that phones are a leviathan, no matter how much youth may know about the influence of attention-sucking algorithms. I have proposed a 'cure' (involving parents, school and getting real https://schooloftheunconformed.substack.com/p/tiktok-brain-cure-with-three-ingredients), but think the most essential step is to take the lead as parents (Reclaiming your stolen focus https://schooloftheunconformed.substack.com/p/reclaiming-your-stolen-focus)
Finally to your point:
"whether parents and older kids communicate and share a vision of what a healthy relationship to the physical world looks like". I highly recommend A Pilgrims Creed by Pilgrims in the Machine https://pilgrimsinthemachine.substack.com/p/a-pilgrims-creed for clear, solid foundation for this.
Thanks for your writing!
Well written and on target as ever! And parents need to spend TIME with their children, fathers very much included. It is quantity time not quality time that fathers must give if they are to be scriptural in their approach. Mine was the generation (1950s-1960s) of father as breadwinner and it is not surprising that so many of the 1960s generation of children went astray. God gave each child TWO parents, father as well as mother. (And grandparents - my maternal grandparents were beyond fabulous and a profoundly life-changing positive spiritual influence on my life for which I am ceaseless in thanking God).