Technology has a negative, but also a positive effect on the spiritual formation of man, depending on how we manage it. This paper will analyze this influence of technology on the human soul. In the first part of the work, the beneficial effect of technology on humans will be studied. In the second part of the paper, the negative effect of technology on humans will be described.

THE BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY ON HUMANS

GENERALLY

Despite the apostasy, from God, nowadays, we have the ways to draw closer to God. One such way is technology. In no other era we did we have such opportunities, as the ones that the present era gives us, so that with technology we can get closer to God.

THE ZOOM APPLICATION

We can participate in online, spiritual gatherings, through the zoom application. Through this application we can interact with people, with sound and image. Thus, we can meet many spiritual people, Fathers and monks, with whom we would have never met without that(zoom) technological application. We have the opportunity, therefore, to meet many spiritual people, even if we live many kilometers away from them, even in another country or continent!

THE YOU TUBE APPLICATION

We can watch, on the internet, with this application, spiritual talks, either while they are happening, or after they have happenned.  With this application, the communication is not complete, as with zoom. Namely, on YOU TUBE, during the speech, we can simply write some comments in the chat. But we can’t open cameras and talk.

There are also online phone applications, such as whatsapp and viber. There are also online communication applications, such as facebook, skype, instagram, in which the phone number is not directly used.

THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY ON HUMANS

The noise: Instead of cutting a branch, for example, with a saw, man prefers to cut it with a chainsaw, which creates more noise. Saint Paisios had also made this observation, observing some nuns while they were working. In other words, the saint had thought, that with technology we may save time at work, but it also creates noise, which deprives us of peace.

Man does not make sufficient use of the gifts given to him by God: For example, the new captains of some ships relied solely on the indication of the electronic compass. «What if the electronic compass breaks?», an old captain told them. «Don’t forget the traditional way of navigation», he pointed out to them.

Unemployment: With the use of technology, unemployment has certainly increased, because, for example, to build a road, while 20 workers would be needed to work, now, with the use of technology, it will need, perhaps, 4 machines and 4 workers. That is, instead of 20 workers, 4 will be needed!

What is the impact of unemployment on the psychosomatic development of man?

People who are unemployed seem to be prone to various negative mental states, such as irritability, apathy, depression, indifference.

• Historical and cultural perspectives and contemporary educational practices

Teacher in Primary Education, musician