Bots and Biomes

Natalia Johnson

Mathew Lynch

Rel 161

3 December 2015

The Salon article refers to Algorithmacy as a reference to divination and philosophy that instead of determining the future by classic spiritual-philosophical in a manner that it is done with bots by algorithms. The author discusses how natural and artificial in how we most often think of it in terms of food can be shifted for certain purposes. I think that it is arbitrary to a certain extent but to think of anything as a place without lines and limits is dangerous because firstly it is easy to wander as Hawking has done into unrelated territory and lose focus. Secondly things can be re-purposed in a way that is far removed from its authentic reality. The reality is that some things originate more naturally than others or at least it is perceived to be that way. I think that these terms, natural and artificial can be redefined for better in a number of spheres but it is important that we do it in a manner that is credible. The author employs his agency on these points by tapping into the blurred lines and making the point that artificial intelligence does not fit into this conversation as it is currently defined. In order to understand what our real fears are we must first have a firm grasp on how the object(s) we fear operate and our current social/technological situation.

The microbotome that is mentioned discusses the system of bots that exist online that exist to extract capital but also assist humans in the various quests they carryout online. From online shopping, research our favorite tv shows, and even trying to get help from Bank of America bots exist in those spheres whether their existence is invisible or noticeable to the user. Depending on the user bots may be very invisible which makes the notion of Stephen Hawking alluding to robot takeover even more horrifying because we can’t see them or interact with them on levels we are used to with fellow humans it feels as though something is slipping past us rather than existing for us. This microbotome refers to microbiomes as stated in the article that work in our body to create consciousness as well as dictate how we see the world. Microbotome work by changing how we can use technology and how business, and companies gather data, much like the cells in our bodies. The vast difference is that these bots that exist in life and online are not sovereign. They need humans to operate, maintain and tweek them so that they remain relevant and useful. They don’t yet have the capacity to evolve semi-flawlessly on their own. I see this in my experience on twitter with corporate bots that display things completely irrelevant to me and my interests all the time. For a period of time I will see ads that catch my eye but something drives the algorithm askew and I get an ad for mens shaving creme or new tires. This may be because I tweeted about needing a car or the quality of mens vs womens hygiene products which demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding regarding some human forms of conversation. The bot isn’t quite able to figure me out as a feminist or a college student but it can pick up that I mentioned shaving creme. 

ISIS VS. Authenticity

Really powerful and important message. In my opinion there is nothing authentic about ISIS and what they stand for. is ISIS in any way a religion or religious? What do you think?

MUST WATCH!

Really interesting video we watched one day during our Religion in the New Media class, that I thought discussed an important topic worth sharing . This video is extremely relevant in terms of recent news and tensions with the Middle East. After watching the video on media's negative portrayal of Arab's, I think it is important for America to see Arab people in a new more authentic light, and stop stereotyping and labeling an entire group of people. We need to stop in both the media and every day life associating all Arab people with terrorism.

Mourning the Reality of Gun Violence

I woke up in a daze, frustrated and hurt by the amount of deaths caused by guns in our country. As families mourn the deaths of loved ones, we are forced to face the fact that yesterday's shooting in California was the worst massacre we have seen since the shooting in Sandy Hook that took place in 2012. Yesterday, Hillary Clinton said this via Twitter: "I refuse to accept this as normal. We just take action to stop gun violence now." At this point, whether you're religious or not or conservative or liberal, as a country we must come together and compromise on a solution because this problem is only increasing. When I think of this issue as it relates to religion, I have trouble wrapping my brain around it because some of the most intense Christians I know heavily support our Second Amendment right, and while it is our right as Americans, it is not our right to abuse it. I read an article on Religion Dispatches that addresses why the church cannot ultimately stop gun violence. Throughout the article the author brings up many points, including how after a traumatic event people are always quick to say "I'm praying for you," but in this case what is prayer actually doing? Praying won't stop this violence. In the article the author writes, "Not only are more liberal denominations split on gun control, they're distracted by any number of other issues: hunger, homelessness, anti-racism, advocating for LGBT rights, refugee resettlement, Israel-Palestine and on and on and on. Anybody who's spent time in a mainline Protestant church knows that it seems like a there's a new cause every damn day. It's difficult to coalesce around any one issue." The country is well aware that we have a number of issues to worry about, but gun violence and gun control is something that needs to be at the top of that list. This is not about separation between church and state, it is about coming together and doing what is best for our country.

Please read the article "Why the Church Can't Stop Gun Violence" on Religion Dispatches:
http://religiondispatches.org/why-the-church-cant-stop-gun-violence/

What is Pastafarianism?

When I think of issues I may encounter while going to any Motor Vehicles, they consist of not looking good in my photo, having to wait in a ridiculously long line, or not having the proper paperwork with me. Being denied the right to get my license renewed because of my religion was not a problem I even knew people had at Motor Vehicles until I read a shocking article in the Huffington Post. In August, Lindsay Miller of Lowell, Massachusetts, was denied a renewed license by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles for wearing a spaghetti strainer on her head. According to the RMV, head coverings and hats are not allowed in license photos, but exceptions are made for religious reasons. However, Miller was not just wearing a colander on her head as a fashion statement, she was expressing her religion.The people of the RMV did not only deny Miller the right to wear the colander, they laughed at her. Miller believed it was unfair that just because they hadn't heard of this belief system that anyone had the right to deny her a license, she said that wearing the colander on her head allows her to express her devotion to the Spaghetti Monster, the Pastafarian deity. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Pastafarianism, is a social movement that promotes a light hearted view of religion and opposes the teaching of intelligent design and creationism in public schools. It was founded in 2005, the church says is neither anti-religion nor an atheist club, but rather anti-crazy nonsense done in the name of religion, and is accepting of everyone. In the eyes of Miller and many others, by not allowing her to wear the colander in her license photo, the RMV was violating Miller's first Amendment rights which apply to every person and every religion, and before a hearing could take place the RMV changed their mind and allowed her to wear the colander. With all this in mind, do you think Pastafarianism is an authentic religion? What makes a religion authentic or fake? If exceptions are made for religious reasons why was Lindsay Miller denied the right to wear the colander in the first place? Did the RMV have the right to deny Pastafarianism as an authentic religion due to lack of knowledge or lack of shared beliefs?  #Pastafarianism #Religioninthenewmedia #Authenticity #Authenticreligion #ChurchoftheFlyingSpaghettiMonster 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pastafarian-colander-license-photo_56498e42e4b08cda34897b27

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

Agency in the role of #Concerned Student 1950

Recently at the university of Missouri black students have managed to convince their community of the need for a new president. Their now former president Tim Wolfe managed to remain silent and in some cases in opposition to their efforts to bring attention and find reform for the racist threats and practices on campus. Not so recently however has been the beginning of the students wait for these things to be addressed with any lasting results. In early November Tim Wolfe finally resigned from the position of president at Missouri. Yet we have good reason to believe that it was not because he saw the light shine on the error of his ways but the fact that someone at Missouri (Probably Wolfe) would have to pay the football team they were soon to play, 1 million dollars if their football team continued to refuse to play while he was in office. Agency played a role in how these students where able to get things done by wielding the power of capital. It is not a new strategy and I am not entirely convinced the student organizers at Missouri were unaware of the fine that would have to be paid if their football team refused to play, I do know that by working their way into more difficult territory they made it just as difficult to be ignored. If no one is messing with the money, they could have protested all day because they wouldn't be a threat.

The Legacy of Black Social Gospel

This article focuses on the history of black social gospel and how the history of black religious leaders and the social movements they espoused influenced generations. This article tackles the authenticity of history and how the lens through which we view things becomes warped when we omit or diminish facts that are deemed unworthy of recording or mentioning. It makes me think how will the things happening in the world right now be diminish in favor of someone else's perspective.
 #authenticsocialgospel #warpedlens #wheredidKingcomefrom
http://religiondispatches.org/what-we-dont-know-about-black-social-gospel-a-long-neglected-tradition-is-reclaimed/