Spirituality and Technology: A Threefold Philosophical Reflection 

Objective and Scope

The article examines the underexplored intersection between spirituality and technology. Using a philosophical approach, the author introduces a framework structured around three classical categories—transcendence, immanence, and relationality—to analyze how these two domains interact. The aim is not to define spirituality universally but to use these axes to reveal how spirituality can both critique and complement technological developments in contemporary society.

Philosophical Framework

Transcendence:
The transcendent axis refers to dimensions that lie beyond the immediate empirical world (for example, the notion of a personal God or universal consciousness). In this reflection, technology is seen as more than a mere instrument; it carries the potential to reveal possibilities beyond mere utility. However, the article warns that the instrumental, fast-paced nature of technological advancement may neglect qualities such as contemplation and receptivity—qualities that spiritual traditions typically cultivate.

Immanence:
The immanent axis posits that the source of spirituality is inherent within each entity. It emphasizes embodied spirituality and views technology as an extension or prosthesis of the human body. The paper highlights that while technology (such as advanced prostheses or wearable devices) is meant to augment human capabilities, it often falls short of fully integrating with the lived, experiential body—the “lived body” in phenomenological terms—which remains central to spiritual transformation. This axis challenges the reduction of human experience to purely mechanistic or engineered processes.

Relationality:
The relational axis deals with how spirituality is experienced and actualized in relation to others. It is rooted in traditions that stress the importance of care, community, and interconnectedness. In contrast, the article discusses how technology, especially in its dominant forms, can lead to forms of domination and exploitation. The piece calls for ethical and reflective integration—where technological innovation is balanced by spiritual practices that emphasize empathy, bonding, and care for both individuals and social systems.

Key Themes and Insights

• The article proposes that while technology often enforces a “forcing out” of nature—highlighting efficiency, control, and replicability—spirituality offers resources (e.g., contemplation, receptivity, care) that can balance the unintended excesses of technological development.
• It introduces the idea that the human sensorium (our sensory apparatus and its interpretative frameworks) serves as a bridge between scientific measurement and the experiential, embodied knowledge prized by spiritual practices.
• The discussion critiques a prevalent bias in modern society that elevates technological progress as the sole marker of advancement, arguing instead for a model in which self-optimization is informed by both objective data and subjective, embodied wisdom.
• The text further explores how biohacking practices and the Quantified Self movement, while rooted in scientific self-tracking, share affinities with alternative and complementary approaches to health that stress natural, embodied, and intuitive methods.

Conclusion

The author concludes that the cross-reflection provided by the three philosophical axes enables a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between spirituality and technology. Spiritual traditions, with their emphasis on transcendence, immanence, and relational care, can offer vital counterbalances to the often reductionist and dominant character of technological development. This integrative perspective is seen as essential to avoid a future marked solely by technological domination—a future in which the human capacity for deep self-reflection and embodied experience is diminished.

Source

Fernandez-Borsot, G. (2022). SPIRITUALITY AND TECHNOLOGY: A THREEFOLD PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION. Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science. First published: September 07, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12835