Christian Conviviality in a Hyperindustrial World: Reflecting on Ivan Illich - Part 2

Greystone Conversations

Last time, we suggested that to recover our humanity in an increasingly inhuman world, we must recover what Ivan Illich called the tools of conviviality. But this requires, at least in part, that we recognize the difference between cultural tools and modes of life which deskill and those which, increasingly, simply cultivate greater dependence.

The difference just noted between cultural tools and modes of life which deskill and those which, increasingly, cultivate dependence may be reconfigured another way: The Church has long confessed and taught that our Creator has blessed us, his image bearers, with unique capacities to mirror him in love and productive self-donation, with self-giving service that generates God-glorifying things in others and in the world at large. Capacity, along these lines, is a helpful index to calling. This skill in thoughtful and productive service belongs to our root identity and vocation as human beings—vocation, that is, in comprehensive life terms, not merely in the sense of the job we do for a paycheck. It therefore finds expression in the myriad ways we creatively, productively, and thoughtfully use, manipulate, and configure the gifted stuff of creation and providence, especially in terms of time, space, and our callings as male and female, as laborers and worshipers, as persons with natural affinities and with spiritual ones. But to the extent our God-given vocations, along these basic lines, are blunted, weakened, even deadened by increased dependence on others, and especially large others like the state, we find ourselves, corporately and individually, becoming less human.

In today’s episode, Michael Sacasas and Dr. Mark A. Garcia conclude their conversation from last week on the life and work of Ivan Illich. The first five minutes of today’s episode repeat the last five of the first episode, to help listeners with a bit of context for what follows. If you haven’t yet listened to Episode 42, we encourage you to do so first and then continue with today’s conclusion.

Please also note that Mr. Sacasas has also taught a ten-lecture micro-course for Greystone which reflects many of the themes and concerns captured in these conversations. Called “Technology, Faith, and Human Flourishing,” you can access this series of lectures and many others at GreystoneConnect.org If you can graciously bear with my saying so once again, if you are, or become, a Greystone Member at GreystoneConnect.org you of course already have access to this series and all other Greystone full courses, microcourses, study days, special lectures and more.

Thank you once again for spending some time with us today to reflect together on the shape and direction of greater faithfulness to our triune God. And now, the continuation and concluding part of a two-part conversation with Mr. Michael Sacasas on Ivan Illich, conviviality, and the way of faithfulness and wisdom, which is episode 43 of Greystone Conversations.