During his recent visit to Sarajevo, Pope Francis spoke with youth about the potential effects associated with their use of technology. The Pope, who has become well known for placing aside prepared speeches in an effort to express a more candid side, chose to entertain questions from his audience instead.
His responses offer encouragement to all (young and old) in a day where many are torn between how to approach technology, especially where youth are concerned. Today’s teens have 24 hour access to the world. This means that our world has 24 hour access to them; and although this reality is positive regarding the levels of knowledge, insight, and dialogue it can generate, it can also prove highly detrimental to their overall well being and development when the material presented is not properly monitored, or accurately understood.
Our Holy Father, who has not watched television since 1990, encouraged them to seek the things that are “good” for them. He talked about his younger days, “…when a book was good, you read it; when the book was bad for you, you chucked it”. (He joked that this, of course, was during the time of the ‘Stone Age’.) As he continued, he turned to the issue of “image”, indicating that this has become a major factor in our world today. Regardless, the same standards still apply; always choose the good and ignore the bad. Do not lose yourself, or your soul, in the process.
The Trojan Horse
I once heard a priest refer to the television as the devil’s ‘Trojan horse’. I believe that this can also be applied to other forms of media. I must admit that I find myself more and more perplexed by what society deems suitable viewing for children. I realize that parents cannot constantly monitor what their children watch, whether on TV, or the internet, but that fact remains; much of what they are exposed to is not healthy. Come to think of it, much of what we are all exposed to is not healthy, and therefore, all can benefit from the Pope’s advice. Even if it may seem rudimentary, it bears reflection.
The programs I usually view these days revolve of sports, news, movies, documentaries, religious programs, and the shows our children watch. It is interesting to note that even when programs are suitable for all ages, the commercials may not. Times have certainly changed and I often find myself needing a ‘standby channel’ I can click to immediately when those advertisements are displayed.
Television is extremely useful (along with other forms of media) for informing, educating, and even inspiring, provided it does not demean, or undermine, the human person or cheapen reality in the process.
Producers and directors, said the Holy Father, must carefully discern what they create, and viewers must be equally mindful of what they give their attention to. Images are powerful and their imprint can remain much longer than the episode or series, as can their damaging effects. What we experience has consequences.
Isolating the Problem
Technology can also lead to isolation, which causes a failure to thrive in the necessary aspects of life: social, physical, and spiritual. We all know that the internet and television reduce the amount of time one could spend participating in more lucrative activities essential to their personal growth. Even texting, though it can save time, leads to a cheapening of the art of communication, a vital component to what makes us a society. Like an ostrich, with its head in the sand, we are often buried in our devices, unaware of the beauty, and ‘natural’ sounds, that exist around us.
I am certainly not in favor of banning these devices. However, I am a firm believer in the phrase, “everything in moderation”, which coincides with the cardinal virtue of temperance, and has a huge impact on the moral choices one will make down the road. The approach must be a proactive one, rather than reactive because if one does not place limitations on one’s self, limitations will be placed on them. This may not always be pleasant. We must take Pope Francis’ message to heart and emphasize that our moral values can be reduced to the lowest common denominator if we do not take heed of the “empty” content that corrupts the mind and deadens the spirit.
The moral implications that stem from the inappropriate use of technology usually begin on a subtle level. It can take months before the more serious signs are recognized. For this reason, vigilance is a must. Pope Francis addressed the policy that many parents have by not allowing their children to have a computer in their room, but placing it in a “common living space”. This is not an infringement on privacy. On the contrary, it can be seen as an act of creating a supportive environment that builds community. Parents may not be able to control what happens on the outside of the domestic church, but they are obligated to establish and strengthen the fruits of charity within. This begins with honest and open collaboration, free from deceit and isolation.
We are all temples of the Holy Spirit, with the eyes of God in our hearts. Pope Francis, during a recent homily he gave at Casa Santa Marta, discussed the issue of Christian identity. He warned that this can become weakened by giving in to the moral and human “worldliness” that can distort ones Christian conscience. Regardless of how old we are, God is the authority at distinguishing between ambiguity and certainty. Exercising His solid approach to the utilization of technology will enable us to become better witnesses of conveying the Truth that is often lacking within that ‘Trojan horse’.
Articles referenced:
http://thecatholicspirit.com/news/nation-and-world/from-the-pope/pope-offers-stone-age-tips-to-youth-for-living-the-digital-world-well/
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=27640
