Reality is no longer only a physical space. Geographical and political divisions do not have the final say. Non-geographical cyber reality now sets the pace (and the tone!), because digital technologies have succeeded in putting the entire world in touch with each other 24/7 (Joubert 2018:4).
It appears that the academic community and the institutional church are slow when it comes to responding to the changes in society caused by modern technology. In my experience, despite my journey for almost three years in the crypto and blockchain space, I just recently realized that the concept of digitalization is different from tokenization. In academia, they still struggle to understand and respond to digitalization. How much more when it comes to tokenization?
Despite the slowness of the academic community, I am still impressed when it comes to their use of sophisticated terminologies that are often misunderstood by most. The same is happening in the field of technology, many new vocabularies are difficult for non-techie people to understand.
I have been taking my Ph.D. program in Intercultural Studies for two years now. Unfortunately, I haven’t passed any single paper. This is because my motivation for writing is low. The topic I am interested in is about the culture of emerging tribes and communities in the cyber world.
The other day, I was talking to three friends who had completed their Ph.D. They gave me advice on what to do to follow in their footsteps. It's hard for me to relate because my mind is running in another world. I wonder if there is enough literature in the field of missions in the digital space.
I visited one website, Verbum Et Ecclesia. I typed the words “digitalization” and “technology” into the search bar and a list of journal articles appeared. Eight articles I think are relevant to my interest. The topics discussed are related to digital game-based learning, digital shepherding, online worship, blogging, digitalization, blended learning, social media, and religion, open distance learning and the goal to become effective change agents, and the idea of homo digitalis.
I got curious about this last term. All I know is homo sapiens. Instinctively, I thought, maybe homo digitalis has something to do with the modern man in the 21st century in the context of the growing digital space.
I was not wrong in my personal view. As I check the acceptable definitions of this term, my understanding is not far off. However, when it comes to details, of course, artificial intelligence knows more.
Some of the key concepts in homo digitalis are integration with digital devices and platforms, global connectivity, online identities, the emergence of digital tribes, and the rise of technological elites.
Although I didn't know where my reading would lead or if it would end in a dissertation, I started reading a research written by Wim A. Dreyer. The title of his research is Being Church in the Era of "Homo Digitalis."
As I read his research, I noted down the insights that were relevant to me. The purpose of this article is to share these insights along with my reflection.
Distinction Between Physical Reality and Cyber Reality
According to the writer, reality in the 21st century can no longer be limited by physical space. Geographical locations such as countries and cities can no longer set the final word in the new century. It also includes political entities and structures whose powers are still attached to physical reality.
To me, this view is radical. It can also be considered revolutionary. It will change what we are used to doing and how we think about ourselves.
I remembered my reading of Church History and learned about the evolution of human civilization based on different bodies of water. Three civilizations are identified: potamic, thalassic, and oceanic.
The first civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt can be said to be potamic because their lifestyle was based on the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers respectively.
The Phoenician civilization was thalassic and the role of the Mediterranean Sea was very important in people's lives.
The discovery of the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean signaled the transition of civilization to the oceanic. The Vikings were known as exceptional sailors and explorers. They used raiding and trading so they could build their new settlements in Europe and even in North America.
How about the 21st century? Many say that space is the new frontier. There is a call to countries for those who want to volunteer to travel to another planet like Mars. I don't know if these projects are realistic. However, I am sure of one thing. Before we explore whether it is possible to live on Mars or Venus, why don't we first try to study and embrace the potential that the digital world can provide?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution
According to Klaus Schwab, the chairman of the WEF, since the Fourth Industrial Revolution is shaped by digitalization and networking, it will change many things. This includes our habits, our identity, our sense of privacy, the idea of ownership, careers, and skills, and the time we devote to work and leisure. It is interesting to observe that among the influence of digitalization, Bitcoin was mentioned as well as the emergence of the technological elite:
As technology develops, it will affect social behavior. A technological elite may emerge; people who developed a certain competency to use digital resources to their utmost potential – for instance, Bitcoin. Being part of the digital elite will dictate one's success and status. Digital technology will increasingly become an integral part of people's work and social lives.
The research also confirmed the long-standing message that @taskmaster4450 repeatedly mentions in his articles about the size of the population and the economy of social media such as Facebook:
Digital technology created millions of citizens in the cyber world. Facebook has more citizens than any physical country on earth, including China, and a larger annual budget than most countries.
Facebook is just one example and it remains a Web2 platform. If we include Web3 in Dreyer's idea of homo digitalis, the structure and composition of citizens in the cyber world will be even more complex and diverse. In Hive alone, there are over 100 communities and tribes that focus on various interests and activities such as finance and crypto, art, gaming, travel, outdoor activities and sports, education, and others. Although these communities and tribes are not that big in terms of the size of membership, over time, Hivians can create their communities. I wonder if other networks also have this kind of possibility.
Challenges
At the beginning of his research, Wim A. Dreyer asked if the arrival of the digital era and homo digitalis signal the demise of the church? Or will it open new opportunities for mission and ministry?
The answer to these questions is based on the church's response to the challenge of digitalization. This will determine the shape or form of faith communities in the cyber world. A humble and sensitive response to the call to service and healing is what the netizens need. It remains a puzzle why people in a digitally over-connected world still suffer isolation, depression, and other issues of the mind.
Parang mabagal ang academic community at ang institutional church pagdating sa pagtugon sa mga pagbabago ng lipunan na dulot ng makabagong teknolohiya. Sa aking karanasan, sa kabila ng halos tatlong taon na paglalakbay sa crypto and blockchain space, huli ko nang narealize na magkaiba pala ang konsepto ng digitalization sa tokenization. Sa akademya, hirap pa sila unawain at tumugon sa digitalization. Gaano pa kaya pagdating sa tokenization?
Sa kabila ng kabagalan ng academic community, humahanga pa rin ako pagdating sa paggamit nila ng mga sopistikadong terminolohiya na kadalasan ay hindi nauunawaan ng karamihan. Kung sabagay, gayon din ang nangyayari sa larangan ng teknolohiya, maraming mga bagong bokabularyo na mahirap ding unawain para sa mga taong hindi techie.
I have been taking my Ph. D. program in Intercultural Studies for two years now subalit kahit isang paper hindi pa rin ako nakakapagpasa. Ito ay sa dahilan na mababa ang aking motibasyon sa pagsusulat. Ang interesado akong aralin ay ang patungkol sa kultura ng mga papasibol na mga tribo at mga komyunidad sa cyberworld.
Noong isang araw, kausap ko ang tatlong mga kaibigan na nakatapos na ng kanilang Ph. D. Nagbigay sila sa akin ng payo kung ano ang dapat kung gawin para masundan ang kanilang niyapakan. Hirap akong makarelate dahil tumatakbo ang isip ko sa ibang mundo. Iniisip ko kung may sapat bang literature sa larangan ng pagmimisyon sa digital world.
Isang website ang aking binisita, ang Verbum Et Ecclesia. Tinaype ko ang mga salitang “digitalization” at “technology” sa search bar at lumabas ang listahan ng mga journal articles. Walong articles ang sa tingin ko ay relevant sa interes ko. Ang mga paksang tinatalakay ay may kinalaman sa digital game-based learning, digital shepherding, online worship, blogging, digitalization, blended learning, social media and religion, open distance learning and the goal to become effective change agents, and idea of homo digitalis.
I got curious with this last term. Ang alam ko lang ay homo sapiens. Instinctively, naisip ko, siguro ang homo digitalis ay may kinalaman sa makabagong tao sa 21st century sa konteksto ng lumalaking digital space.
Hindi naman ako nagkamali sa aking personal na pananaw. As I check yong acceptable concept sa terminong ito, ang aking pagkaunawa ay hindi naman nalalayo. Yon nga lang, pagdating sa detalye, siyempre, mas malawak ang alam ng artificial intelligence.
Ilan sa mga susing konsepto sa homo digitalis ay ang integration sa mga digital devices and platforms, global connectivity, online identities, emergence of digital tribes, and the rise of technological elites.
Bagamat hindi ko alam kung saan hahantong o matatapos ba talaga sa isang dissertation ang gagawin kong pagbabasa, sinimulan kong basahin ang isang artikulo na sinulat ni Wim A. Dreyer. Ang title ng kaniyang research ay “Being Church in the Era of “Homo Digitalis.”
Habang binabasa ko ang kaniyang research, ninote down ko ang mga insights na relevant para sa akin. Layunin ng artikulong ito na ibahagi ang mga insights na ito kasama na aking personal na reflection.
Distinction Between Physical Reality and Cyber Reality
Ayon sa sumulat, ang realidad sa 21st century ay hindi na maaaring limitahan lamang ng physical space. Ang mga geographical locations tulad ng mga bansa at mga siyudad ay hindi na maaaring magtakda ng huling salita sa bagong siglo. Kasama na rin dito ang mga political entities and structures na nakakabit pa rin ang mga kapangyarihan sa physical reality.
Para sa akin, radical ang pananaw na ito. Pwede ring ituring na rebolusyunaryo. Babaguhin nito ang nakasanayan at nakagisnan natin.
Naalala ko ang aking pagbabasa sa Church History at isinalarawan ang kasaysayan ng civilization ng sangkatauhan na nakabase sa tubig. Tatlong civilizations ang nabanggit: potamic, thalassic, at oceanic.
Ang unang sibilisayon ng Mesopotamia at Egypt ay masasabing potamic sapagkat nakabase ang kanilang pamumuhay sa mga ilog ng Tigris, Euphrates, at Nilo.
Ang Phoenician civilization ay thalassic at napakahalaga ng papel ng Mediterranean Sea sa buhay ng mga tao.
Ang discovery ng Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean at Pacific Ocean ay naging hudyat ng transition ng civilization sa oceanic. Ang mga Vikings ay kilalang mga exceptional sailors and explorers. Ginamit nila ang raiding at trading upang maitayo nila ang kanilang mga bagong tirahan sa Europa at maging sa North America.
How about sa 21st century? Maraming nagsasabi na ang kalawakan daw ang bagong frontier. May panawagan sa mga bansa sa mga nais na magboluntaryo na maglakbay patungong ibang planeta tulad ng Mars. Hindi ko alam kung realistic ba ang mga proyektong ito. Subalit, isang bagay ang natitiyak ko. Bago natin i explore kung pwedeng mabuhay sa Mars o sa Venus, bakit hindi muna natin subukan na pag-aralan at yakapin ang potensiyal na kayang ibigay ng mundo ng digital world?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Ayon kay Klaus Schwab, ang chairman ng WEF, yamang ang Fourth Industrial Revolution ay hinubog ng digitalization at networking, babaguhin nito ang maraming mga bagay. Kasama na rito ang mga nakagawian nating gawin, ang ating identity, sense of privacy, idea of ownership, careers and skills, at ang mga oras na ating inilalaan sa work at sa leisure. Nakatutuwang isipin kasama sa impluwensiya ng digitalization ay nabanggit ang Bitcoin at ang paglitaw ng technological elite:
As technology develops, it will affect social behavior. A technological elite may emerge; people who developed a certain competency to use digital resources to their utmost potential – for instance, Bitcoin. Being part of the digital elite will dictate one’s success and status. Digital technology will increasingly become an integral part of people’s work and social lives."
Nakumpirma rin sa research ang matagal ng mensahe na paulit-ulit na binabanggit ni @taskmaster4450 sa kaniyang mga articles tungkol sa laki ng populasyon at ekonomiya ng social media tulad ng Facebook:
Digital technology created millions of citizens in the cyber world. Facebook has more citizens than any physical country on earth, including China, and a larger annual budget than most countries.
Ang Facebook ay isa lang sa mga halimbawa at ito ay nanatiling Web2 platform. Kung isasama natin ang Web3 sa idea ni Dreyer na homo digitalis, mas lalong magiging kumplikado at diverse ang structure at composition ng mga mamamayan sa cyber world. Sa Hive lamang ay mayroon ng mahigit 100 communities and tribes na naka focus sa iba’t-ibang mga interest at activities tulad ng finance at crypto, art, gaming, travel, outdoor activities and sports, education, at iba pa. Bagamat, hindi ganoon kalaki ang mga communities and tribes na ito, sa paglipas ng mga araw, ang mga Hivians ay maaaring lumikha ng kanilang sariling communities. I wonder kung sa ibang network ay mayroon ding ganitong uri ng posibilidad.
Challenges
Sa panimula ng kaniyang research, naitanong ni Wim A. Dreyer kung ang pagdating ba ng digital era at homo digitalis ay hudyat ng pagpanaw ng simbahan? O ito ay magbubukas ng bagong opportunity for mission and ministry?
Ang sagot sa mga tanong na ito ay nakabase sa katugunan ng simbahan sa hamon ng digitalization. Ito ang magtatakda kung anong hugis o anyo ang ibibihis ng faith community sa cyber world. Isang mapagpakumbaba at sensitibong tugon sa panawagan ng serbisyo at kagalingan ang kailangan ng mga netizens. Ito ay nananatiling isang palaisipan kung bakit ang mga tao sa isang digitally over-connected na mundo ay dumaranas pa rin ng kalungkutan, depresyon, at iba pang mga isyu ng pag-iisip.
Reference: