Mal Fletcher has worked in the media industry for over 40 years, taking on roles as a futurist, innovator, and social commentator. He is known for his expertise in technology, social issues, and generational change. During the 1980s Mal headed up Youth Alive Australia, and he also created the popular Godspots radio segments that reached young people across Australia and Europe.
Earlier this year, Mal received a Legacy Award from Christian Media and Arts Australia for his lasting influence on media. More recently, he has focused on technology ethics and social change with his YouTube channel, 2030-Plus-TV, discussing the complexities of AI.
Mal recently joined us on 20Twenty to share his thoughts on significant changes affecting society. He focusses on three major challenges that Australia and many countries will face over the next decade. Integrating technology, digitising our experiences, and dealing with an identity crisis.
Adapting to Change Through Faith
‘We’re seeing a meaning deficit in today’s world,’ Mal says, ‘because people have lost their foundational sense of purpose. What does it mean to be human? That is a question we will face increasingly as technology plays a bigger and bigger part of our lives. Yes, there’s an emotional component. But I think it comes down to the level of soul and the spiritual component of what it means to be human.’
Mal believes that technology, especially artificial intelligence, is increasingly merging with our lives. But this raises ethical questions, such as the risk of people losing jobs and what it means to be truly human. As more people move towards using digital forms of payment, Mal warns that any outages or issues with technology could limit our access to essential services.
There are no longer clear cultural and moral guides, leaving many feeling unsure about their purpose. Trust in traditional institutions like governments and religious organisations is declining, and Mal points out that they can’t meet everyone’s expectations. Many people are seeking meaning and fulfillment in technology, which can sometimes feel like a new kind of religion.
The Theology of Technology
‘In order to become data literate,’ says Mal, ‘and understand how data operates and is analysed; we need to first, as Christians, become Biblically literate. We need to understand the basic principles of the Christian scriptures that we can apply to technology.’
For Mal, his Christian faith is his anchor and he encourages others to adopt a ‘theology of technology.’ Christians can see technology as a tool to serve humanity rather than take control over it. Recognising that we are created in the image of God can help guide how we use technology in our lives.
‘The line between humanity and technology will in some ways never be crossed,’ says Mal. ‘Because there’s part of us made in the image of God. That doesn’t cross over into the world of the machine. So when we have some understanding of basic theology based in the Scriptures, we’re much better able to take into account things like the human impact of emerging technologies.’
While the challenges around technology aren’t new, today’s world is always changing. Mal encourages Christians not to feel defeated but to engage with society, bringing hope and purpose. ‘We must take responsibility to challenge the status quo,’ says Mal, ‘and point the way to something better.’
‘Which we believe is the kingdom of God.’
Listen to Mal’s full interview on 20Twenty below:
