Toward an Ethic of Worship in a Technological Age: A Comparative Study of the Works of Jacques Ellul and Wendell Berry and Their Theological Implications for Worship in a Western Evangelical Context

Abstract

This thesis brings together the works of two prominent Christian critics of technology, Jacques Ellul and Wendell Berry, to work toward a theological and ethical framework for Western, evangelical churches as they navigate questions posed by technological innovation. Ellul and Berry are remarkably similar in their work on technology, language, and ecology. Yet they differ in their views of natural theology, work, and the uniqueness of Christian revelation. An ethic of technology takes shape in the exploration of these, and other, convergences and divergences. Only cursory comparisons of these thinkers have been previously undertaken. While Berry has often been read as an environmentalist and activist, this thesis draws out the theological content of Berry's work. Moreover, the application of these two thinkers' thought to the worship practices of Western evangelical churches is unprecedented. The ethical framework proposed is to aid churches in becoming what Ellul calls mutants, those who can use technology without being used by it. In chapters 2, 3 and 4 the church is set as the Spirit-born presence of eschatological freedom in dialectical opposition to the fallen spiritual Powers. In this dialectic, the ministry of reconciliation given to the church is a ministry of exorcism that resists the Powers and joins people and place by an affectionate commitment that Berry calls fidelity. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 examine aspects of worship that have unique implications for the role of technology. The upshot of these chapters is that a robust sacramentality situates the church against the Powers and 'technique' by retaining the givenness of the creation, uniting members with one another through embodied presence, and anticipating the eschatological kingdom of Christ.

Date of Award	31 Dec 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	RMS UnKnown (Supervisor)