Mitcham,
Carl and Jim Grote, eds. Theology and
Technology: Essays in Christian Analysis and Exegesis (New York: University
Press of America, 1984). The last section in this collection of essays is a
somewhat dated but very extensive bibliography. BR115 .T42 T47
Cutcliffe,
Stephen H. Technology and Values in
American Civilization: A Guide to Information Sources. Gale Research Co.,
1980. Bibliography of the beginnings of the society, technology and values
movement. Z5579 .C87
A
useful but brief list of mostly recent articles and books:
http://www.greenflame.org/tech-faith.shtml
Research in Philosophy and
Technology.
JAI Press. Greenwich, Connecticut.
Techne: Research in
Philosophy and Technology
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/SPT/
Ends and Means (Aberdeen University)
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/philosophy/endsandmeans/
Society,
Religion and Technology Project (Church of Scotland)
http://www.srtp.org.uk/srtpage3.shtml
The
best place to start for thoughtful theological responses to a great variety of
technological issues.
Faith,
Science and Technology (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
http://www.elca.org/faithandscience/
Science
and Christian Faith: Technoculture and the Future(Garrett-Evangelical
Theological Seminary)
http://www.science-faith.org/topics/topic_link.ep.html?id=11
Institute
for Religion, Technology and Culture
http://www.religion-research.org/irtc/irtc.htm
A
website in development by a Canadian pioneer in the relation of theology and
information technology.
Faith and Science in an
Unjust World: Report of the World Council of Churches' Conference on Faith,
Science, and the Future. Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1980. Essays and reports from a
wide variety of denominations, locations, and theological approaches.
Barbour,
Ian G. Ethics in an Age of Technology.
San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1993. The classic treatment of theological
issues raised by technology. Volume II of the Gifford Lectures. BJ59 .B37
Borgmann,
Albert. Power Failure: Christianity in
the Culture of Technology. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2003. From one of the
long-standing commentators of the technological scene, a more theological
analysis than most. BL240.3 .B67
Cobb,
Jennifer. Cybergrace: The Search for God
in the Digital World. New York: Crown, 1998. Optimistic treatment of
cyberspace using process theology. BL255.5 .C63
Cole-Turner,
Ronald (editor). Human Cloning: Religious Responses. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox, 1997. Good range of essays on the topic. QH442.2 .H86
Conway,
Ruth. Choices at the Heart of Technology:
A Christian Perspective. Trinity Press International, 1999. Pessimistic
analysis of technological worldview. BR115 .T42 C66
Davis,
Erik. TechGnosis. Harmony Books, 1998. An advocate of technopaganism,
the author riffs on the gnostic impulses within technology. BL265 .I54 D38
Deane-Drummond,
Celia. Theology and Biotechnology:
Implications for a New Science. London; Washington: Geoffrey Chapman, 1997.
In-depth analysis of issues from one of the leading theologians responding to
biotechnology. BL226 .D43
Dreyfus,
Hubert, What Computers Can’t Do: A Critique
of Artificial Reason. New York: Harper & Row, 1972. A seminal work
critiquing the aspirations of artificial intelligence. Q335 .D74
Ellul,
Jacques. The Technological Society (1954).
Trans. John Wilkinson. New York: Knopf, 1964. The classic study of technology
from a Christian sociologist. T14 .E553, CB478 .E4
Ferre,
Frederick. Philosophy of Technology.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1988. Excellent short introduction to the
field. Essential and brief introduction. T14 .F47
Fukuyama,
Francis. Our Posthuman Future:
Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution. H.B. Fenn, 2003. From the man
who predicted the end of history, an analysis of where history is headed next,
and it ain’t pretty. Includes an interesting attempt to define human nature in
an age where it is changing rapidly. TP248.23 .F84
Gaillardetz,
Richard. Transforming our Days:
Spirituality, Community and Liturgy in a Technological Culture.
Crossroad/Herder and Herder, 2000. Somewhat derivative, with more emphasis on
liturgy than technology, but some interesting insights. BR115 .T42 G35
Grant,
George. Technology and Justice. Notre
Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1986. The irascible Canadian
philosopher tackles the mindset of modernity as exhibited in technology. BJ59
.G73
Gregersen,
Niels Henrik, et al, eds. The Human
Person in Science and Theology. T & T Clark, 2000. Collection of essays
from the seventh European Conference on Science and Theology. BL240.2 .H86
Guardini,
Romano. Letters from Lake Como:
Explorations in Technology and the Human Race. Eerdman’s, 1994. Poetic
approach to defining and critiquing technology. CB478 .G813
Hefner,
Philip. Technology and Human Becoming.
Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003. The concept of human being as ‘co-creator’
with God guides this reflection on human responsibility and creativity. BR115
.T42 H44
Heidegger,
Martin. The Question Concerning
Technology, and other essays. New York: Harper & Row, 1977. Gnomic utterances
from the great philosopher, much interpreted by later commentators inspired by
the combination of fatalism and mysticism. B3279 .H48 Q47
Heim,
Michael. The Metaphysics of Virtual
Reality. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. Perhaps promises more
than it delivers, but at least tries to understand the deepest implications of
a new mode of human existing. QA76.9 .H85 H45
Herzfeld,
Noreen. In our Image: Artificial
Intelligence and the Human Spirit. Augsburg Fortress, 2002. Careful
examination of the idea of the ‘imago Dei’ and our attempts to create an ‘imago
humana.’ Q335 .H47
Higgs,
Eric, et al, eds. Technology and the Good
Life? University of Chicago Press, 2000. Good essays on the history of
philosophy of technology. T14 .T386
Hopper,
David. Technology, Theology, and the Idea
of Progress. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991. Survey of
recent theological analyses of technology. BR115 .T42 H66
Jonas,
Hans. The Imperative of Responsibility:
In Search of an Ethics for the Technological Age. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 1984. Sets the debate over using technology in a broad framework
of human history and future, although its consequentialist approach may fall
into the restriction of ethics to a study of means rather than ends. BJ1453
.J6613
Jones,
Gareth. Brave New People: Ethical Issues at the Commencement of Life.
Leicester: InterVarsity Press, 1984. Early and somewhat polemic expression of
the debate. QH332 .J66
Lochhead,
David. Shifting Realities: Information Technology
and the Church. Geneva: WCC Publications, 1997. Good start on opening up
discussion of computers in the church. BR115 .T42 L6
Mangum,
John, ed. The New Faith-Science Debate:
Probing Cosmology, Technology, and Theology. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg
Fortress; Geneva: WCC publications, 1989. BL240.2 .N49
McCormick,
Richard A. How Brave a New World?
Dilemmas in Bioethics. Garden City, NY:
Doubleday, 1981. QH332 .M3
Mitcham,
Carl and Jim Grote, eds. Theology and
Technology: Essays in Christian Analysis and Exegesis (New York: University
Press of America, 1984). Dated but penetrating set of essays from some of the
best thinkers (including important essays by Ellul which lay out the
theological principles that he brings to bear on technology). Includes extensive
annotated bibliography. BR115 .T42 T47
Monsma,
Stephen V. Responsible Technology: A
Christian Perspective. Eerdmans, 1986. Attempts to domesticate technology
within a Christian worldview. T49.5 .R47
Mumford,
Lewis. Technics and Civilization. New
York: Harcourt, Brace, 1934. History of technological changes and their
profound effects on society. T15 .M8
Newman,
Jay. Religion and Technology: A Study in
the Philosophy of Culture. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1997. Pedantic
overview of religious responses and attempts to understand culture. BL240 .N46
Noble,
David F. The Religion of Technology: The
Divinity of Man and the Spirit of Invention. New York: A.A. Knopf: 1997.
Fascinating cultural history of the most extreme ways in which technology has
taken on religious overtones. BR115 .T42 N63
Peters,
Ted. Playing God? Genetic Determinism and
Human Freedom. New York: Routledge, 1996. QH438.7 .P48
Peterson,
Gregory R. et al, eds. Minding God:
Theology and the Cognitive Sciences Theology and the Sciences. Minneapolis:
Fortress Press, 2003. BL 53 .P42
Postman,
Neil. Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology.
New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
Diatribe against the human-destroying monster that threatens to destroy us.
T14.5 .P667
Roszak,
Theodore. The Cult of Information: The
Folklore of Computers and the True Art of Thinking. New York: Pantheon
Books, 1986. Polemic against the digitization of culture. T58.5 .R67
Scharff,
Robert C. Philosophy of Technology: The Technological
Condition: An Anthology. Blackwell Publishers, 2003. Useful compendium of
essays throughout history. T14 .P534
Schultze,
Quentin. Habits of the High-Tech Heart:
Living Virtuously in the Information Age. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic,
2002. BR115 .T42 S34
Stannard,
Russell, ed. God for the 21st Century.
Radnor, PA ; London: Templeton Foundation Press, 2001. Very brief essays by
well-known thinkers, a few reflecting on technology, but mostly on scientific
issues. BL240.2 .G62
Tillich,
Paul. The Spiritual Situation in our
Technical Society. Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 1988. An
interesting side of Tillich’s thinking, applying his thesis that “culture is
the form of religion; religion is the basis of culture” to the realms of science
and technology. BR115 .T42 T59
Turkle,
Sherry. Life on the Screen: Identity in
the Age of the Internet. New York; Toronto:
Simon & Schuster, 1995. MIT sociologist interviews Internet users, delving
into the ways in which computers change human identity. QA76.9 .C66 T87
________.
The Second Self: Computers and the Human
Spirit. New York: Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1984. Cultural analysis of the
ways that computers enter human lives, even children’s. QA76 .T85
Wiener,
Norbert. God and Golem, Inc.: A Comment
on Certain Points where Cybernetics Impinges on Religion. Cambridge, MA:
MIT Press, 1964. Early discussion of the possible impact of computers on
society. Q310 .W48
Zaleski,
Jeff. The Soul in Cyberspace: How New
Technology is Changing our Spiritual Lives. San Francisco: HarperEdge,
1997. Journalistic investigations of current religious phenomena on the net.
BR115 .C65 G76
Atwood,
Margaret. Oryx and Crake. M&S, 2003. A dystopia set in a time when
gene technology has run amok. PS8501 .T8 O79
Blish,
James. A Case of Conscience. New York: Ballantine, 1966, 1958. A Jesuit
on a space exploration team decides that the world they have discovered is too
perfect. PZ2102 .L5 C3
Card,
Orson Scott. Speaker for the Dead. New York: Tom Doherty Associates,
1986. An alien culture protected from too much contact with us nasty humans
eventually must make sacrifices in order to survive. A sequel to Ender’s Game,
but can be read on its own. PS3553 .A63 S67
Clarke,
Arthur C. Childhood’s End. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1953.
The human race comes to maturity with the help of alien tutors. PR6005 .L29 C48
Huxley,
Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper & Row, 1946. Everyone is
happy in a world in which humans are engineered to have all their desires met.
But a “noble savage” shows them what it really means to be human. PR6015 .U9
B65
Le
Guin, Ursula. The Dispossessed. New York: Avon, 1975. Two civilizations:
opposites in many ways, but linked by the thread of scientific study. An
encounter with ‘the other’ is necessary in order to proceed dialectically.
PS3553 .A76 D57
Lewis, C. S. Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength. The famous Christian trilogy of space travel: first to Mars, then Venus, and then remaining on Earth to examine the darkness of the human soul enslaved to science and technology. PR6023 .E926 O8 …
Lodge,
David. Thinks. Secker & Warburg, 2001. A rollicking romance full of
Lodge’s familiar plot twists and turns revolving around academic (in this case,
scientific) theories. PR6062 .O36 T5
McEwan,
Ian. Saturday. A brilliant “day in the life” of a
neurologist, connecting the dots between science, technology and ordinary life.
PR6063 .C4 S38
Miller,
Walter M. A Canticle for Leibowitz. New York: Bantam, 1980. A
post-holocaust world, having survived nuclear war, is the setting for a
religious pilgrimage in order to provide evidence to beatify a saint (who was
really a mediocre technologist). Then the cycle of the human soul begins again.
PS3563 .I3858 C3
Peircy,
Marge. He, She and It. New York: Fawcett Crest, 1993. A Jewish enclave
survives in the corporate world completely globalized using cyberspace to
broker space for their religion. When their existence is threatened, a modern
golem is created (an artificial intelligence housed in a robot) to hack the
matrix. PS3566 .I4 H37
Russell,
Mary Doria. The Sparrow. Fawcett Columbine, 1997. A Jesuit leads the
first expedition to contact an alien civilization, and loses his faith in the
process. Read the sequel to find out if he regains it. PS3568 .U76678 S63
Sagan,
Carl. Contact. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1985. The search for
extraterrestrial intelligence finally bears fruit, with specifications for a
spaceship decoded from the radio signals from the sky. A team of scientists is
sent to investigate, but their experience is discounted by those who observe a
different reality. Who is right? Can they prove it? PS3569 .A287 C6
Sawyer,
Robert. Calculating God. New York: Tor, 2000. Aliens land outside the
Royal Ontario Museum, claiming to have proof that God exists. PS8587 .A897 C35
Stephenson,
Neal. Snow Crash. Bantam Books, 1993. Caught in the matrix, a hacker
tries to evade a lethal virus (so lethal that it causes death by using magical
religious symbols). PS3569 .T3868 S65