Thursday, August 1, 2019

Patriarch Kirill: "The more we depend on digital media, the more we endanger our freedom."

Sarov, August 1 (Interfax) - The chief danger of developing digital technologies is restriction of human freedom, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia believes.

Such an opinion he expressed at his meeting with scientists from the Russian Federal Nuclear Center - Russian Scientific-Research Institute of Experimental Physics in Sarov.

"The danger of developing new technologies is only in it: these technologies result in certain restrictions or even lack of freedom for people. <...>The more we depend on digital media, the more we endanger our freedom," the primate of the Russian Church said.

The patriarch stressed that the loss of freedom of personality can be unnoticed by people who entirely depend technological achievements.

"Not only means of communication, but the entire digital civilization that is becoming our asset can maximally restrict human freedom without creating any discomfort. A person can even fail to notice that his freedom is restricted, but it will be restricted," the primate said. Hear! Hear!

8 comments:

  1. Jean-Claude Larchet'a newest book discusses exactly this. I'm glad to see our hierarchs and theologians paying attention. The book is called "The New Media Epidemic: The Undermining of Society, Family, and Our Own Soul."

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  2. Arguments against the printing press, paper & pencil, learning to read.....where does it end?
    Amazing that the blessed MP speaks on freedom but from a culture that held liberty at arms length away since the barbarian hordes! It is not surprising but rather expected in such proclamations. Lord, have mercy.

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    1. I could be wrong, but I think he's alluding to the scientific and publicly admitted fact that many modern technological devices and programs were intentionally designed to be incredibly addictive, and have even been shown to change our brain chemistry in a very negative fashion.

      If the Christian view of true freedom is freedom from passions, then addiction to technology can truly be seen as a threat to spiritual and mental freedom.

      Its harder and harder for each generation to pray and pay attention in church, when we have been trained from infancy to be distracted and constantly flipping from one image to another.

      Anyways thats my takeaway for whatever its worth, he could have something else in mind.

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    2. Bozo you're being comically overdramatic about this. Patriarch Kirill stating his personal view on the development of modern technology is hardly something to say "Lord have mercy" about.

      Also, to give this post context, Patriarch Kirill doesn't think that technology in and of itself is bad at all, in fact he encourages technological development, but only as long as it is beneficial for mankind and conforms to the will of the church. Here is a recent interview that will shed more light on his view on the matter: https://youtu.be/cS01gseem3A

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  3. Changes brain chemistry and the way we think; makes access to passion inducing material easy; reduces literacy, decreases attention spans; gives unparalleled control over data and information to a relatively small number of people who lack accountability to law; viatiates against contemplation and stillness. All of these are elements of freedom

    On the other hand it also increases access to many materials, people and conversations that were impossible before.

    Nevertheless if it truncates our ability and desire to be still and know that I am God and our ability to discern and respond to our actual encounters with Him where we are. I wonder.



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  4. So in Moscow people are demonstrating for the right to free and democratic local elections. Where can I hear Patriarch Kirill demand those civic and constitutional rights are respected?

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  5. It is not the Church's business to demand anything regarding political and civil rights.

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