What Is Real? Sharing the Reality of the Good News in a Digital Culture

In this digital age, as folks "friend" thousands of people, tweet at one another, and google the web, the question has come up as to what is really going on here? I can't answer that question, but I can give some of my thoughts about the issue, as well as provide some resources from people much wiser than myself. 

So, what is the meaning of reality? What is real? These ontological questions are deeply rooted in philosophy and the history of mankind. I won't begin to get into Plato's cave, Hieddegar's On Being, or Shakesepeare's insights via Hamlet etc. This is an old subject. However, if you haven't seen The Matrix, or if you are unfamiliar with the discussions about reality - this clip offers a quick insight to questions we have been asking ourselves for thousands of years. Is reality based upon what we can sense with our 5 senses? Is reality anything that our brain fully believes? 

One nice thing about being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is that I have the choice to listen to modern day prophets and Apostles. One Apostle, Elder David A. Bednar gave a talk to young adults about how we can see and understand things "as they really are". He addresses many things in this talk, more than I can cover. Below is a small video the church produced with some specific counsel given in the talk.

In this clip, Elder Bednar's Apostolic warning is very clear about the use of media, and his two points for our personal consideration is an invitation for us to understand what sort of reality we are living in:

1. Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?

2. Does the time you spend using various technologies and media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve in meanignful ways?

In his talk, he also addresses how the digital world can be used by Satan to tempt us to be removed from our physical bodies and physical reality. He quotes some stunning stories and facts from secular studies about individuals who have disconnected themselves from their physical surroundings and embraced the virtual reality of certain games and programs (in a way that reminds me of the film Avatar). What sticks out to me the most from this talk, is that to truly understand what is real and going on in our lives we should follow the counsel of the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob, of whom Elder Bednar took his words for the title of his talk (see Jacob 4:13). 

Near the end of his talk, and in the video clip above, Elder Bednar encouraged youth to understand that he was not condemning media. There are many ways we can use the powerful tools of this technological age to do good, and  Elder Ballard and President Uchtorf and others have testified of the importance of using new media to share the Gospel.  The church has launched "I am a Mormon" campaign which allows each member of the church to create a profile on mormon.org.  (check out mine here). Below is a recent Mormon Message in which an excerpt from President Uchtorf's talk is used to illustrate how LDS members can use technology to spread the Gospel.





I hope these resources are helpful, and that as you continue to ponder "what is real" and discover both your divine and digital identity that you understand that the "Spirit lieth not" and if we are living right then we can indeed know of things as they really are and thus be empowered to serve and lift the kingdom of God on earth.

In light of my introduction to the topic, I figured this meme would be a fitting conclusion!