What is this all about?
Article after article exists on Steemit exploring the technical aspects of Steem, the blockchain, and the forces at work throughout our world that are in play that influence the developments in blockchain technology. These are great! They serve as a primer to the possible shape of the future into which we are taking the first steps. They explain STEEM… They explain SBD’s… They speak to the developments of the various apps that are either deployed or about to be deployed to build value within this ecosystem we have all come to explore and enjoy.
What I don’t see so often though are articles exploring one of the aspects that has me personally interested in these technologies. The human dimension…
It is the simple reality that all of these technological developments are implemented by humans, motivated by humans, and even valued by humans meaning that it is the human element within the advent of these technologies that may just be the common thread that runs throughout that ultimately decides how these techs will evolve and to what ends they will ultimately be applied. When we think together about the future of STEEM, I would hold that it is the human dimension that plays perhaps the most significant role in shaping that future.
Humans and our behaviors are influenced by a whole host of factors, some easier to account for than others. Faith and by extension theology is one of the most historically potent factors that has influenced and shaped human interactions throughout history. (For both good and ill I might add...)
I am not a technician, I am a theologian by training. I am passionate in studying and examining how humanity is influenced by its faith commitments. Behaviors, values, and even failings have a great deal to do with one’s faith. Since perhaps the dawn of time, some of the most significant developments in world cultures have been shaped for both good and ill because of the motivations people found from within the faith they held. It is my contention that this hasn’t in fact significantly changed to this day for it is the values, priorities, life goals, sense of purpose, and for those for whom this is a “thing” perceptions of the divine that shapes human motivations and behaviors. To ignore theology in the advent of blockchain technologies is to turn an enormously blind eye to influences that at the end of the day has tremendous power in the lives of the people these technologies are being created to serve.
This series which I am calling the “Theology of Steemit” will take various aspects of the Steemit community and examine them from within a theological framework to see how it is the human aspects of this endeavor that may just be the key to whether ultimately Steem becomes something of tremendous impact, living up to lofty goals, or falls into disarray through the forces that, just as in real life, have incredible power to derail, diminish, and even destroy things that have the best of intentions behind them.
The framework I will apply will be consistent from within a Christian perspective for that is where I “hang my hat.” In no way am I here to tell you what to believe or even think, nor am I claiming that my thoughts on the matters I present are to be the definitive word from within the Christian worldview. My attempt here is to give you a glimpse of what within Christian circles might be called “applied theology” or by another term “moral discernment” in the hopes that these thoughts might be a catalyst to expanding our conversations about what this blockchain is, how it functions, what ends are worth pursuing, and how this community might be strengthened and encouraged in pursuit of something truly good.
What may be at Stake?
I’ve been on Steemit for only 14 days at the time of writing this first article. One of the things that is most striking is how this is a community of pretty deep rifts between:
A) Those who think Steemit is an attempt to encourage creation, curation, and the expansion of human interactions with rewards tied to one’s attempt to expand the value of Steem, the blockchain, and Steemit specifically
B) Those who feel that Steem provides the tools useful to pursue their self-interest and profits with no real need to regard the impact this may create upon the community as a whole.
This rift strikes me as an incredibly destructive force and a threat to the long term health and value of STEEM. Should it go unaddressed, let alone resolved I am concerned that the community will flounder even more significantly than my preliminary assessments of the community leads me to believe. Unaddressed the creative force and human energy that is the rooting of the value of this particular blockchain effort could be undermined to the point that the technological developments would struggle to overcome the perceptions of those whose interactions within this community have them disillusioned and skeptical of Steem as a store of value.
I am not here to pass judgement, but in the interest of full disclosure I do write from the perspective of one who values deeply the first and questions strongly the long term impact the latter is creating upon the blockchain. In what strikes me as almost counterintuitive, those who are behaving from the principles of the latter are actually undermining the very thing they are using to create their own prosperity, a "suicidal" behavior almost by definition.
Beyond the rift I see, is something more general and perhaps for me personally more exciting! There are lots of creators, and curators, and upvoters who could use encouragement and support in the work they are doing. Perhaps by providing a theological lens through which to view their work and also their interactions with others, I might be able to help in that encouragement which in turn bolsters and strengthens our shared community.
To the negative edges of our community, perhaps by looking at our own motivations and normative behaviors, there can be a form of “inoculation” developed that would help this organism of Steemit have greater health, wellbeing, and strength.
To the positive aspects of what is already happening on Steemit, I hope to help us together develop a better set of lenses through which the aspects of altruism, grace, mutuality, even compassion become deeply entrenched in our habits and norms, for when these become the foundations of a common life together, STEEM and the community that is working with it becomes stronger and more valuable still.
The articles that will be forth coming in this series, “The Theology of Steemit” will be my attempt to provide you with the framework I use to come to my thoughts, behaviors, and values in regards to what is “good” for this blockchain and what ultimately I think creates value for us all.
Disagree with me all you want… in fact I hope that should you do so, you will comment and help me refine my own thinking. I think we are stronger when we help shape one another.
Why bother with “Theology?”
“Theology” is a word derived from two roots in Greek. “Theos” meaning God. “Logia” meaning utterances or sayings. So theology is literally nothing more than “words about God” or an attempt to reflect upon our world from within an understanding grounded in our “words about God.” These words are for people of faith commitments some of the most significant words that influence and shape the ways we seek to be in the world. These words, furthermore, also serve as a source of corrective for those times when our actions and motivations fall short of the sorts of things our “theologies” call us toward.
Theology when it “lives” in the real world is “practical theology” and it is a major influence in shaping how a person of faith seeks to act, relate, seek justice, interact with compassion, and a whole host of human behaviors which are shaped and molded by these operational theologies.
In short Theology matters… big time.
So I hope that this serves as an adequate introduction and perhaps even helps set the stage for what will follow. The articles I’ve already got in mind are:
Upvoting as a “Blessing”
The Act of Creation
Stewarding the Blockchain
Called to Engage
“Curved in Upon Oneself” – Sin in Community
The Graceful "Promoted" Tab - Altruism in Community
Beyond these we will have to see… I suspect others may come up as we begin to interact on these various ideas and the ideas we find from the Christian scriptures. Throughout, it will never be my intent to tell you what you must believe or what to think, I’m offering my thoughts to encourage you to join me in thinking about the “why” you do what you do.
At the end of the day, each of us will do as we think best… my hope is to expand our conversations around what each sees as “best.”
I hope you will consider joining in the discussions to come.
Peace
@genxrev
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