Reading the Times: Christian Responses to the News of the Day

What role should the news play in the life of a disciple of Christ? This may seem like a contemporary concern made acute by political polarization, social media, and ubiquitous screens. And, indeed, we are living through a time when technological and cultural forces are causing drastic upheavals in the news industry. This course will not focus on the news industry as such, however, but on how Christians ought to approach and value the news. As it turns out, Christians in many different times and places have pondered this question and proposed attitudes and practices that might guide us in our current situation. We’ll draw from biblical narratives, media ecology, theology, literature, and other sources in seeking to discern how both our citizenship in heaven and God’s call to love our neighbours ought to shape our habits of media engagement.