Hey there Theology Nerds! I am absolutely pumped to share one of the most mind-blowing conversations I've had in a long time. Today, I'm joined by Dr. Ulises Mejias to discuss data colonialism. When I first read it it fundamentally changed how I thought about our digital world.
As people of faith committed to solidarity and liberation, we've got to understand what we're actually up against. And here's the uncomfortable truth: while we're busy organizing on social media, posting our justice-oriented content, and connecting through digital platforms, these very spaces are extracting our data in ways that parallel historical colonialism. The terrain has completely shifted beneath our feet.
Ulises' work is absolutely crucial for Christians who care about liberation theology. It inspired my recent audio essay The New Colonialism: Power, Data, and the Transformation of Human Experience. As Christians we talk about God's preferential option for the poor, but do we understand how tech platforms and data territories are creating new forms of poverty and oppression? While we're focused on traditional theological concepts—what it means to be human, the nature of community—massive corporations are reorienting power in dramatic ways through our data.
HERE’S WHY THIS MATTERS SO MUCH: If we don't recognize how the digital landscape has transformed our relationships, how algorithms are shaping our desires, and how data territories are being colonized, our best efforts at solidarity will be undermined before they even begin. We'll be fighting yesterday's battles while our very consciousness is being colonized!
What I love about this conversation is that Ulises doesn't just offer critique—he gives us frameworks for resistance that work within, against, and beyond the system. This is exactly the kind of prophetic voice we need if we're serious about following the way of Jesus in our digital age.
So grab your headphones, buckle your theological safety belts, and prepare to have your mind blown. This isn't just another tech conversation—it's about reclaiming our humanity and imagining alternatives in the face of digital empire.
THREE LIVESTREAMS THIS WEEK!
Science and the Sacred with Dr. Philip Clayton
Monday, March 24th (6pm PT / 9pm ET) via YouTube Livestream
My mentor and friend Dr. Philip Clayton has a new book that's just spectacular - Science and the Sacred. I am thrilled he will be joining me live for a conversation about and taking questions for the fellow online streamers.
Livestream with John Dominic Crossan
Paul & Rome: The Violent Normalcy of Civilization with John Dominic Crossan
Thursday, March 27th (11am PT / 2pm ET) via YouTube Livestream
In this session, biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan examines the fundamental conflict between two visions of peace in the ancient world. He contrasts Augustus' Res Gestae (carved imperial boasts of achievements) with Paul's letters, revealing how Rome established "peace through victory" while Paul offered an alternative vision based on justice and non-violence. Crossan traces this tension back to Genesis, where human civilization begins with Cain's fratricide and escalates through generations of violence, contrasting sharply with the divine vision of creation centered on Sabbath justice. Through archaeological evidence from Galatian sites where Paul traveled, Crossan demonstrates how these competing worldviews physically manifested in the landscape, ultimately challenging us to consider whether humanity's inherent tendency toward escalating violence makes us a sustainable species or whether we must embrace Paul's alternative vision of peace through justice.
To get all 5 of Crossan's lectures and invites/replays to all the live streams, you can join the online class here at www.CrossanClass.com.
Livestream with Tripp and Bo!
“Does Liberal Christian Theology Have a Future?”
Theology Nerd Throwdown with Tripp and Bo
Friday, March 28th (6am PT / 9pm ET) via YouTube Livestream
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