by Darian Peters

Created on: April 17, 2007   Last Updated: March 30, 2009

There are at least three reasons why technology appears to promote atheism and agnosticism. One of these reasons concerns the fact that the technology itself is often based upon theories that require no mention of a god. A second reason is that most technologically literate people have acquired a different way of thinking to most theistic people. A third reason is that the instant communication technology of the modern age has given people access to multiple perspectives.

Technology requires theory to make it work. But the key theories underlying our modern worldview such as thermodynamics, relativity, quantum theory, evolution by natural selection, and genetics, for example, require no mention of a god or gods whatsoever. Such theories can produce computers, spaceships, cures for diseases, and genetically modified organisms, and all with not so much as a nod to any deity. The evidence of what human beings can achieve without even considering the supernatural is all around us in the form of technology.

But a different way of thinking is associated with these advances in theory and the technology that it supports. This thinking involves the placing of greater value on proof and evidence and logic and critical thought rather than on faith and the unquestioning acceptance of authority that goes with it. Those who appreciate technology know that to make the technology function requires preciseness and attention to detail, not prayer. They know that it is about having a sound algorithm for achieving what you want to achieve and then carrying out all of the steps correctly. Faith is beside the point.

Indeed those who have been brought up in a religious tradition have typically had any attempts at critical thought indoctrinated, intimidated, and possibly beaten out of them. Faith-based religious belief systems require you to develop a kind of blind spot to the uncomfortable details of your faith. You must deliberately avoid asking the awkward questions about why there is a particular contradiction in the system or an incompleteness or why it says something demonstrably false about physical reality. Even worse you are expected to react defensively and angrily to anyone brave enough to point these deficiencies out, silencing them as quickly as possible, either by denying that they have the right to question or even by physical harming them.

But in our modern world of instant communication, the instant dissemination of information undermines religion in its efforts to suppress knowledge and to keep people ignorant of anything but the details of the religion itself. The Internet has provided people across the world with a way to access multiple perspectives. When they see their religion in context, as one unjustifiable guess that has been inflicted upon their ancestors for, in some cases, thousands of years, and largely for social control purposes at that, it is hardly surprising that an increasing number of them are turning to atheism or agnosticism.

Learn more about this author, Darian Peters.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.