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Digital Public Square Podcast with Jason Thacker

Conversations on theology, ethics, and philosophy in the public square

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How pornography is preying on the vulnerable in the midst of COVID-19

Amid the cultural upheaval of COVID-19 and what has turned out to be one of the most eventful years in modern history, a dehumanizing and predatory perversion of technology has been spreading in the darkness of our communities: pornography.

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The Wise Way to Use ‘Smart’ Tools During a Pandemic

We live in a “smart-everything” world. We have artificial intelligence (AI) at our fingertips for nearly every part of our day. From AI-based wearable technology to phones, tablets, computers, and even appliances, nearly every aspect of our lives is being tracked, recorded, and processed by some form of algorithmic technology.

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Explainer: Elections in Belarus, an internet blackout, and human rights

On Sunday, the country of Belarus held a national election where President Alexander Lukashenko won in a landslide victory, claiming an implausible 80% of the vote.

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What’s the problem with China and TikTok?

Over the last few weeks, there has been a cultural firestorm over the viral video sharing app TikTok and a potential ban in the United States. TikTok’s usage surged during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns with millions of users finding reprieve during this difficult season of isolation and social distancing.

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What a new AI system reveals about our hopes for technology

It’s easy for anyone to get caught up in the hype surrounding new technologies. A new innovation often debuts with some helpful benefits and great new features, all of which wow us and lead us to believe that we are on the cusp of something truly revolutionary.

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A conversation with Trillia Newbell about parenting, kids, and technology

This week Trillia Newbell, author, speaker, and commentator on World Radio, joins me to talk about parenting our kids in this technological day.

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A conversation with Jay Kim about technology in this cultural moment

This week Jay Kim, a pastor at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California, joins host Jason Thacker to talk about his new book, Analog Church. They discuss how his book speaks to this cultural moment, the importance of utilizing technology as tools rather than allowing it to utilize us, as well as our need for community in this digital age.

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2084 Isn’t That Far Away

When you read or hear about artificial intelligence (AI), you probably have one of two reactions: fear of the unknown or some level of disregard because of other seemingly more pressing issues.

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Why we need to retain the countercultural nature of the church

A book’s publication date is often set as an author signs the contract, and it usually feels far away and distant. But sometimes you read a book that reminds you that God is sovereignly orchestrating the entire universe, including book launches, because one is so perfectly timed that not even a publisher could have planned for the moment.

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