That probably wasn't surprising when it was claimed in 2023 that the message “Jesus can die and you can live” was labelled “hate speech” by Facebook. But two years later, something else is certainly true.
The Christian Code has come into Silicon Valley, but it may have replaced its infamous secular programming. Apparently, humans don't live on bits and bits alone.
But how sincere is this move? And does it really eradicate the awakened mind virus? Or does it reflect what David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group Research Company, lamented 10 years ago? Witness: “American devotion to Jesus is mostly a mile wide and an inch deep.”
Is this the Twilight Zone? Or are we coming out of it?
Vanity Fair will introduce the story in the April issue. “Christianity was the “border” of Silicon Valley. It's a new religion now,” wrote Zo Bernard.
(There) was not so long ago, but mainly in the 2010s when Silicon Valley cultivated a sharp attitude of hostility towards not only conservatives but also the Protestant doctrine that supported much of American life. But there's no more. Christianity is now an object attracted by libertarian capitalists in the world of technology.
The website Wired provided some details about the move on March 14th, and these high-tech titans were
It promotes a new moral vision for the technological industry where job choices and other decisions are guided not by the pursuit of wealth but in accordance with Christian values and Western cultural frameworks.
Trae Stevens, former church-run Trae Stevens, co-founder of defense contractor Andrill and partner at Peter Thiel's venture capital founders fund, characterised the idea as a pursuit of a career that said to have made theological underwear the concept he said.
“I'm literally an arms dealer,” Stevens said at one point. “I don't think everyone should be weapon dealers, but that's a pretty unique call.”
The hour-long discussion was part of a series of ticketed rallies hosted by Acts 17 Collective, a nonprofit founded last year by Stephens' wife, healthcare startup executive Michelle Stevens. The acronym, which means “recognizing Christ in technology and society,” lies on the mission of “redefine the success of people who define culture,” she says.
Meaning for Mammon
Michelle believes she is responding when necessary, if not craving. Tech workers are usually surrounded by secular things, defining success in terms of pocketbooks and power. This leaves a sense of meaninglessness behind, and Michelle renders the prescription. “Uccess (instead) can be defined as loving God, yourself, and others,” she says.
That is certainly the etheric message. And, as she correctly said, the big wigs of technology “define culture,” so they can do a lot to re-staple the faith that was mistakenly seized. But there's a problem. Are these “converts” sincere?
And exactly, are they sincere?
On Thursday, cited a Vanity Fair essay:
Bernard's article reveals that some converts are simply cynical characters pretending to be Christian. “We guarantee that there are people who are using Christianity to get closer to Peter Thiel,” an entrepreneur told Bernard. However, even if a significant proportion of new followers are completely sincere, that does not mean their theology is cooperative. Christianity is not the hack of life they should know. It is a surrender that brings life to the facts of God's love.
The Religion of the Designer
The Atlantic says that this Silicon Valley Christianity is infected with a certain virus, the “gospel of prosperity.” This essentially promises that “moral” integrity will be rewarded with wealth. And then, from a wired article, quoting Michelle Stephens, we also have:
“People were saying, 'I didn't know that Peter (Tiel) was a Christian.'
Of course, something pops out above. Christian denominations have never defined sinfulness and wiseness…
Joke aside, the problem with the fact that there are too many faith movements today is that someone closest to my heart reflects what once called “designer religion.” To illustrate the point, note that Atlantic and wired articles eagerly mention the virtue “love.” But there are words that are notable lacking in both: the truth.
But this is all about religious exploration, and of course, Christian journeys. The goal is to find the truth and adapt your life to it. Designer theists do the opposite. He essentially says, “This is the lifestyle I want to live with.”
“Let me find a “religion” that corresponds to it. ”
The reason is clear. It can be difficult to follow the truth. We can even call them “lifestyle choices” because it requires us to abandon sins that we may be obsessed with. Of course, this requirement is reflected in the gospel. In Matthew 19:21 Jesus told the young man to be heavily attached to his wealth, and to chase after him, alienating all his possessions. In John 8:3–11, Jesus showed mercy to a woman who committed sexual sin. However, he also instructed that he “will not commit any more sin.”
Truth is not a creature of consensus
It is God, and it determines not only God, but what sin is – not us. And God's moderation is often human extremism. Virtue does not cease to be a virtue because it loses popular votes.
Orthodox may hear, “Love is important!” Or “I hate you!” (Note: Pagan Romans also called early Christians “hatred” – “of humanity”) This reminds me of a story related to theologian Scott Hearn.
One day he was sitting with the Muslims discussing the nature of God's love. Explaining his perspective, Muslims said, “I love dogs, but if I move to a residential complex that doesn't allow dogs, I'll kill them.”
After saying to the anecdote, Hearn said, “With such love, we need hatred!”
The point is that we all agree with the importance of love. That aspect is a solved problem. After all, the protesters “with love!” But what really constitutes a loving behavior?
Ah, that's the point of sticking.
It is also a place where the truth comes into play. We all have “feelings” about what we love. But the truth tells us when we actually love and when we are cheating on ourselves, as defined by God.
The Light of Christianity
Christians should be given to be loving and truth-oriented. Sadly, this is not the case. Consider the 2002 Barna Group study. This shows that only 9% of “reborn” teens believe in objective morality (truth). This was better than the “non-born again teens” figure, but only five points.
Therefore, Christians in Silicon Valley and others need to be careful. That's the beginning. As the clergy once told me years ago, “Everyone is at another stage of conversion” (meaning “conversion”; “transforming to yourself and God.”) Having this turn certainly involves grasping the existence of truth. And I'm digging into the discussion here and here, among other places.
Ironically, as explained in 2010, moral relativism is the inability to understand sacrifices on the cross. After all, Jesus never said that his blood would shed.
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