Professor, School of Education
Director of Secondary Social Studies Education

I have been married to my wife, Heather, since 1995 and we have two children, both named after historical figures. I graduated from PBU in 1994 and then served as a high school history teacher in Central Virginia for twelve years.  In 2005 I was awarded the Lynchburg City “Teacher of the Year.” I am thankful for the impact my students have had on my career and on my family. While living in VA I became an avid mountain trail runner, enjoying over 20 extreme ultra-running races (distances of 30+ miles on trails and mountains). The experience of being alone on trails with breath-taking panoramas makes it a very spiritual endeavor! Recently, I ran my annual birthday run (38 miles) on the trails at Bald-Pate Mountain Nature Preserve and the Delaware-Ruritan Canal Path in New Jersey.

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October 18, 2009

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Last night several students, colleagues, and my wife and I met for dinner and to discuss this 1968 novel by Philip K. Dick. The choice of this book was to begin thinking about technology and its impact. On November 7, the university will be hosting iChristian: How Technology Impacts a Biblical Worldview conference. The novel was appropriate for the questions technology poses. We had to contend with the questions What is a human? Can a person be a human with android qualities? Can the idea of death make us more aware of our humanity? Does technology dehumanize us? Is electronic or virtual beauty any less beautiful than beauty produced by a living person? Can it be more beautiful?

Our next meeting will be on November 21. We will be reading and discussing The Abolition of Man by CS Lewis. You’re invited!

Posted by Chris Palladino on October 18, 2009 4:45 PM |

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