Follow up to our Lent Course - Session 5 - healthy use of screens

On this page, we have some items to help you catch up with the last session of the Lent Course and some additional material to help you go deeper.

What we covered on the night

Recent Research

We started by considering some recent secular writing on the topic. Feel free to watch the video we saw.

Christian Reflection for the family

We also considered a Christian’s writer’s thoughts on how to tackle area as a family.

Nick’s thoughts on how to tackle behaviours or habits that are threatening our relationship with God and others.

Content of our discussions on the night

In breakout rooms, those present at the session considered some of the good things about modern tech and screens, some of its bad points and ways we can help ourselves each other through this and other tricky habits. Here are the findings of some of those present:

Good points about smart -phones and other devices

• We have information at our fingertips

• Instant access and instant response

• Useful for the housebound

• Can offer security - others aware of whereabouts

• A way of keeping in touch with distant family and friends

• We can 'visit' places we may never see in person - enhances life experience

Bad points:

• Can make us lazy in research

• We can be sucked in to other posts

• Available 24/7 therefore no respite

• We can be less secure and open to fraudsters

• Can impact our relationships; reduce our ability to engage in face to face conversations

• Can be open to grooming and abuse

• Affects concentration and sleep patterns

Is it a problem in general?

Addiction is real… perhaps a real problem among younger people who have never known a time without instant access?

From a faith perspective - just like any addictive pursuit, it takes our focus away from God and his teaching.

Is it a problem for us?

Many recognised pursuits that probably take up too much time. Not sure they had become addictive - but certainly discussion prompted fresh evaluation.

All agreed about how much technology had provided comfort, contact and collaborative worship during this pandemic. Despite the complications of Zoom etc - it had proved a lifeline for many. There was stress on managing 'it' rather than 'it' managing us

We felt churches need to portray a healthy balance between real time activities and pursuits, and virtual ones. We need to advocate and encourage opportunities for appropriate stillness.

Question raised: 'Unless people need their phones on for critical reasons - should we encourage phones to be turned off during services - as in theatres?