Whether it’s new iPhones or social media platforms, self-driving cars or genetic engineering, human technology seems to be growing faster and more complicated. And the question that arises is what does God think of all this?
The answer to this question, according to Reinke, depends on how one defines “technology.” If technology means anything that facilitates human life, then God would probably be in favor of it. But if technology is defined as something that alters the course of human history or creates unintended consequences, then God might not be happy with it.
One example of a god of technology is Hephaestus, the Greek god of blacksmiths, metalworking, carpentry, metallurgy and other crafts, who is sometimes seen as the father of technology. Hephaestus is also the god of fire, and thus the god of heat and physics.
Other examples of a god of technology are Apollo, the Greek god of logic and reason, and Hermes, the Roman god of communication, travel, commerce, and all things that require skill or cleverness—including military strategy. Hermes is often described as a trickster, and his image as a sly, winsome fox with scissors for hands, motor parts on his shoulders and a circular saw for a hat might resonate with technorati who see themselves as the canny allies of the weak against superior forces like state power or patriarchy—whether through movable type, the Pill, pirate radio or encrypted peer-to-peer chat.
Another option is the Hindu deity Vishwakarma, who is the god of all tools, crafts and engineering skills. Finally, a god of technology might be the sexless Japanese god of wisdom and intelligence, Omoikane (Si Jian).
