The Technological Church

A version of this paper was published by the Moody Media Lab. Graphics by Ben Neary.   Dear church leader, Please allow me to introduce myself. I’ve never studied Greek or Hebrew, I’ve never preached a sermon or even taught a youth group, and I’ve never led worship. I’ve never had to make difficult decisions […]

Media Ecology and Theology

It was many years ago when I heard Robert K. Blechman’s song, “A Model Media Ecologist,” that I began thinking about the relationship between media ecology and theology. In the song, Bleckman writes, “I am a model media ecologist; I also sense the difference between me and a theologist.” What is the difference between a media ecologist and a theologist? I wondered. And, what is the relationship between media ecology and theology? Are these two totally separate domains or is there some overlap between them? If there is a connection, what forms the basis of that connection?

Neil Postman and the Judeo-Christian Worldview

On October 5, 2003 Neil Postman, mass media and cultural critic, my former professor and friend, died. Postman was a Professor at New York University for more than 40 years where he also held positions as the Paulette Goddard Chair of Media Ecology and Chair of the Department of Culture and Communication. He wrote over […]

Lance Strate’s “Amazing Ourselves to Death”: A Review

Years ago at NBC News, Gene Shalit told me a story about the difficulties of being an arts critic on television. In 1974 he delivered a less than appreciative review of the sentimental Joe Camp movie “Benji,” about a lovable, stray and cloyingly cute mixed-breed dog and his unlikely adventures. As he always did at […]

Informing Ourselves to Death

Neil Postman appears on The Open Mind on December 8, 1990 to discuss the problem of information glut with host Richard Heffner. And, for those of you who prefer the word to the image (transcription courtesy of The Open Mind): I’m Richard Heffner, your host on THE OPEN MIND…and every once in a while I feel […]

The Secular C.S. Lewis: Neil Postman’s Unlikely Influence on Evangelicals

He was basically a secular Jew, and I am basically a conservative Christian, but he taught me more than almost any Christian I can think of (C. S. Lewis?). —Dr. T. David Gordon Dr. Gordon’s comment, which appeared in an online post among other recollections of Neil Postman (Rosen, 2003), demonstrates how well the media […]

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