The Digital Shift: A Look Back and Forward
While cleaning my office recently, I came across a 2012 Newsweek issue titled iCrazy: Panic. Depression. Psychosis. How Connection Addiction is Rewiring Our Brains. As the editor-in-chief of LiveLiving Transformational Living Magazine for seven years, I often wrote about the rapid digitalization of our lives. Even then, I saw the world changing—people crafting online personas that often diverged from their true selves.
More profoundly, our brains were being rewired. If this was true, then life would inevitably reflect this transformation: we were becoming cyborgs—human beings extending their skills and senses through technology until it became part of their identity (Thoughtworks.com). Today, AI accelerates this shift, seamlessly integrating into daily life and expanding human capabilities across various domains. But what does this mean for AI and human spirituality?
AI and Human Augmentation: A Double-Edged Sword
AI enhances our daily lives in several ways:
- Wearable Technology: AI-integrated wearables analyze environmental sounds and user interactions, offering real-time feedback, reminders, and productivity enhancements.
- Cognitive Augmentation: AI-powered applications support decision-making, data analysis, and problem-solving, amplifying human intelligence.
- Medical Applications: AI-driven prosthetics interpret neural signals for natural movement, while brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow individuals with paralysis to control external devices.
- Human-AI Symbiosis: A future where AI and humans work together seamlessly, complementing each other’s strengths and reshaping existence itself.
Yet, as AI advances, we must ask: Are we being transformed by technology, or are we intentionally shaping our relationship with it? And how does this impact AI and human spirituality?
The Cost of Technological Advancement: Our Humanity at Risk
Before COVID-19, burnout was already prevalent. The pandemic only exacerbated this reality. According to the WHO, anxiety and depression increased by 25% during the first year of COVID (WHO, 2022). AI promises greater efficiency and productivity, yet our well-being is declining. Why? Because we have built lives on getting, achieving, and having—often at the expense of simply being.
For years, LiveLiving has addressed the physical vulnerabilities among Christians—particularly rising obesity rates and chronic illnesses. Now, AI introduces new vulnerabilities:
Physical Vulnerabilities
AI adoption in the workplace increases job displacement, job insecurity, and occupational stress, contributing to burnout and health issues.
Emotional and Mental Vulnerabilities
Emotions are complex and integral to our well-being. Yet, theologically, the church has often undervalued emotions, branding them as “soulish.” However, aligning our emotions with God’s Word is vital. Unlike humans, AI lacks true empathy and compassion, exacerbating loneliness in an increasingly digital world.
Spiritual Vulnerabilities
The Vatican has warned against AI’s potential to replace God in people’s search for meaning (Vatican, 2023). Scripture calls this idolatry—substituting God with something man-made. As LiveLiving International Foundation, we recognize that science can complement life, but we must also safeguard our souls. AI and human spirituality must be balanced to ensure that technology does not erode faith.
Reclaiming Our Humanity: Honoring the Body, Mind, and Spirit
How do we navigate this digital transformation while staying anchored in our faith and well-being?
1. Practice Christian Mindfulness
Christian mindfulness keeps us present with God, ensuring we neither race ahead nor lag behind Him. As we expand into the digital age, mindfulness serves as an anchor, preventing us from disconnecting from present realities.
2. Manage Technology Use Wisely
Unchecked technology use disrupts sleep, increases stress, and erodes mental well-being. Consider these practices:
- Implement a Screen Curfew: Avoid screens at least an hour before bed to prevent melatonin suppression.
- Remove Devices from the Bedroom: Create a sleep-friendly environment by eliminating digital distractions.
- Declutter Digital Spaces: Reduce stress by organizing files and notifications regularly.
- Take a Technology Break: Spend time in nature—God’s creation restores the soul and helps us detach from digital overload.
Studies published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research show that nature-based interventions reduce screen time (Jones et al., 2021). The American Psychological Association highlights nature’s ability to improve attention, lower stress, and boost mood (APA, 2022).
3. Cultivate Meaningful Communities
We are designed for connection. Strong social ties promote well-being and longevity. Research by Holt-Lunstad et al. (2010) found that strong social relationships increase survival rates by 50%. Umberson and Montez (2010) emphasized that social ties alleviate stress and promote healthier behaviors, while Berkman and Syme (1979) showed that individuals with richer social networks had lower mortality rates.
Scripture reminds us: Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). Our collective well-being depends on mutual support and connection.
Renewing Our Minds in the Age of AI
Romans 12:2 exhorts us: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This verse challenges us to engage with AI consciously—embracing its benefits while safeguarding our well-being and faith. AI and human spirituality must not be at odds but must work together in alignment with God’s purpose.
Technology should serve us, not redefine us. Burnout, mental fatigue, and spiritual detachment are real consequences of an unbalanced digital life. But hope remains. By integrating faith with science, we can reclaim our humanity. Practicing Christian mindfulness, setting boundaries with technology, and fostering genuine community keeps us grounded in what truly matters.
AI may enhance human capability, but it cannot replace human essence. In this balance, we discover the true path to abundant living—not as cyborgs, but as fully alive beings, rooted in God’s design for our lives.
References
- American Psychological Association (APA). (2022). The impact of nature on mental health. Retrieved from www.apa.org
- Berkman, L., & Syme, S. (1979). Social networks, host resistance, and mortality: A nine-year follow-up study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 109(2), 186-204.
- Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review. PLoS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316.
- Jones, R., et al. (2021). Nature-based interventions for reducing screen time among youth. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 31(4), 567-582.
- Umberson, D., & Montez, J. K. (2010). Social relationships and health: A flashpoint for health policy. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51(Suppl), S54-S66.
- Vatican. (2023). The challenge of artificial intelligence in a faith-based society. Retrieved from www.vatican.va
- World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Mental health and COVID-19. Retrieved from www.who.int
LiveLiving International Foundation invites you to embark on this journey with us. Stay connected, stay grounded, and together, let’s reclaim what it means to be fully alive in Christ.
