Adapting technology for the purposes of God and the community
In the Old Testament prophetic texts of Isaiah (2:1-5) and Joel (3:7-12) there are two opposite calls to adapt technology for the purposes of God and the community: one call to adapt armory into farming utensils (Isaiah) and another to adapt farming utensils into armory (Joel). Explore the reasons for these two different calls for technological adaptation, and (a) discuss how these examples help contemporary business to think about using cross-field technologies, and (b) explain the reasons for technological development. Consider the role of context, purpose, morals, and innovation in technological development.
Sample Answer
The two passages from Isaiah and Joel you mentioned present two different visions for how technology can be used to serve God and the community.
- Isaiah 2:1-5 envisions a world where swords are beaten into plowshares and spears are beaten into pruning hooks. This is a vision of peace and prosperity, where people are no longer using their weapons to fight each other. Instead, they are using them to till the land and grow food.
- Joel 3:7-12, on the other hand, envisions a time of war and chaos. In this time, people will need to use their farming utensils as weapons to defend themselves.