What Would Jesus Tech

What if we understood the human person, body and soul, in the way of Thomas Aquinas (13th-century AD Christian Theologian) or Aristotle (5th-century BC Greek Philosopher)? Why not both?

Timothy Jacobs is a Thomistic scholar who teaches at The Davenant Institute, an organization that retrieves the riches of classical Protestantism to renew and build up the contemporary Church.

In this episode, we discuss how the body and soul relate. In Thomistic thought (which follows Aristotle), there are five primary "Powers" (which can sometimes each be called "Souls" - which can be confusing). Each of these powers has an important role. Some actions within each power (such as memory within the sensitive power) can be replicated by a machine. Other actions cannot be properly said to be done by a machine, no matter how advanced the AI.

0:00 - Intro & Tim Jacobs

6:15 - Thomistic Psychology Overview

21:00 - Mind and Soul Dualism, "Souls" as Thomistic Powers

35:00 - What about organic substrates? Advanced AI? Pikachu?

47:00 - Knowing God (humans) vs Knowing About God (machines)

Tim Jacob's handout on Thomistic Psychology:

Tim's website: https://www.tljacobs.com/

Tim's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCcF_QqLWOatOO5vHHlzK_Hw

Cohosted by Andrew Noble and Joel Jacob. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com

In response to our technological age, many want to adapt a set of disciplines. Many of these disciplines are good. But what if, upon reflection, we realized that our solutions are embedded within a deeper technological problem? What if we are reducing persons to inputs and outputs and expecting machine-like productivity instead of recognizing what it means to be human? In this episode, Andrew, Austin, and Joel are joined by theologian and writer Kirsten Sanders. The article that led to this conversation was: What's the deal with "Rules of Life"?

Also referenced in this episode:

Tending the flame

Modern Mothers

For more of Kirsten's writing, please visit her Substack: In Particular.

0:00 - Intro

3:12 - Quick Questions (Writing, Feedback, Fav Tech, Teen Tech Restriction, Aspiring Theologian Advice, Aspiring Writer Advice)

8:52 - "I think sin, and its opposite, grace, is the chief misunderstanding we are having in our technological age."

20:04 - Beyond the self-correcting impulse

28:00 - Technological concerns

33:50 - Insecure Christians and doing "Enough"

45:00 - Is your life a project?

What Would Jesus Tech is cohosted by Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show, visit whatwouldjesustech.com

Meta launched a new product. But this is about more than putting Augmented Reality into glasses. This is about mana, power, the blocking of reality, and the myth of progress.

0:00 - Are Glasses The Next Platform?

5:19 - Reasons to be Skeptical

12:14 - Creepy Hidden Cameras

16:28 - S-Curve of Technology Growth

20:58 - Is Progress Good?

25:28 - What Motivates Companies Like Meta?

35:16 - Distracting From Real Human Connection

38:50 - Benefits of AR Glasses

47:13 - What We're Working On

Episode on Neo-Calvinism and Herman Bavinck with Jess Joulstra.

Our first episode on Mark Zuckerberg and the Meaning of Life.

Our episode on Apple Vision Pro.

Austin's article on internet culture.

Andrew's article on how headphones block reality and love.

Cohosted by Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com

Have you heard of §230? Section 230 of the Communications Act? It's been giving social media companies a free pass ever since the 1990s. But it's all about to change.

The Federal Court (specifically, the federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals) recently released an opinion which questions 230 since algorithms in the 2020s aren't like those in 1990s. We break it all down in this episode. Here's a pdf link to the legal document of Anderson vs TikTok (Bytedance, Inc.) that we reference.

0:00 - Intro

0:45 - A girl died: Background to the Federal Court appeal

4:07 - Section 230

8:52 - Control without Responsibility (and Culpability) and Grey Area

18:12 - Morality, Theology, and Technology

27:43 - Regulating Markets and Sharing Responsibility

Please send your ideas, questions, and feedback to the cohosts, Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley at our website, where you can also support our podcast: whatwouldjesustech.com

In this special edition of What Would Jesus Tech, we are sharing a sermon that Andrew Noble preached at Heritage Grace Church in Kitchener, Ontario. We will be back with more episodes in mid-September.

Please send your ideas and feedback to the cohosts, Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley, at [email protected]. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com

Cam Pak made Faith Tools: https://faith.tools/

Faith Tools is the best place for Christians to find apps.

But who is Cam Pak?

This is a story all about how Cam Pak's life got turned upside down. So I'd like to take a minute, keep listening here, and Cam Pak will tell you all about his dev & Jesus journey.

0:00 - Who is Cam Pak?

9:10 - Software to Serve the Homeless

20:02 - The Story Before Faith Tools; Sabbath, Sickness, and Solace

38:35 - What is Faith Tools?

45:17 - The Future of Faith Tools?

52:14 - Andrew's Feedback and Ideas for Faith Tools

Please send your ideas and feedback to the cohosts, Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley, at [email protected]. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com

What will our future look like and how should we prepare? In this episode, we talk with Adam Graber about his new newsletter, Christianity Tomorrow, and he gives us his four top predictions and one prescription for what Christianity should know going forward.

Adam Graber helps Christian leaders align emerging technologies to their ministry strategy. He is a professional consultant for Christian ministries, a writer for various outlets, including Christianity Today, and the host of the Device & Virtue podcast.

Subscribe to Adam's newsletter.

0:00 - Intro & Banter

3:45 - Prediction 1: We Will Realize Disembodiment Is A Myth

14:23 - Prediction 2: GenAI will even the playing field, drive groupthink, and isolate employees

25:20: Prediction 3: Tech Entrepreneurs Will Keep Using People With Disabilities as a Trojan Horse for Their Disruptive Innovations

36:42 - Prediction 4: GenAI is big. A bigger shift is coming with Big Data and our interaction with computers.

45:28 Prescription: We Must Ask, What Do We Want The Future To Look Like?

As Austin has joined our team, it was time to get to know him. From Pest Control to Apple Computers to Social Media Management, we learn a little about Austin and how God has used him.

0:00 - Intro

2:21 - Conversion

4:55 - Early Optimistic Days in Technology, Church Planting, and Gaming

18:45 - Mentorship

22:15 - RTS

26:48 - Podcasting, Substack, Socials

37:50 - Finding a Tech Balance

45:05 - Spiritual Formation Despite Occupational Hazards

51:02 - Should TGC get off of Twitter since it's so bad?

1:03:00 - Austin's Hopes and Goals

Please send your ideas and feedback to the cohosts, Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley, at [email protected]. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com

Can we steward God's creation while still making money? What are some ways we should think and act in relation to our planet's resources? Today, cohosts Austin and Andrew speak with Bruce Taylor, who is the founder and President of Enviro-Stewards Inc., which is a social venture that has been selected by B lab as one of the Best Companies for the World by the UN Global Compact Network Canada for their Sustainable Development Goal award.

Enviro-Stewards’ projects for Tim Hortons, Andrew Peller, Southbrook Winery, Dextran, Maple Leaf Foods, Maple Lodge, Campbell Company of Canada, and a food loss project at 50 Food Processors have each won Clean50 national sustainability awards.

0:00 Intro to Topic and Guest Bruce Taylor

1:47 Bruce’s Story

8:34 Why Should Christians Care About the Environment?

12:57 Our Local Bias To Environmental Activism

17:23 Effectiveness vs Impact: Credible, Affordable Journey

22:11 Concepts We Need To Reconsider

25:55 Asking “Why?” to Solve the Real Problem

31:43 Stakeholder Engagement: Understanding Culture

36:06 Enviro-Stewards’ Business Model (https://bthechange.com/business-as-unusual-forging-a-new-model-while-protecting-the-earth-1d0aa1d0489d)

41:30 Bruce’s Opinion On Missions Trips (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBB3CkuRb7E&t=3s&ab_channel=TEDxTalks)

Please send your ideas and feedback to the cohosts, Andrew Noble, Austin Gravely, and Joel Jacob, at [email protected]. Recorded in Ontario, Canada. Original Music by Abigail Neale. Video and sound editing by Peter Behnke. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com

The latest Apple ad will be referenced in tech criticism for the next several years. It was so bad that Apple has since apologized for it. But what was so bad? Can there be any good in iPads?

Also, we have a new co-host! Austin Gravely is the former host of the podcast Breaking the Digital Spell and is currently the Social Media Manager of The Gospel Coalition. He is also the Executive Producer of Mending Division Academy, and he works in Youth Ministry at Redeemer Christian Church in Amarillo, Texas.

0:00 - Intro and NEW co-host!

2:02 - Intent and Impact of the Apple Ad

8:35 - Destroying Nature & Misguided Marketing

12:55 - Good in Everything

17:45 - Who Wants an iPad?

22:17 - Tears of Joy in Apple Products

27:16 - Tools Vs Devices

33:15 - Responsibility

39:50 - Would Jesus Use an iPad? Forms of Godliness vs the power of Godliness.

Please send your ideas and feedback to the cohosts, Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley, at [email protected]. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com