HOW TO DEVELOP A MINDSET for Understanding Societal Phase Change

What Does Christian Discipleship Look Like in the Autonomous Technology Era? See, Judge, & Act!

HOW TO DEVELOP A MINDSET for Understanding Societal Phase Change

What Does Christian Discipleship Look Like in the Autonomous Technology Era? See, Judge, & Act!

Technology is driven by curiosity and imagination – it has been one of the keys to our evolutionary success and failures as people. If we begin to think of technology as a gift, do we see the core of what a gift means? Do we understand the value of a gift from the giver to the receiver? How do we begin to discern (judge) the value of emerging technology as it affects society? Are we naturally curious beings inclined toward exploration, experimentation, and discovery, and there we discover technology?

In technology, especially the world of Artificial Intelligence, we see things coming into play around us, often with little insights, and do we know what to do about it? Please think of the game of hockey player who positions themselves most advantageously for addressing the puck. Or the surfer is learning how to ride the ever-changing waves. They understand the patterns because they discern movements, and that judgment is applied to foresight; they act upon the situation to predict and create future moves. 

Technology is often beyond our everyday experience, and yet it exists in the emerging present. Technology provides many powerful tools to help us imagine futures, see more clearly, navigate and judge the UNKOWN unknown, and act accordingly to discover the new NEW in our lives as human beings.

When we use the SEE-JUDGE-ACT method, we are more resilient to the adverse effects of societal change. When we are understanding (seeing) and discerning (judging), thinking through a situation causes us to enter new states of consciousness with heightened awareness and perception. It is then we are able and capable to act. 

The good news is that much like getting into shape and working out, the See-Judge-Act methods can be developed to make us better human beings. To better understand how technology is shaping and changing our lives. The KEY incorporates our social teachings, the Sermon on the Mount, and our long history of understanding scripture with the context of the method to bring about the kingdom of God here and now.

For starters, the method is objective reasoning and discovery as a means to understanding the "future" no magic here, no hocus pocus to predict what will happen, but a greater understanding of dealing with the long-term effects that the emerging technology is and will have on society, countries and communities, families, businesses and yes even religion. 

For Richard Rohr OFM, prophets do not foretell the future, but they do seem to anticipate futures that are shocking to the rest of us.

As we proceed over the next several weeks discussing emerging technology and applying the See-Judge-Act methods to understand the situation at hand better, I invite all of you to share your insights, foresight, and practical wisdom here on the site to enable better and help others. In the early movements of the followers of Jesus, they gathered and discussed, shared insights, and grew in wisdom. Focus on those moments and actionable observations you are discovering, with what you see in technology, you experience in technology and how different sectors, such as Society and Culture, Policy and Government, are changing because of Autonomous Technology, and most especially Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, AR & the Metaverse, Climate Change and Sustainability, Healthcare and Medical Research Insurance, Banking, and Financial Services. Then think of your Job, Workplace, and children's education. What will the world of Mobility & Transportation look like for human beings? Will it only be for the well-off financially? What happens to the marginalized in society? What are the prospects that you and I will become marginalized in society as technology emerges?

The most essential consideration in this discussion is what it means to be a human being. Just like it did in the last two revolutions that changed society, we as humans will encounter the good, the bad, and the ugly of change. Using the See-Judge-Act Methods will help us to be more optimistic and develop a more positive view of the future that defines what Christian Discipleship means for most of us and then looks at how to make it a reality.

Over the next week, think about this:

SEE: What key topics do you see unfolding over 'The next ten years – the unknown knowns, Where ChatGTP and The Future of AI evolve? What does the workplace look like in 2030? 

JUDGE: when you begin to judge, what is your first experience? Is it more in the gut, the heart, or the mind? Think about that and reflect on what is the first strike that occurs and why? Are you judging the symptoms or the cause/effect or addressing the core problem or issue?

ACT: Think about obstacles to achieving what you think you have developed in your mind as the proper action. How does one overcome those obstacles? What action is taken to solve the core problem, or is our action just addressing a few symptoms? What type of "buy-in" do we need to create?

Suggested Reading:   Robots, Ethics and the Future of Jobs by Sean McDonagh

Till next week enjoy thinking.