Prophetic Dialogue as Approach to the Church’s Engagement with Stakeholders of the Technological Future

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Abstract

This paper explores the role of the Catholic Church in the emerging cognitive revolution driven by science and digital technology, and its engagement with stakeholders in technological development. It begins by emphasizing the immense potential of this new era and the transformative impact these technological shifts can have on humanity. Instead of questioning the relevance of religion in this context, the paper proposes a framework of “prophetic dialogue” as an effective means for the Church, as a stakeholder itself, to engage with other stakeholders. The concept of prophetic dialogue, traditionally applied to discussions on Church mission, is presented as an appropriate and effective approach for engaging with stakeholders of the technological future, including innovators, policymakers, and consumers. The framework of prophetic dialogue comprises two interrelated aspects: energizing communication and criticizing communication. By employing these aspects in a prophetic manner, the Church can actively participate in shaping the future of technology while also safeguarding itself against potential negative consequences of technological advancements. The central thesis of the paper is that prophetic dialogue empowers the Church to adopt a proactive and relevant role in influencing the course of human development. Through engaging in dialogue with various stakeholders, the Church can advocate for ethical considerations, the common good, and the preservation of human dignity in the realm of technological progress. The paper contends that the Church’s involvement is essential in shaping a future that aligns with its moral principles and fosters the well-being of all individuals and communities. By actively participating in the dialogue surrounding technological advancements, the Church can contribute to the development of a society that upholds its values and promotes the greater good. This paper provides an important exploration of the Catholic Church’s engagement in the new milieu and offers insights into how religious institutions can navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital future.

Keywords: prophetic dialogue, digital technology, digital future, stakeholders

Humanity is once again standing at the threshold of a cognitive revolution, but this time, the changes will be driven by science and digital technology. The potential of this new era is vast, with unprecedented advances in fields ranging from medicine and transportation to artificial intelligence and space exploration. This revolution promises to take us into uncharted territories and transform our very existence in ways never before imagined. As we look back in history, we see that the cognitive revolution that occurred over 70,000 years ago enabled Homo Sapiens to revolutionize their communication and socialization methods, leading to groundbreaking advancements in agriculture, industry, and science. Now, we have science and technology as the driving forces behind the current revolution.

As we navigate this new era, it is essential to re-examine our relationship with technology and what it means to be human. While philosophy, religion, and interdisciplinary thought have long grappled with such questions, this paper sets its sights on the role of the Catholic Church in the new context, investigating how it can engage with various stakeholders of technological development. Rather than questioning the validity of religion in the face of this massive change, the paper explores how the Church can manifest itself, proposing a framework of “prophetic dialogue” as an approach to religious engagement. This approach involves a respectful and constructive conversation between different stakeholders, including technology innovators, policymakers, and everyday consumers.

Through this paper, I aim to identify current and future trends in technological development and their potential impact on humanity. I also introduce the concept of prophetic dialogue and its relevance to this context, and apply this framework to religious engagement with various stakeholders. The framework of prophetic dialogue entails two inter-related aspects – energizing dialogue and criticizing dialogue. I will delineate how the Church can carry out these two aspects in context of dialogue with various stakeholders. The thesis of this paper is that the approach of prophetic dialogue will enable the Church to actively participate in shaping the future of technology while also taking control of how the life of the Church itself is impacted by technological advancements. It is a pro-active attitude and strategy of engaging with the various sectors to ensure that the Church continues to exert the proper influence over the course of human development.