The Catholic Book Club discussion

5. Archbishop Chaput warns about the dangers of technology as do Rod Dreher and, even more strongly, John Senior. Some aspects of technology can clearly work to the good, this group, for example. As everyone reading this is clearly using technology in some aspect of their life and as most of us are serious about our faith, how do you balance technology in your life? Does it have, on balance, a beneficial or harmful impact on your spiritual life?

Technology, like science, is a tool. Tools are neither good nor bad, they are tools. They can be used for good or evil purposes. I spoke about this in my blog: http://populscience.blogspot.com/2015...

I use a lot of technology, mainly computers. I've been doing it for over half a century. My personal computer has been my text processor and my research tool since 40 years ago. Most of my work has to do with writing, and my productivity would be much lower if I wrote on paper or used a manual typewriter. I also use a lot my e-book reader.

But I'm a member of few Social Networks, just professional ones, such as Goodreads (:-), LinkedIn (the professional network) and ResearchGate (the research network). I have never been a user of Facebook, Twitter, or the other general use networks. In fact, I don't even use (and have never used) WhatsApp.

At home we rarely watch at TV programs, but we do use the TV to watch films. Last week we bought three recent ones: Fatima (a Spanish film about Fatima's message), Faustina (a Polish film about Faustina Kowalska) and "The Letters" (a US film about Mother Teresa of Calcutta).

So I think that, on balance, technology has a beneficial impact of my spiritual life. But coming back to the beginning, I'd say that it depends exclusively on us. There's no difference between computers and any other tool such as a hammer, for instance.

I think of Bl. Fulton J. Sheen, Mother Angelica, and now Bishop Robert Barron and how they embraced the latest technology available to spread the Word!

Manuel wrote: "Technology, like science, is a tool. Tools are neither good nor bad, they are tools. They can be used for good or evil purposes. I spoke about this in my blog: http://populscience.blogspot.com/2015..."

You are more disciplined than I am. For me, Chaput's warning: "We’re a culture of self-absorbed consumers who use noise and distractions to manage our lack of shared meaning" struck home. I am not on Facebook or Twitter and don't even know what What'sApp is. But I think news sites and popular blogs can have the same effect, especially if one engages with the commenting community. I have been trying to reduce my casual online time, but have found it hard. I cannot give up the technology for it is critical for my work. But I find I fail again and again. I decided to give up social internet use for Lent (obviously I don't consider this group to be "social" in that sense). I failed, every day. I don't want to dramatize it by calling it an addiction, but it is definitely habit-forming.

Finally, yesterday I decided to fast during the day and this strengthened me so I was able to avoid social internet use the whole day. As they say in AA, one day at a time. (For those inclined to pray, I would most gratefully receive your pray support this Lent.)

I have spent most of my casual online time visiting political sites and Catholic sites. I realized yesterday how little difference there is between them or between them and newspapers. They are all in the outrage and fear business. That seems to generate some kind of dopamine rush that brings readers back for more. It doesn't seem to matter where in the political or ecclesiastical spectrum they sit, the general rule holds: fascist Republicans are going to put people of color in concentration camps; socialist Democrats are going to put conservatives in gulags; liberal Catholics are going to turn the Catholic Church into a protestant church; conservative Catholics are rigid hypocrites determined to establish a theocracy; and on and on.

I thought about it last night and this quote from Chaput struck me: "One of the big lessons in life is this: A sound guide to staying married, staying friends, or simply staying sane is to remember and honor the good in things before criticizing the bad." None of these sites do this. They all focus on the bad, they are all selling fear. But the Gospel tell's us, again and again and again (God must know some of us are pretty slow): "be not afraid."

So, lots to think about during my Lenten social internet fast. Day 2 begins.

John wrote: "I am not on Facebook or Twitter and don't even know what What'sApp is."

WhatsApp is an application for mobile telephones that makes it easy (and free) to chat, make telephone and video calls, and exchange photos, videos and other material, with other users of the same app. It now belongs to Facebook, although it was created by others.

WhatsApp is the top messaging app in Spain (80% of the population uses it) and all South American countries. It not very used (nor known) in the US, except among Hispanics.

It's also very used in Italy, Germany, the UK and India.

John, you are spot on. I am also struggling with giving up social media for Lent--not this group of course, either. I have the same issues with Facebook and it has been the source of some unfortunate family conflict over politics. After the first week I have begun to feel grateful for my resolve not to post anything, and if I go back, I will keep Chaput's message in mind, also Bishop Barron's advice to be loving in anything we post (oh, how hard that is....) if I do. Three years ago my husband and I chose not to get our broken TV repaired, and we have not missed it at all. Our home is so pleasantly peaceful now.

No television coming into the home sounds like heaven on earth. My family must have at least one on all the time. I hate the noisy commercials and the fear mongering. I do watch things on a laptop or stream to a tv, but I select carefully and commercial free.

Madeleine wrote: "John, you are spot on. I am also struggling with giving up social media for Lent--not this group of course, either. I have the same issues with Facebook and it has been the source of some unfortuna..."

I mentioned to my wife on the way to Mass yesterday that it had occurred to me that if I am successful with my social electronic Lenten fast, what do I do on Easter Sunday? Do I dive back in to all the sites I am avoiding now? That seems fruitless.

As far as television goes, we stream some programs, but try to be careful in the programming, and we almost never watch broadcast television - even if the program is okay, the commercials never are - the major exception being major sporting events. And we have a problem in our area with the cable provider turning the volume down during programming and then jacking it way up during the commercials.

John wrote: "And we have a problem in our area with the cable provider turning the volume down during programming and then jacking it way up during the commercials."

This is typical everywhere.

My wife and I cancelled our TV service some years ago. The sales manager I talked to was incredulous. He even made me call his headquarters office. Yet another couple - elderly like us - were doing exactly the same thing: they congratulated me!

Thing is, corporations are LOCKING US IN to technology now. That’s how serious it is.

ha, the funny thing is you lose your taste for it. and have to (stupidly) immerse yourself again.

Manuel wrote: "John wrote: "And we have a problem in our area with the cable provider turning the volume down during programming and then jacking it way up during the commercials."

This is typical everywhere."

It is not noticeable in Minnesota, but is painful here in S. Florida. With sports, we have to turn the volume up high and can still barely hear, then the commercials are deafening. I’ve never noticed it as bad anywhere else I’ve traveled. But I almost never turn on the TV in hotels these days.

John wrote: "But I almost never turn on the TV in hotels these days."

A good decision. The TV remote control is a stack of germs.

Manuel wrote: "Technology, like science, is a tool. Tools are neither good nor bad, they are tools. They can be used for good or evil purposes. I spoke about this in my blog: http://populscience.blogspot.com/2015..."

I totally agree with Manuel Alfonseca in this point. Saint Augustine considers good the science meanwhile this was ruled by the charity and this was to the service of God.