Brent Waters

By: Andrico Moureoatos

Brent Waters is currently employed as a professor of Christian Social Ethics at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He has a Doctor of Ministry from the School of Theology at Clairemont, and a Doctor of Philosophy from University of Oxford. His current research interests listed on his faculty page are “Christian social and political thought, and the relationship between theology, science, and technology”; more specifically, he has been focused on bioethics.[1] He appeared on a Christian-faith based podcast on November 13, 2018 to discuss bioethics and his book This Mortal Flesh: Incarnation and Bioethics.[2]

Waters’ latest writing for tech ethics is Christian Moral Theology in the Emerging Technoculture, wherein he studies critiques of late modernity by George Grant, Hannah Arendt, and Albert Borgmann, viewing them through a theological lens “in order to form a Christian moral assessment.” These guidelines of previous philosophers allow Waters to aid fellow Christians in navigating our “emerging technoculture.” The book accomplishes in developing a pattern of moral and theological themes by discussing issues about the Internet, politics, and economics.[3]

The book is split into three major sections: “Philosophical Description and Critique,” “Theological Construction,” and “Moral Engagement.” In the first section, Waters delves into Friedrich Nietzsche’s and Martin Heidegger’s ideas of nihilism and historicism, concluding that both “offer failed solutions to the problems they identify”[4] Waters then moves on to the three mentioned philosophers. Part two is where he turns on the theological vision, beginning to make his formal assessment. Lastly, he turns to the Internet, politics, and

economics to finalize his thoughts on our technoculture.

In the book, Waters doesn’t choose between rejecting technology and relishing in a simpler time of the past or completely embrace the technological revolution we live in. He believes that technology is part of God’s creation and His creatures (humans). It is our responsibility to determine how each piece of new technology affects our lives.[5] It is up to us to decide “to resist, engage, and reorient the direction of the emerging technoculture.”[6]

Waters has made an impact through being a professor and director in the Jerre L. and Mary Joy Center for Ethics and Values at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, where he conducts research and oversees the Center and its related programs. Prior to this he was the Director of the Center for Business, Religion and Public Life at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with similar duties.[7] While nearing his retirement, he is still active in giving lectures, most recently at Belmont University in March of 2019.

Source: garrett.edu

References

[1] "Brent P. Waters," Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, accessed February 06, 2019

[2] "Connecting Faith 11-13-18 News Review Dr. Brent Waters on This Mortal Flesh," interview, The Reconnect with Carmen LaBerge(audio blog), November 13, 2018, accessed February 06, 2019

[3] Brent Waters, Christian Moral Theology in the Emerging Technoculture: From Posthuman Back to Human (London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016).

[4] Earl Waggoner, "Christian Moral Theology in the Emerging Technoculture: From Posthuman Back to Human," Themelios from The Gospel Coalition

[5] Andrea Vicini, "Book Review: Christian Moral Theology in the Emerging Technoculture: From Posthuman Back to Human. By Brent Waters," Theological Studies 78, no. 2 (May 19, 2017)

[6] Brent P. Waters, Christian Moral Theology in the Emerging Technoculture: From Posthuman Back to Human (London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016).

[7] Brent P. Waters, Curriculum Vitae Brent Phillip Waters.

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Brent Waters

References