Christian Roy and I discuss Jacques Ellul’s theology of technique (technology) and the way modern systems turn power, efficiency, and mediation into ends in themselves. AI brings this crisis into focus, especially in our speech and relationships, but the deeper question is whether technology still serves a meaningful purpose —or whether we have begun to serve it. We also explore the Christian idea of non-power as a way beyond the logic of domination. 🎧 Listen to this episode (#478) on The Symbolic World podcast: -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3P4EgAdZwS8NVUNWYqrQpJ?si=g1Dv56EgSKO_h2kjQw6obg -Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/478-christian-roy-technological-madness-the-logic/id1386867488?i=1000787884927 Christian’s book: Theology and Technique: https://www.amazon.com/Theology-Technique-Jacques-Ellul/dp/1725259788 Join Dr. Zac Porcu for his course, A Demonological History of the World: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/a-demonological-history-of-the-world 6 weeks, 12 hours Price: Only $120, and get 15% off through September 8, 2026 at 11:55PM ET! Live classes: Sep 15 - Oct 20 Pre-Order GodsDog: Monk now and/or get volumes 1 and 2 on sale! https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/collections/godsdog 00:00 – Coming up 01:51 – Introduction 03:03 – Jacques Ellul and the Theology of Technique 05:16 – AI and the Humiliation of the Word 09:31 – What Is Lost When AI Speaks for Us 14:07 – From Oral Culture to Digital Culture 17:49 – God’s Dog: Monk 19:43 – The Christian Ethic of Non-Power 22:07 – The Fall and the Layers of Mediation 26:45 – When Means Become Ends 29:37 – When Power Becomes the Purpose 34:27 – Non-Power, Love, and the Christian Vision 39:01 – Power, the Word, and Creation 42:55 – Liturgical vs. Demonological Mediation 45:30 – Can the City and Technology Be Redeemed? 51:14 – A Demonological History of the World 52:25 – The Monk, the City, and Working Against the Grain 55:10 – Christ, the Medium, and the Message 56:06 – Christian Roy’s Current Work 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 📕Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/ Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/