What Is The Definition Of Technopaganism?
Technopaganism combines spirituality and technology. Aside from that, it has so many offshoots and definitions, it’s rather difficult to provide a specific definition. I think this is especially interesting, since it was over a decade ago that I first heard the term and since it involves technology–which usually accelerates the process of creating and defining something new. However, technology is always changing; the definition likely follows suit.
Overall, perhaps it is like paganism: each follower has her or his own perception of what it means to them, and therefore it cannot be defined singly or easily.
What’s The Appeal?
This term appeals to me for a few reasons. First, I consider myself to be a pagan who utilizes technology. While I’m not exactly ‘cutting edge,’ I do like to be ahead of the curve on certain trends. I like educating my family and friends on updates and quirks concerning gaming and technology and spending time with those who can reciprocate by providing similar information or information which is, to me, valuable in other ways.
This ‘information as value’ is integral to who I am: most of my living is made by providing information to others in a readable format. To me, information and expertise is something I can access freely or barter for. An example of this would be my friendship with a fellow Today.com blogger. She and I trade a lot of information about technology and our industry. We do not think of it as “I’ll give you this tip in exchange for another one,” but we do essentially barter information. In turn, our individual successes have increased. For example–I was the one that told her about Today.com, where she now makes money as a paid blogger. In turn, she made for me the illustrious banner at the top of this page as well as the banner for The Costumer.
As bloggers in this community, we always provide feedback to our blog hosts when asked and as needed. This is because we have a stake in the Today.com community: we rise and fall along with the blog host.
Despite the extremely technological nature of this reciprocal information exchange, the personal and professional relationships I hold with my fellow Today.com blogger and my blog host proves to be personally and financially more beneficial. The information exchange leads to what is essentially information I do not have to pay for, and I am further gratified by the feeling that I have provided valuable information to someone else. I consider this to be an integral part on all ventures in my career to the point that it partially defines who I am. I would say this method of valuing information and relationships is extremely valuable in the digital age and gives me a professional advantage.
Above this, there is still a deep respect for ancient ideas and traditions. While I appreciate the revolutionary, I revere old things and beliefs. I am not Christian, for example, but I greatly respect many Judeo-Christian ideals and I highly agree with most of the teachings of Jesus Christ (just not how some people interpret them). I do not feel as though religion and spirituality could be replaced by the feeling of a book in my hands–especially not something as rich in wisdom as the Bible or as personal as a book of poems or a Book of Shadows–which, with a twist of irony, I called this very blog.
But Do These Beliefs Make Me A Technopagan?
I would not define myself as a technopagan, but others might classify me as one based upon what I have said. I do not feel that it is bad or wrong to use helpful pieces of technology, like this blog, in exploring my spirituality, just as most Christians would not find it wrong that their churches use electric lights when necessary or fans in warm climates/during hot summers. Technology is a tool to explore religion…it is not only that, but it is that.
As a pagan, I do not feel that it is my place to cast spells. I believe in the balance of things and my ability to alter things (or put them back into balance), but I am not in a spiritual place to do this. I would define myself more as a receiver than a teacher or anything else, and even admitting that has taken a very long time. That said, many people define technopaganism as the belief in the use of technology to aid in spells. What exactly does that mean? Does it mean finding a spell, or a teacher who could cast one? Does it mean writing a book of spells? Or does it mean literally utilizing the energy radiated from a laptop to alter the way of things? I believe it could mean any of these things, and I think that makes the definition very open to interpretation by others.
Some authors even suggest that paganism has come “out of the broom closet” because of our ability to have exposure on the internet. The same could probably be said for other things. Would Barack Obama be our president without the internet? Would gay rights have come to the forefront so soon? What would the civil rights or women’s lib movements have been like had the internet existed then?
The Truth Is This:
You can use the internet to prove or disprove anything. You can use the internet to validate or invalidate beliefs…whether they are very traditional or far-fetched. To a pagan who is trying to define him or her self without necessarily having an organized religion, the internet is therefore 1) incredibly appealing 2) potentially misleading and 3) extremely helpful.
In other words, pagans are perhaps more inclined to use technology due to the necessity of gathering information from others. As a solitary pagan, I enjoy using the internet to connect to others with similar and different beliefs.
It’s probably also an age thing. There are a lot of young pagans out there; people also tend to question and form beliefs in their teens. It would make sense that information-seeking pagans might be a bit on the young side, and therefore far less intimidated by technology.
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