Iron Man (week #2)

Iron Man Week #2 Romans 13:8-14" “8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Mixer 1.) Divide your group in half. Have each group see how many pieces of technology they have between all of them. The group with the most pieces wins.

Going Deeper 1.) Last week our group came up with a “three word description” of Tony Stark. (Take a moment to reconstruct that definition). Does the same definition hold this week? Come up with a new three-word definition of our protagonist.

2.) Tony Stark is undergoing a huge life change, what changes him? (Note the experience in the cave: It’s both the vision of life that matters he sees in Yinsen [a life with family, that holds out sacrificing for the other as an virtue] and having the veil lifted on how his actions have consequences [i.e. he makes weapons and has now had to experience the “fruits” of his labor.]

3.) Iron Man is a movie about technology. (Obadiah Stane says, “We’re iron mongers, we make weapons.”) What is technology? How do we define it? (Come up with a definition as a group – but acknowledge that we will broaden this definition next month when we watch Wall-E). How does the way Tony Stark uses technology change in the movie so far?

4.) Think about the game we played earlier, all of have technology and use it as a normal part of our lives. © Dixon Kinser 2009

Decide as a group, is technology good or bad? How do make the distinction between what is good and what is evil? How does Paul’s admonition in Roman’s help us decide?

There is an assumption in our culture that technology is an unqualified “good”. Christians have to be wiser than this, when it comes to our technological age. Technology can be used for good or it can be used for evil. It’s the usage that gives it moral value. That said, technology is not always good. Building on Paul’s admonition in Roman’s 13, the way we tell the difference between whether something is being used for good or evil is the way it affects relationships. Is our tech generating wholeness and healing in our relationship to God, our neighbor, the Creation or ourselves? If so, it’s a good usage a Christian would say. If not, it’s a “bad” usage. When Paul says, “10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” This is some of what he’s getting at. He’s councils the church to live by a relational ethic. Good is based on results or efficiency as much as relationship. So, we don’t lie to each other, not simply because it makes community inefficient or it’s against “the rules”. No, we don’t lie (cheat, steal, lust, murder, covet etc.) because we love each other. This is the fulfillment of the law – a community that lives out its directives because of love. Do you feel me? The same thing applies to technology. 5.) Brainstorm three common technologies we use everyday. As a group discuss how each can be used for good or for evil using Paul’s “relational ethic” as your guide.

For more on technology check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-Dimensional_Man It’s a good redefinition of technology that might give you some helpful categories.

© Dixon Kinser 2009