Reboot: Refreshing Your Faith in a High-Tech World

When one “reboots” a computer, it is usually because of a bug in the system. This is an interesting concept that Kendall, associate professor of communication at Bethel University, brings to the spiritual life. Human beings, like machines, can get stuck in a rut and require some refreshment. The author brings a commonsense approach to ways to grow spiritually in the contemporary world, neither canonizing nor vilifying technological progress. She points out that, for all of its conveniences, technology does not come without costs. It can isolate us if we are not self-aware. Kendall advocates for reflection about technology and its impact on our daily lives. Most impressively, she invites readers to find places of silence and solitude, far away from the blips and bleeps of machines, where a person can find his or her center. Each chapter concludes with some important suggestions and exercises for personal reflection. Most people’s lives are touched by communication and information technologies, so examining how these modern conveniences affect our relationships and commitments is of utmost importance to all who care about their spiritual life. (Jan. 15)