Technologies for the Orthodox Christian: An Inseparable Element of the Wisdom of God

Professor Athanasiοs I. Paivanas | May 17, 2025

 

1. Man was not created “in order to find satisfaction of the supposedly natural self-seeking and hedonistic appetites within himself and thus end up stagnant and insensitive. On the contrary, he was created with the purpose of loving God and his fellow man with the same love that God has for the world.” For this reason, a characteristic element of man is free will, which he must use with reference to God. Since man is in the image of God, God has given us certain responsibilities toward the rest of creation. He made us His stewards and co-workers. Even after the Fall, man remained the steward of creation — although now he is destructive and acts according to human will and not that of God.

2. Modern science has made the “impossible possible.” Its evolutionary course is not hindered and its achievements are not suspended.

3. Science, as science, is a blessing. The opposition between faith and science is due to an incorrect perception of position, mission, responsibilities, and boundaries.

4. Man’s progress in the various fields of rapidly developing new technologies is in no way and cannot be considered demonic. Such a view is far from the Orthodox Church. The scientific achievements of man are the result of the realization of God's blessing. They are a gift of His Wisdom to man, and we have no right to alter this understanding. God said, “Be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over the earth” (Gen. 1:28). Knowledge, research, conquest — these are blessings from God. The Orthodox Christian partakes in this blessing, does not reject it, does not err by attributing to the devil what God grants to man as gifts. It is a great sin to attribute the actions of Christ to the Antichrist and the actions of the Antichrist to Christ.

5.  It is clear that the blessing of God is one thing and the use of the achievements of new technologies by man is another. There is no relation between the blessing of God and misuse. Misuse is a fruit of sin. In no case, however, does this sin become a cause for the revocation of God's blessing. If such a thing were to happen, God would have abolished knives because some used them to kill their fellow humans. It must be made clear that Cain – regardless of the means he used to kill his brother – and anyone who exploits the possibilities offered by new technologies for evil have the same responsibility and condemnation.

6. The achievements of new technologies (information technology, biotechnology, microelectronics, etc.) function for the benefit of man and for the facilitation of his life. However, there are cases where they also create problems such as:

a) When they infringe upon his private life.

b) They facilitate the emergence of new forms of criminality.

c) They decisively influence the conditions of social life and the relations of man or the individual with his fellow humans.

The isolation of man as a consequence of new technology is a common phenomenon in the modern information society.

7. The same reasons that make it difficult for a person who grew up in a non-technological society, facilitate the one who grows up in a technological society. The human infrastructure, e.g. technological achievements, cannot hinder the action of the Holy Spirit. Such a thought, we can say, is a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

8. Saint Cyril of Alexandria says: the sciences, the discoveries, and generally their applications leave no room for doubt that man on earth is "the imprint of the highest glory and the image of the divine authority" (P.G. 69, 20c). However, a result of progress is the danger that he may "readily slip into thinking that he is perhaps freed from the authority and the superiority of the Ruler," that is, man is in danger, charmed by his successes, of beginning to seek a pretext to slip into a mentality similar to that of the people who attempted to build the Tower of Babel. In other words, he easily slips into the attitude of "thinking" that he can and ought to be freed from the authority of the Ruler. This is the point that requires attention.

9. It is natural that every person who wants to impose his dominance over others uses the most advanced technological means available to him. However, this pertains to the misuse of technological means and achievements by man, but this does not mean that we must reject their use for good.

10. Saint Gregory Palamas teaches that the mystery of the antichrist, although it has not yet come, is at work in the world, just as the mystery of the Cross was at work before it appeared. The Cross is "the abolition of sin," which means that the sign and energy of the antichrist is the domination and maintenance of sin. What we must experience is the mystery of the Cross, which is the abolition of sin, that is, the purification of the heart, the illumination of the mind, and deification.

11. The mark of the antichrist (666) is directly connected with the conscious denial of faith in Christ and the alignment with the devil. It is, therefore, the inverse of holy Baptism and holy Chrismation, the “seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.” When someone is baptized, the Church asks him to respond affirmatively to the question: “Do you renounce Satan, his works and his pride? Do you unite yourself with Christ?” A similar matter arises concerning the antichrist “baptism” of the mark. The devil wars against the soul of human beings and primarily threatens it. Up to this day, there is nowhere observed the phenomenon of Orthodox Christians being required to align themselves with the antichrist as a precondition for receiving an identity card, passport, credit card, health card, or even for purchasing consumer goods bearing a bar code.

12. The fact that in the future there is the possibility that man may proceed to misuse his technological achievements or that technological progress could serve the plans of the antichrist is something that might happen. And what should one do? Live without electricity, without a telephone, not use modern electrical devices, or refuse, for example, to undergo surgery using laser technology? The Chiliasmists refuse blood transfusion and die, and the Protestant heresies (Amish, Mennonites, Mormons, and other related ones) renounce the development of the sciences, research, and the use of technological means.

13. The Church must assess the great damage that has been done to the spiritual formation of its flock by the “antichristology” which these circles have been using for quite some years now, and must ensure that even in such cases, the faithful are informed with documented scientific material, and that theological positions and stances are based on the pure sources of Orthodoxy and not on sources of doubtful and suspicious origin that cause anxiety, disturbance, melancholy, fear, because “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…”. The Church does not spread fear about the coming of the antichrist, but seeks to educate her children so that they may be sealed with the seal of the living God. The ideas and positions of any circles that preach antichristology and sow fear must be isolated, and the creation of impressions must finally cease—something that has disgraced the Church, which can no longer bear further scandals and disgraces.

14. And one more thing, which I kindly ask not to be misinterpreted. In the Symbol of Faith, we recite: “…and He shall come again in glory…” and we have the certainty that this will take place. However, before Christ comes “in glory” again to the earth, the coming of the antichrist will precede. It is at the very least a great delusion to believe that we are in a position to overturn the eternal plan of God.

15. The Orthodox Christian cannot speak about the mark of the beast. What he must do is to prepare himself to be sealed with the seal of the Holy Spirit. Saint Symeon the New Theologian urges us: “Therefore, all who are unsealed, run; all who are unmarked, hasten to be marked with the sign of the Spirit,” because – as he says – unsealed is “the one who fears death,” and unmarked is “the one who does not precisely know the form of the seal.” Those who will be sealed with the seal of Christ will be the ones able to discern the workings of the antichrist, and they will be the ones who will stand with the Lamb of the Revelation, partaking of the glory of God.

In conclusion:

The Holy Scripture and the Fathers of the Church teach us: Man’s scientific progress, technologies, and technological achievements are a blessing and a gift from God to man. As such, they are an inseparable part of the Wisdom of God, which God grants to man who was created “in His image.” It is a great sin—it is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—to characterize technologies as demonic, for in doing so, one attributes to the devil that which God grants to man as gifts.

The Orthodox Christian:

§ Is especially careful not to be carried away or led astray by views and positions related to technology and its applications in his life, which are entirely lacking in theological (patristic) and scientific documentation.

§ Requires that his information regarding technological progress be based on scientifically documented material, and that any theological views and positions on these matters be substantiated and based on the pure sources of Orthodoxy, and not on arbitrary, irresponsible sources of doubtful and suspicious origin.

§ Knows that there is no connection between the blessing of God—which leads man to continuous achievements and creations—and the misuse by man of his technological accomplishments. Misuse is a fruit of sin.

§ Is equipped with the fruits of the Holy Spirit, is optimistic, rejoices “in the Lord always,” and does not form his personal relationship with Christ through the antichrist. If he attempts such a thing, then it is certain that he will be led astray. He prepares to be sealed with the seal of Christ and lives the mystery of the Cross, which is the abolition of sin—that is, the purification of the heart, the illumination of the nous, and theosis.

 

Greek source: https://entoytwnika1.blogspot.com/2025/05/blog-post_33.html