My problem is that I think that Hipps' actually words disprove his argument. The study that you reference is just one more example that both good and bad are happening with technology and our response should be much more about understanding both, than about condemning. The study came out after the book, so I can't criticize too much.

On to your questions, I am often the person that people come to with computer issues. I have no formal training but just a general interest, so maybe I assume everyone can learn as easily as I do. But I work hard to help others use technology in a way that helps them. There are times when I just want people to "get" it and they don't and it does no good to blame them for not getting it.

I do think that unrelated to technology, the church should be all about empowering people, including information. Repression of information (as happens all too often in the church) I think is more often about attempting to protect others rather than a traditional understanding of power. Some of the protection is good, but often it creates an insulation that is not in the long term health of the person.

Have not parents given over the "power" to their children? When I speak to parents about technology, I tell them there is no reason for the children to know more than they do.

I agree with John that we need to share the power.

“So I have to ask myself: Are there areas in my life where I wield power over information and thus power in relationships?”

Without doubt, information = power. Our job is to wield that power benevolently, compassionately, lovingly – as servants. Only a handful of people today realize how deeply and pervasively virtual information is going to change the nature of global religion. And what’s fascinating is that this fundamental change will self-organize in unexpected ways – in ways that are contrary to our inherited models of “power.”

better link

http://www.the-next-wave-ezine.info/issue126/

Exactly.

Along those lines I do think that Hipps makes a great point that technology has altered the power structure related to age. It used to be that the older you got the more respect and influence you gained. But now, influence is more often determined by a person's ability to use the latest technology to communicate effectively. With that it seems like younger people are gaining the upper hand.

Teens have always thought that they knew more than their parents. And now Google makes them think they have confirmed it!

One thing that texting and similar technologies has done is give people more discrete means of communicating and accessing information. Teens may more easily hide their conversations from parents, etc using texting or IM with or without codes. I think the access to communications also has an effect on the power/control structure that Hipps brings up in this chapter.

Love your questions at the end of the post. I need to think about them more….

Good point! If information control is a form of power, then we can serve others by empowering them with access to information. A good example of this would be http://www.YouVersion.com. They make all those translations of God's word plainly available so as to reduce the negative impact the medium has on the message.

peace|dewde
http://dewde.com

Good point! If information control is a form of power, then we can serve others by empowering them with access to information. A good example of this would be http://www.YouVersion.com. They make all those translations of God's word plainly available so as to reduce the negative impact the medium has on the message.

peace|dewde
http://dewde.com

Good point! If information control is a form of power, then we can serve others by empowering them with access to information. A good example of this would be http://www.YouVersion.com. They make all those translations of God's word plainly available so as to reduce the negative impact the medium has on the message.

peace|dewde
http://dewde.com