‘Bibleism’

Narrating is a device to add symbolic meaning to an event, giving it shape and emotion (Kuttina, 2016). In the Catholic Church the Bible is a form of a narrative which through language, gives meaning and symbolism to the network.

                                                             

Holding the bible. Credit: Design Pictures Inc

Drawing on McNeill (2012) she expands on the idea that digital networks can be seen as humanist network evolving into a post-humanist or cyborg network through turning the signified into the signifier. For the benefit of the argument she focuses on social media of Facebook. She states that Facebook does show humanistic aspects through documenting autobiography as it is a form of self-narratives.  However, she opposes the humanistic view, declaring Facebook profiles put emphasis on the social aspects of Facebook creating carbon copies of individuals which is manipulated into be organised as the network itself, being reflective of connection one makes with other individuals, groups and organisations. This correlates to Haraway (1991) views through her statement that humans can be created as a cyborgs product through the combination of cultural and technological innovation. Through the empathising of socialisation it creates a commercialised cultural innovation, projecting people in this network as cyborgs and post-humanistic.

In a post by Curator Magazine it views the Bible as post-humanistic narrative, seeing it in an ‘anti-human’ light perceiving people are controlled and institutionalised by it. In contrast, from observational view, the bible can be seen to influence different levels of narratives with in the network. Cyborgs can be found in individuals who take the bible as the absolute, becoming a product of the ideologies projected, fully embedding it into their lives. There is post-humanism present through individuals who take the bible narrative word-for-word, however does leave room for own interpretation. There is the humanism present through individuals who do believe in the bible but take a light approach in the wording, only taking it as guidance, prioritizing their own ideologies. Therefore it can be seen that the narritives in the church are complex and leveled.

Reference
Design Pics Inc (2000). Man holding Bible. Retrieved from REX features: http://www.rexfeatures.com/set/754742

Haraway, D. (1991). Cyborgs and Woman. The Reinvention of Nature, 149-150.

Higgins, S. (2010). Posthumanism: A Christian Response. Retrieved from Curator Magazine : http://www.curatormagazine.com/sorinahiggins/posthumanism-a-christian-response/

Kuttainen, V. (2016). BA1002: Our space: Networks, narrative and the making of place, week 5 notes [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/

McNeill, L. (2012). There Is No "I" in Network: Social Networking Sites and Posthuman Auto/Biography. Biography 35(1), 65-82. University of Hawai'i Press. Retrieved September 2, 2016, from Project MUSE database.