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Christian wisdom for our tech-saturated age
The rapid advance of digital technology is reshaping our world and warping our minds. The onslaught of social media and smartphones has brought an appetite for distraction, an epidemic of loneliness, and increased rates of mental unhealth. For Christians, the digital revolution has profound implications for spiritual formation and mission. How should believers respond to the theological and discipleship challenges of scrolling life?
On the 40th anniversary of Neil Postman’s prophetic book Amusing Ourselves to Death (1985), Scrolling Ourselves to Death gathers today’s most incisive writers to think critically about the shaping power of contemporary technology. This book explores Postman’s insights, connects them to the challenges facing Christians today, and turns difficult challenges into life-giving opportunities for the church. Stepping back from their screens, readers will be equipped to live faithfully, and grow spiritually, in a “scrolling ourselves to death” world.
Introduction: Back to the Future: How a 1985 Book Predicted Our Present (Brett McCracken)
Part 1: Postman’s Insights, Then and Now
Chapter 1: From Amusement to Addiction: Introducing Dopamine Media (Patrick Miller)
Chapter 2: From the Clock to the Smartphone: A Brief History of Belief-Changing Technologies (Joe Carter)
Chapter 3: From the Age of Exposition to the Age of Expression (Jen Pollock Michel)
Chapter 4: The Origins and Implications of a Post-Truth World (Hans Madueme)
Chapter 5: Striving for Seasonableness in a “Now . . . This” World (Samuel D. James)
Part 2: Practical Challenges Facing Christian Communicators
Chapter 6: How the Medium Shapes the Message for Preachers (Collin Hansen)
Chapter 7: Apologetics in a Post-Logic World (Keith Plummer)
Chapter 8: Telling the Truth about Jesus in an Age of Incoherence (Thaddeus Williams)
Chapter 9: “Unfit to Remember”: The Theological Crisis of Digital-Age Memory Loss (Nathan A. Finn)
Part 3: How the Church Can Be Life in a “Scrolling to Death” World
Chapter 10: Use New Media Creatively but Cautiously: Video as Case Study (G. Shane Morris)
Chapter 11: Reconnect Information and Action: How to Stay Sane in an Overstimulated Age (Brett McCracken)
Chapter 12: Embrace Your Mission: Tangible Participation, Not Digital Spectating (Read Mercer Schuchardt)
Chapter 13: Cling to Embodiment in a Virtual World (Jay Y. Kim)
Chapter 14: Heed Huxley’s Warning (Andrew Spencer)
Epilogue (Ivan Mesa)
Acknowledgments
General Index
Scripture Index
| Contributors | Brett McCracken, Ivan Mesa, Collin Hansen, Read Mercer Schuchardt, Joe Carter, Samuel D. James, Nathan A. Finn |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781433599446 |
| Format | Paperback |
| First published | April 2025 |
| Dimensions | 139mm x 215mm x 18mm |
| Weight | 0.36 kg |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 256 |
| Publisher | Crossway |
Rarely does a collection of chapters from diverse contributors come together to form such a cohesive vision, offering penetrating insights into our current cultural moment. Scrolling Ourselves to Death goes beyond merely revisiting Neil Postman’s groundbreaking work; it uses Postman’s insights as a springboard for deeper reflection and application, all while keeping an eye on the eternal truths of Scripture that remain unchanged in our rapidly advancing technological age.
If you’re feeling anxious, irritable, or tired today, one reason is that you’ve probably spent about five hours on your smartphone—texting, checking the weather, or scrolling social media. In Scrolling Ourselves to Death, a slate of authors explains how screens are changing us—and how Christians are uniquely positioned to choose a fuller, better life. By reflecting and building on Neil Postman’s insights about television, this book will help you reevaluate and reimagine the choices you’re making for yourself, your family, and your community.
There are books that are enjoyable and books that are important; Scrolling Ourselves to Death is both. Although some of the content is sobering—disturbing at times—the contributors never leave the reader hopeless. This is a vitally important book that will help the church clearly communicate the gospel to a world bombarded by distraction.
