The Laing Lectures 2011
The Lure of Technology:
Understanding and Reclaiming the World
October 19-20, 2011
With Dr. Albert Borgmann
Throughout its history, Christianity has been faced with historical developments that have challenged the very understanding Christianity has had of itself. In our time, the challenge is the culture of technology. Christians have been slow in meeting it because technology looks like a neutral tool that, far from being a challenge, can easily be put in the service of Christianity.
This is a profound misunderstanding. Technology as a rule is always more than a tool. It is inevitably woven into a culture of inducements and compliance that looks superficially congenial and yet is deeply inhospitable to Christianity. Cyberspace competes with grace as the dominant background of life. Hyperreal perfection makes providential burdens look irritating. The displacement of material reality by preternaturally glamorous images dissolves the ground where the life of the spirit can flourish.
The world is slipping away from us. We need to understand the slippage so we can reclaim the world for the good news.
Dr. Borgmann will deliver three lectures:
- Lecture I: Grace and Cyberspace
Wednesday, October 19, 7:30 pm
- Lecture II: Pointless Perfection and Blessed Burdens
Thursday, October 20, 11:30 am
- Lecture III: Matter and Spirit in an Age of Science and Technology
Thursday, October 20, 7:30 pm
All lectures are free and open to the general public.
About the Speaker
Dr. Albert Borgmann is an American philosopher born in Freiburg, Germany. He is the Regents Professor of Philosophy at the University of Montana, where he has taught since 1970. His work focuses on the philosophy of society and culture, with particular emphasis on technology.
Dr. Borgmann is an influential figure in the philosophical movement to discern and shape thought on the relationship between technology and Christianity. His publications include Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life (University of Chicago Press, 1984); Crossing the Postmodern Divide (University of Chicago Press, 1992); Holding on to Reality: the Nature of Information at the Turn of the Millennium (University of Chicago Press, 1999); Power Failure: Christianity in the Culture of Technology (Brazos Press, 2003); and Real American Ethics: Taking Responsibility for Our Country (University of Chicago Press, 2006). In this latest publication, Dr. Borgmann interprets some of the challenges facing contemporary American society, such as materialism and consumerism, lack of respect for the environment, and indifference towards poverty at home and abroad. He then proposes tangible means for ordinary citizens to make their society more just, ethical, and responsible.
Dr. Borgmann has an MA in literature from the University of Illinois (Urbana) and a PhD in philosophy from the University of Munich (Germany).
About the Laing Lectures
The Laing Lectures began at Regent College 1999 in cooperation with Roger and Carol Laing and in honour of their father, William John Laing. The purpose of the lectures is to encourage persons recognized for scholarship, wisdom and creativity to undertake serious thought and original writing on an issue of significance for the Christian church and to promote the sharing of such thoughts through a series of public lectures. The material presented by Laing Lecturers is intended to move beyond an analysis of historic and current concerns to provide proposals for alternative action for the Christian church. In doing so, lecturers will be invited to explore in an interdisciplinary way the relationship between Christianity and culture, and to suggest ways in which that relationship might lead to greater flourishing of the church, the larger human household, and the whole community of creation.
William John Laing (1916–1992) was the much-loved pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Calgary. A graduate of William Aberhart’s Prophetic Bible Institute, “Bill” Laing assumed the pastorate of the Bible Institute Baptist Church in 1939 when he was only twenty-three. He served that church for more than four decades. A theological conservative by conviction, Bill had a unique ability to couple his theology with his love for people. Pastoral care was his specialty and he was known as an encourager of people on their spiritual journey. Through his dynamic personality and strength of character he brought stability to his congregation. Under his leadership the church was restructured and changed its name to Bethel Baptist Church in 1949. He retired in 1981 and remained as Minister Emeritus for the next ten years.
Evangelism and missions were prominent aspects of Bill’s ministry. Over fifty percent of his church’s budget was devoted to supporting missionaries, many of whom he had taught at Berean Bible College. Those missionaries went to Canada’s north, Europe, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. He was an active supporter of the Youth for Christ movement and Billy Graham’s ministry from their inception. As one whose life had been greatly influenced by radio evangelism, he became a frequent speaker on Canada’s national Back to the Bible Hour broadcast. During that last decade of his life he was Pastor-at-Large for Global Outreach Mission which took his ministry throughout North America, Europe and India, where he spoke to conferences of pastors and missionaries.
Bill Laing was a devoted husband and the father of eight children. Raised on a farm near Lacombe, Alberta, he was proud of his agrarian roots and Scottish heritage. He was also an avid hiker and camper in the Canadian Rockies.
Past Laing Lectures
Past Laing Lectures include speakers such as Neil Postman, Charles Taylor, Peter Berger, Margaret Visser, Miroslav Volf, Nicholas Wolterstorff and Walter Brueggemann. The lecture recordings are available from RegentAudio.com as MP3 downloads.
Click here to view the list of available recordings.
