Religious and Spiritual Experience in the Digital Age: Unprecedented Evolutionary Forces
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Religious and Spiritual Experience in the Digital Age: Unprecedented Evolutionary Forces New Directions in Pastoral Theology Conference (Honoring Lewis Rambo) Kirk A. Bingaman 1
# Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are changing what it means to be human. Given our increasing merger with machines, we have entered an era of unprecedented change. Theological reflection is needed, sooner rather than later, focusing on the potential existential risk and opportunity and what will constitute spiritual experience in an age of increasing technological enhancement. Preserving human spirituality, as we have known it, will require intentional focus on strengthening the neural circuitry associated with attentional control, mindful and compassionate awareness, and social and relational intelligence, even as we put to good use the emerging digital technologies. Keywords Artificial intelligence (AI) . Attentional control . Digital technologies . Existential risk and opportunity . Human spirituality . Theology of Vorgriff I have known Lewis Rambo for almost 25 years, ever since our first meeting together at the 1995 American Academy of Religion meeting in Philadelphia. At the time, I was pastoring the First Presbyterian Church of Stockton, New Jersey, and the location of the American Academy of Religion meeting for that year was convenient enough that I could take a Sunday off from the parish to meet with Lewis at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) alumni luncheon to discuss the possibility of working with him as a doctoral student. I recall Lewis generously giving me as much time as I needed post-luncheon, patiently and thoughtfully answering all my questions. The meeting left a lasting impression, so much so that I decided to move forward with the doctoral application process. By the following year (1996), I had been accepted into the GTU doctoral program, had moved 3000 miles from New Jersey to Marin County, California, and would begin my academic work under the tutelage of Lewis. Since then, I have come to know Lewis as a strategic advisor for my doctoral study who helped me
* Kirk A. Bingaman [email protected]
1
Fordham University, Keating Hall Room 303E, 441 E. Fordham Rd, Bronx, NY 10458, USA
Pastoral Psychology
to successfully navigate the complex terrain of the GTU; as a colleague teaching courses together at the GTU and San Francisco Theological Seminary in pastoral care and the psychology of religion; as a friend to both me and my family, in particular my daughter, who somehow would win the coveted take-home prize every year for accurately predicting the most winners at the Oscars party hosted by Lewis and his wife Judy; as a frequently available mentor to discuss any and all matters, personal and professional and academic, in the spirit of Ignatian cura personalis; as a consistent supporter of my professional development, initially at San Francisco Theological Seminary/GTU and subsequently at Fordham University; and a
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