Programs

Contemporary Religious Issues: Religion & Technology

• Grades12th
• PrerequisitesNone
• DatesSection 1: June 2-28, Section 2: June 12-30 & Section 3: June 13-July 10, 2023, 2022
• Credits.333
• Price$735

The course begins with a detailed exposition of the three aspects of love – romantic (eros), filial (storge), and friendly (philia); and then proceeds to examine and evaluate various technological developments in the light of these aspects. Specifically, students are asked to consider whether (1) human enhancement technologies (genetic engineering, bionic prosthetics, psychotropic drugs), (2) automation technologies (robotics, artificial intelligence), and (3) technologies that mediate or replace human relationships (social media, smart devices, virtual and augmented reality, artificially intelligent companions) threaten our ability to enter into, strengthen, and preserve loving relationships.

The principal goals of Contemporary Religious Issues are for students to learn to judge technology according to an ethical standard, in this case, a religious ethical standard, and for them to begin to think about the potentially dangerous changes that new technologies will bring about in their lifetimes.

This is a one trimester course which counts .333 credits toward Parish graduation requirements, and it fulfills the 12th grade religious studies requirement.

Expectations

This summer, our CRI course will be offered in three sections between May 30 and July 10 to accommodate busy travel schedules and create smaller classroom experiences. Dr. Brad Blue will teach one section and Dr. Courtney O’Dell-Chaib will offer two additional sections. Please choose the Section that best suits your summer schedule. Students are not allowed to attend sessions they are not enrolled in.

Classes require in-person attendance at the Midway campus. Instructors encourage students to attend all scheduled classes to ensure success, but students are required to attend FIVE of seven sessions to receive credit for the course. Students may attend a maximum of two of these sessions virtually IF NECESSARY and approved by the instructor ahead of time.