A talk I gave for Orthodoxy Today at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago last year, discussing the ways in which technology affects our spiritual lives and a few suggestions on how we can protect ourselves from spiritual harm.
I can very much relate to a drastic decrease in my attention when I got my first smartphone. Before that, I spent many hours a day reading. After that, I tried to read for long stretches, and just found I no longer had the attention span.
Something that has helped me (in addition to some of the things you mentioned), is using a smartphone that has a dull operating system. I used a de-Googled Android phone (CalyxOS), which is capable of a handful of things, but not very much. It's not slick, it's not flashy, and I chose a color theme with muted colors so it's not visually stimulating. I now go many hours a day without checking my phone - just plain forgetting about it. That progress didn't come from changing the OS alone, it's come after years of following some of the other tips you mentioned here. But it helps when there's nothing exciting on your phone to check. I also have a rule of no social media, news apps, or games on my phone. So, about the only way to get into the internet is through the web browser.
Your observations and warnings are even more critical, now that artificial "intelligence" is here & rapidly embedding itself into society. As one commentator put it, we're going to have to remember at all times to ask ourselves who's training the AI and what is their agenda.
Knowing we're in a spiritual battle, and that dangling bright & shiny objects in front of our faces is a tool that works well to distract us from the narrow path, we're all going to have to redouble our efforts to put first things first. For our time, I suppose this is what it means to "take the Kingdom by force."
Thank you for preparing & sharing this talk, and for the transcript.
Brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing. Unfortunately, I can relate to everything you talk about and it is very disturbing, distressing, and disheartening to realize how much the "smart" phone has changed our brains. Like the woman you mention in the beginning, I, too, watch and read all "good" things having to do with Orthodoxy. But it is definitely an addiction that interferes with my prayer life and leaves my mind fractionated and less able to focus and be quiet. 🙏💗
Thank you for sharing this, Fr. Gabriel!
I can very much relate to a drastic decrease in my attention when I got my first smartphone. Before that, I spent many hours a day reading. After that, I tried to read for long stretches, and just found I no longer had the attention span.
Something that has helped me (in addition to some of the things you mentioned), is using a smartphone that has a dull operating system. I used a de-Googled Android phone (CalyxOS), which is capable of a handful of things, but not very much. It's not slick, it's not flashy, and I chose a color theme with muted colors so it's not visually stimulating. I now go many hours a day without checking my phone - just plain forgetting about it. That progress didn't come from changing the OS alone, it's come after years of following some of the other tips you mentioned here. But it helps when there's nothing exciting on your phone to check. I also have a rule of no social media, news apps, or games on my phone. So, about the only way to get into the internet is through the web browser.
Your observations and warnings are even more critical, now that artificial "intelligence" is here & rapidly embedding itself into society. As one commentator put it, we're going to have to remember at all times to ask ourselves who's training the AI and what is their agenda.
Knowing we're in a spiritual battle, and that dangling bright & shiny objects in front of our faces is a tool that works well to distract us from the narrow path, we're all going to have to redouble our efforts to put first things first. For our time, I suppose this is what it means to "take the Kingdom by force."
Thank you for preparing & sharing this talk, and for the transcript.
A powerful new message from Bishop Irenei on the problems with social media which highly compliments your own talk.
https://youtu.be/JAeQ1aZGfZI?si=OVZZQgUWzopYqQDe
Thank you for this Fr. Gabriel.
Reading Dr. Larchet's book was eye opening.
As many online say we all need to "touch grass."
Brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing. Unfortunately, I can relate to everything you talk about and it is very disturbing, distressing, and disheartening to realize how much the "smart" phone has changed our brains. Like the woman you mention in the beginning, I, too, watch and read all "good" things having to do with Orthodoxy. But it is definitely an addiction that interferes with my prayer life and leaves my mind fractionated and less able to focus and be quiet. 🙏💗
May God grant His healing grace to us all.