200words: children of silicon valley

“the scoffer is an abomination to mankind” (Pr24v9)

Silicon Valley, as Babylon, is located metonymyically more than geographically. It conjures the concentrated efforts of digital city-building: a catalyst of world-creation, an accelerator for the hopes, dreams and foibles of the contemporary human condition. A future is forged in this kiln, transactions here are prophetic, entrepreneurs here are prophets, false prophets insinuates Harrison via Jesus.

What is Jesus doing name-dropped at the culmination of this sneeringly snarky, uncharitably pessimistic, fear-mongering Luddite article beset by ad hominem fallacies, broad brushes, slippery slopes, strawmen and old-fashioned cynicism? This is not the Jesus who enjoyed clubbing with the Sean Parkers of a different time (Mt9v11). Nor the Jesus who advocated extremely shrewd management of coffer enlargement (Lk6v9). Nor the Jesus who had no qualms with working for so harsh a taskmaster as Google (Mt5v27). This is a Guardian reader's own personal Jesus, presuming that Jesus would take the side of the Heideggarians. Would he? There is worlding and there is overcoming the world – a tension which meets in the incarnation – and such a meeting does change a world which needs changing.

Harrison's article is astute, while it is also indulgent. Technology, as journalism, has the power to simulate, stimulate and self-replicate. What then, Phil, is the fruit of your work?

nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2014/jul/17/children-silicon-valley/