Why we should be ‘playing God’
Some phrases think for us. They slip easily off the tongue, the obvious thing to say. We use them without noticing the presuppositions that have smuggled into our argument. ...
Read
Connecting with Culture
The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
Never miss a thing!
What will you discover today?
Connecting with Culture
-
-
Connecting with Culture
How to defy our addiction to distraction
Recently, I went to watch a friend sing Bach’s Mass in B minor in a beautiful school chapel. As voices soared towards the vaulted ceiling, I recalled the composer’s words, ‘The aim… of all music should be…the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.’ I wondered what Bach would make of music and cultural life today. ...
Read
-
Connecting with Culture
Artificial intelligence: building for joy
What is the probability of artificial intelligence running amok and causing havoc in an extreme way? This idea has increasingly been hitting the headlines and was given a serious place at the table of world politics with the first international AI Safety Summit last week. Regulation is obviously worth pursuing, but what about the values embodied by AI itself? Rather than focusing on prohibition, how can we proactively rig the system for good? AI trains on data sets, and these data sets are shaped by human behaviour – meaning sin is built into...
Read
-
Connecting with Culture
When AI Talks Like a Human, What’s Left for Us to Be?
As AI technology continues to advance, its ability to replicate natural human language has become increasingly impressive. This development raises important spiritual questions about our perception of humanity, value, creativity, and purpose. From a Christian perspective, it’s important to consider how these advancements in technology align with biblical teaching. One of the key considerations is the question of humanity. The Bible teaches that human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), which sets us apart from all other for...
Read
-
Connecting with Culture
VR is Coming, Look Busy
‘The metaverse may be virtual, but the impact will be real.’ Chances are you’ve seen these words before. They’re the tagline to Facebook owner Meta’s latest advert, giving people a utopian ‘glimpse of what the benefits [of the metaverse] could be.’ As Professor John Wyatt explained in this blog, the metaverse is ‘a 3D virtual reality (VR) world in which it is claimed we will soon be able to live our lives.’ It’s attracting billions in investment. Major brands and artists like Nike and Snoop Dogg have launched VR-only pro...
Read
-
Connecting with Culture
Hidden Histories: Black Scientists and Christian Theology
Black History Month is a time to remember people who are often overlooked but played a key role in society. For example, last month marked the thirtieth anniversary of Dr Mae Jemison’s historic NASA mission as the first African American woman in space. Similarly, three Black mathematicians – two of whom were openly Christians – contributed to the moon landings, a story popularised by the film Hidden Figures. Another hidden element in today’s history of modern science is the contribution of Christian theology – in particular the doc...
Read
-
Connecting with Culture
Welcome to the Metaverse
Mark Zuckerberg, like many other tech entrepreneurs, is driven by a dream – turning science fiction into reality. Not content with connecting 2.9 billion Facebook users across the planet, Zuckerberg is now focusing on the metaverse, a 3D virtual reality world in which it is claimed we will soon be able to live our lives. Working, playing, shopping, making friends, entertainment, and romance: it will all be available from the comfort of our homes. It’s a techno-optimist vision of a future in which advanced technologies enable every aspect of...
Read
-
Connecting with Culture
What Makes Us Valuable?
Trigger warning: This article makes reference to abortion. I was captured by a news story this week about a woman named Heidi Carter. Ms Carter, who has Down’s syndrome, is bringing a legal challenge against a UK law that she perceives as ‘deeply offensive’ and ‘discriminatory’. The law permits children with Down’s or other disabilities such as cleft palate or club feet to be aborted anytime up to birth. ‘I will not tolerate it’ she stated. ‘That someone like me or [my husband] James could be aborted just before birth is jus...
Read
-
Connecting with Culture
Unexpected Journeys
One of the most evocative elements of the nativity story is the visit of the Magi described in Matthew’s Gospel. Some people think this episode is an insertion – a purely symbolic event that emphasises Jesus’ royal authority. But I think that if God exists, and his Son was born into his own creation, the story of the Magi makes sense. ...
Read
-
Connecting with Culture
The Vaccine Race: No-one Can Go It Alone
More than three months into lockdown, any sense of novelty has well and truly worn off and the scale of the impact of this pandemic on everyone’s lives deepens almost daily. Working together is not just the new normal for neighbours and local communities, but for countries and multinational companies. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the race for a COVID-19 vaccine....
Read
No more results to show
