The Multiple Contexts of the Environmental Crisis

April 2021

Environmental disasters in various forms and degrees can be said to have always been a part of the natural processes that take place on earth. However, the environmental crisis in its present form is distinctly a part of what has been called the Age of the Anthropocene, or the Age of Humans. In this unofficial epoch of geologic time, humans’ ability to become a force of nature and be able to influence and change the processes in the natural environment has resulted in an escalating global environmental crisis threatening to undermine human progress achieved thus far in economic and social development, and causing future generations to inherit and leaves the next generation with an earth stripped of its power and vigor. The issue has grown into a dilemma that cannot be confined to a single or even a few sectors of society or that can be adequately addressed simply by politicians or scientific experts. The global consensus is that an effective solution to ecological concerns requires an interdisciplinary, dialectical, and dialogical approach enlisting the collaborative minds a diverse contingent of individuals, groups, organizations, and institutions. Among the tasks to be done include applying scientific and technological know-how to social, economic and legal policies, all of which must be undergirded by political will, ethical awareness, and religious and personal commitment to act on behalf of the environment. This paper examines the multi-dimensional environmental challenges in the modern world. Some of the presentation will reflect the way that the environmental crisis is understood and portrayed by mainstream political, social, and religious institutions in their understanding of the crisis – especially in the various ways that the crisis impact human flourishing and social stability. I will not depart from this rather “anthropocentric” way of presenting the crisis here. However, I hope that as we delve deeper into environmental crisis to understand the various dimensions, we begin to see the problem in new light beyond the parameters of social, political and economic indicators.

Keywords: Ecology, Environment, Ecological crisis, environmental crisis, Contexts

Download full article: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3812050

Opportunities and Challenges to Interculturality in the Digital Milieu

March 2021

Abstract

Interculturality has become an important sociological and missiological paradigm in recent years as a way to rectify shortcomings in how issues pertaining to culture have been addressed by social and religious institutions. As this paradigm aims for ideals such as reciprocity, respect, appreciation and mutuality in terms of how people from different cultures engage with each other, this paper sets out to examine whether interculturality characterized by these ideals can be achieved in the contemporary digital milieu. The paper argues that the present digital age with extensive use of information and communication technology (ICT) can present both opportunities and challenges to promoting interculturality. The paper sets out to: (1) briefly present the concept of interculturality as understood by scholars in the Church today; (2) explore a number of opportunities and challenges to interculturality in the present digital milieu; and (3) proposes how interculturality can be advanced with the support of ICT. The thesis is that the work of achieving interculturality has to be actively carried out, using means of communication available in modern society. In the digital age, traditional ways of communication alone will not be effective in the face of many challenges to interculturality coming from present directions in development and use of ICT.


Keywords: Interculturality, intercultural, interculturation, ICT, communication technology

Download full article:  https://ssrn.com/abstract=3804675 

Social Media as Means of Mitigation of Marginalization for Vietnamese Migrant Workers in Thailand

March 2021

Abstract

In this paper, I will discuss how social media has been essential in mitigating the ongoing experience of marginalization and coping with crisis, in particular the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world. I will demonstrate how mutual support is often sought and given via social media to compensate for the lack of official channels of support. In addition, I will also discuss some of the negative aspects of the role of social media in the lives of UVMWs that need to be addressed by religious and social leaders. Because of the prominent role – both positive and negative – of social media in the lives of UVMWs, those who consider spiritual and social support work with migrant workers must take advantage of social media in order to respond more fully to their needs. This discussion is presented from the perspective of someone who has been involved in support work for this community for 14 years, a large part of which takes place in the online arena. What is demonstrated in this study is that social media, when employed intentionally and prudently, can help compensate for significant social, legal, emotional, and material limitations faced by migrant communities due to their disadvantaged status. At the same time, measures must be taken in order to help young UVMWs better make use of social media to enhance their lives rather than suffering the consequences of misusing digital information technology.

Keywords: Vietnamese migrant workers, social media, marginalization, COVID-19 pandemic

Download full article: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3804699

Di Dân Việt Nam Tại Á Châu: Thực Trạng & Đường Hướng Mục Vụ

 

DI DÂN VIỆT NAM TẠI Á CHÂU
Thực trạng & Đường hướng mục vụ (2020)

Hiện tượng di dân – khi con người di cư từ nơi này qua nơi khác vì nhiều lý do khác nhau như: mưu sinh kiếm sống, tái định cư, đào thoát khỏi cảnh sống bị áp bức tù đày, trốn chạy khỏi cuộc sống đầy rủi ro do chiến tranh, thiên tai cũng như nhân tai… luôn là vấn đề của mọi thời đại. Ngay trong thời đại kỹ thuật số hiện nay, cùng với xu hướng toàn cầu hóa không ngừng thì hiện tượng di dân lại càng trở nên phổ biến, phức tạp và đa diện hơn. Trong bối cảnh của người Việt Nam, việc di dân đến các nước, đặc biệt các nước tại Á Châu trong những năm qua đã trở thành một trào lưu lớn song đôi với sự phát triển của đất nước cũng như nỗ lực vươn lên thoát nghèo nơi các gia đình người Việt. Thực tế, vấn đề di dân Việt Nam tại Á Châu không đơn thuần chỉ là việc có rất nhiều người, phần đông là người trẻ, khăn gói lên đường tìm đến các quốc gia bạn để mưu sinh kiếm sống với niềm hy vọng có thể đổi đời một cách nhanh chóng; nhưng còn nảy sinh nhiều hệ lụy ảnh hưởng trực tiếp đến đời sống tinh thần, tổ chức tôn giáo, nhân cách làm người, cấu trúc gia đình, sinh hoạt xã hội...

Đồng hành với con người, liên đới với xã hội, Giáo hội Công giáo hoàn vũ cũng như địa phương luôn dành ưu tư và mối quan tâm đến vấn nạn này. Vì thế, tập sách được thành hình với mong muốn trước hết, phản ảnh phần nào những ưu tư sâu xa của Giáo hội qua các bài viết trình bày quan điểm của Giáo hội về di dân, cũng như các văn kiện chính thức của Giáo hội thông qua những lời phát biểu của các vị giáo hoàng, đặc biệt là ĐGH Phanxicô. Thứ đến, họa lại tổng thể bối cảnh di dân Việt Nam tại Á Châu một cách chi tiết và xác thực qua những bài viết của các linh mục, tu sĩ và giáo dân là những người đã sát cánh, đồng hành với di dân Việt Nam tại Á Châu trong nhiều năm qua. Vì thế những suy tư và luận chứng trong các bài viết đều xuất phát từ những kinh nghiệm thực tế trong mục vụ di dân. Sau cùng, chắc chắn tập sách sẽ mang lại nhiều điều thú vị, hữu ích cho các vị lãnh đạo trong Giáo hội, ngoài xã hội; các nhà nghiên cứu hiện tượng di dân trong và ngoài nước; các vị mục tử và những người làm mục vụ di dân; các bậc phụ huynh có con em đang sinh sống ở nước ngoài và với những ai đang nuôi mang ý định tham gia vào làn sóng di dân tại Á Châu hoặc đến các nước trên thế giới.


Biên soạn:

LM. Anthony Lê Đức, SVD, PhD
LM. Đaminh Nguyễn Quốc Thuần, MA

Religion and Society in the Digital Age: Interreligious and Intercultural Contexts

 

Religion and Society in the Digital Age: Interreligious and Intercultural Contexts by Anthony Le Duc

Publication Date: 2020

About the Book

The digital age with an astounding degree of ever changing technological development has impacted religion and society in profound ways including how people worship, organize their lives, relate to one another, and relate to the natural environment. From the rural villages of Southeast Asia to the political capital of the United States, digital technology has transformed the face of religion and society – in some ways for the better, and in other ways for the worse. This book examines a number of conceptual topics as well as particular contexts as they relate to the theme of religion and society in the digital age. The author addresses each topic from an interreligious and intercultural approach, emphasizing contexts that may not always be given adequate attention in popular publications and academic studies. Writing and doing research from Asia, religious, social, and cultural elements from this region are often highlighted by the author in order to elucidate the points under consideration.

Effect of Digital Development on Religion and Society: Southeast Asian Context

 After Thomas Edison invented electricity in 1879, some streets in New York City began to enjoy the fruits of this new technology in 1882 with the first large scale central station installed on Pearl Street to 85 customers. After this life changing invention and many other subsequent technological advances, the American people had to wait another 112 years before they were able to have access to the internet through the first commercialized web browser, Netscape Navigator released in 1994. Of course, internet technology had already been in development for decades, but it was not until 1994 that the technology was truly available to the general public. During that span of over 100 years, the United States went through many periods of development and managed to achieve 50 percent urbanization in 1920.[1] Compared to the United States, Southeast Asia has seen a much lower pace of technological development. In some parts of the region such as secluded highlands and islands, there is still no electricity for everyday use. People in many places are still using firewood for cooking and are still traveling on dirt roads. In fact, Southeast Asia was estimated to achieve 50 percent urbanization only in 2019, 99 years after the United States.[2] Despite the huge discrepancy between the United States and Southeast Asia in terms of history of technological advancement, the region is quickly getting on the train of digital development. 

With a total population of nearly 700 million as of August 2020,[3] Southeast Asia is the third most populous geographical region in the world, only behind South and East Asia. Technological development in the region is also as varied as all the other dimensions of Southeast Asian life. Despite the fact that urbanization in Southeast Asia is only about 50 percent, internet penetration has already reached nearly 66 percent at the beginning of 2020[4] with double-digit growth in most segments and most countries of the region.[5] Brunei leads the region in internet penetration at 95 percent.[6] Digital development in the region, however, is not even. While the regional internet penetration is higher than the global average (57 percent), several countries in the region fall quite far below the global average, with Timor Leste,[7] Myanmar[8] and Laos,[9] having internet penetration at only 39 percent, 41 percent, and 43 percent, respectively. Nonetheless, the growth rate across the region is high, and with so many Southeast Asians getting online, the region presents itself as the third-largest market globally. According to experts, the internet economy is expected to reach $300 billion by 2025.[10]

Chapter from the book: Religion and Society in the Digital Age (Moldova: Eliva Press, 2020).

For full article, email: leducsvd.arc@gmail.com

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[1] US Census, “Urban and Rural Areas,” https://www.census.gov/history/www/programs/geography/urban_and_rural_areas.html#:~:text=%22Urban%22%20was%20defined%20as%20including,population%20was%20defined%20as%20urban.

[2] “Southeast Asia and Sustainable Urbanization,” Global Asia, https://www.globalasia.org/v9no3/feature/southeast-asia-and-sustainable-urbanization_bharat-dahiya#:~:text=Estimates%20show%20that%20Southeast%20Asia,urban%20population%20to%20330%20million.&text=Between%201950%20and%202014%2C%20the,26%20million%20to%20294%20million.

[3] “Southeast Asian Population,” Worldometers, http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/south-eastern-asia-population/

[4] We Are Social, January 2020, https://wearesocial.com/blog/2020/01/digital-2020-3-8-billion-people-use-social-media

[5] Atzlan Othman, “Facebook most popular social mediate platform in the Sultanate,” Borneo Bulletin. https://borneobulletin.com.bn/facebook-most-popular-social-media-platform-in-the-sultanate/, (May 19, 2018).

[6] “Digital 2020: Brunei,” (18 February 2020), https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-brunei-darussalam#:~:text=There%20were%20413.0%20thousand%20internet,at%2095%25%20in%20January%202020.

[7] “Digital 2020: Timor Leste,” Datareportal (18 February 2020), https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-timor-leste

[8] “Digital 2020: Myanmar,” Datareportal (18 February 2020), https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-myanmar

[9] “Digital 2020: Laos,” Datareportal (18 February 2020), https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-laos

[10] “Southeast Asia’s internet economy to hit $300 billion by 2025: report,” Reuters (3 October 2019), https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southeast-asia-internet/southeast-asias-internet-economy-to-hit-100-billion-this-year-report-idUSKBN1WI07X#:~:text=Southeast%20Asia's%20internet%20economy%20to%20hit%20%24300%20billion%20by%202025%3A%20report,-Aradhana%20Aravindan&text=SINGAPORE%20(Reuters)%20%2D%20Southeast%20Asia's,industry%20report%20said%20on%20Thursday.

Towards a Cybertheology: Theology in the Digital Milieu

 As digital technology come to permeate every aspect of human society, including people’s religious and spiritual lives, a number of terms have been mentioned in theological discussions that may not sound familiar or whose meaning may not be immediately evident to the listener. These terms include “digital theology,” “theology in the digital age,” “cybertheology,” “theology of the internet,” and others. While none of them have received acceptance as the official term for what they aim to convey, they all point to an important reality that has garnered considerable interest: the nexus between theology and digital information and communication technologies (ICT). This chapter is not concerned so much with making a case for any particular terminology because a consensus will eventually come about in due time. The primary aim, however, is to reflect on some theological matters that are provoked (inspired) by the new digital milieu in which terms such as digital age and cyberspace, which once sounded like descriptions of futuristic and otherworldly phenomena, now reflect a real and pervasive reality in human life. Thus, Christian theology which deals with the deepest spiritual issues and aspirations of humanity cannot fail to consider the effects of digital technology on the important dimensions of human lives, particularly one’s relationship with God and with fellow human beings.

It must be stated at the outset that the forthcoming reflections are but a modest effort to contribute to more systematic studies in this area, which continues to be a relatively new topic for investigations. However, in recent years, after the publication of Antonio Spadaro’s book Cybertheology: Thinking Christianity in the Era of the Internet (2014),[1] there has been more interests in examining the intersection between theology and the digital milieu. This is an improvement over the time when Spadaro first set out to consider the topic. In his book, Spadaro himself lamented about the lack of resources and having to stare “at a blank computer screen with no idea about where to begin or what to write”[2] when he was asked to give a theological speech about religiosity and the internet. The Jesuit priest and writer found a wealth of information regarding the pastoral dimension of the internet—its benefits and risks, its utilization as an instrument of evangelization and so on—but systematic theological reflections were few.[3] Although there is admittedly more discussions about digital theology in scholarly conversations and in academic journals in recent years, Heidi Campbell observes that until now, there are still no books solely focused on the topic of digital theology.[4]

It is also important to state the reasons why there needs to be a so called cybertheology and what this term fundamentally refers to. Although there is still no official definition of what cybertheology or digital theology is, the reflections here can contribute to the process of development of its final definition in the future. One of the aims of this inquiry is also to discuss cybertheology with some references to the Asian context. By situating the reflections in the Asian environment and making the relevant connections, we will see that cybertheology takes on various shapes depending on the particular context. Therefore, our task here is threefold: (1) To discuss the necessity of developing a cybertheology and exploring the possible nature of such a theology; (2) to reflect on human relationships with God and neighbor from a cybertheological perspective; and (3) to briefly situate this reflection in the Asian socio-religio-cultural context.

Chapter from the book: Religion and Society in the Digital Age (Moldova: Eliva Press, 2020).
For full article, email: leducsvd.arc@gmail.com

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[1] Antonio Spadaro, Cybertheology: Thinking Christianity in the Era of the Internet (New York: Fordham University Press, 2014).

[2] Spadaro, Cybertheology, viii.

[3] Spadaro, Cybertheology, ix.

[4] Heidi A. Campbell, “An Introduction to Digital Ecclesiology: What Does a Conversation on Digital Ecclesiology Look Like?” in Digital Ecclesiology: A Global Conversation, ed. Heidi A. Campbell (Digital Religion Publications, 2020), 6.