Brent Waters of the Stead Center, Garrett Evangelical Seminary, argues that human flourishing entails participation in communicative associations (e.g., church, family, and friendships). “Communication” is derived from the Greek koinonia that can be variously translated as communion, community, or communicate. Communicative associations promote the sharing, rather than exchange, of material and immaterial goods that promote the wellbeing of its members. Over time, such sharing requires practicing a series of acts and relationships that are repetitive and mundane. Since human flourishing thereby comprises more ordinary than extraordinary behavior, the challenge is to prevent or resist the various social forces driving the emerging technoculture from becoming distractions that effectively diminish human wellbeing. This in turn requires a critical engagement with technology rather than its rejection.
The Winter 2021 event series was sponsored by the Issachar Fund in collaboration with Regent College.