Industrial Automation/Robotics

[Osmotik]

Hello everyone, I am an Orthodox leaning American, working on becoming an official catechumen soon. I am very grateful for the Faith and God drawing me to the truth.

I am an engineering student graduating soon and am interested in industrial,chemical,and mechanical engineering as well as nature and Christian ethics. I have been focused on how to use material success, business strategy, and engineering/software to better the world for Christ

I want to incorporate my desire for success materially to help build something greater than myself for the Church and for God.

Would Robotics, automation, programming, etc. be a great way to optimize and increase opportunities in an Orthodox perspective? Can we use technology to say, help build and maintain things at a monastery, promote Orthodox ways of life, etc.? Surely these opportunities and talents are all a waste of time from a correct spiritual perspective?

 

[SamanthaAnastasia]

I am not too sure about robotics
BUT
What do you mean about programming?
Like website programming or database programming?

because I *could* see doing maybe something like creating a website.

However, I am not too sure about anything else.

 

[Shrewd Manager]

'Give those old icons new life with robotics!'

Is that the pitch? Innovative, but unorthodox. If I know anything about the orthodox faith, it's that tradition is highly esteemed.

But seriously, there are many Biblical truths that have been papered over by the false oppositions of science so-called. You could use your skills to help restore some of God's truths about creation.

 

[Andrei D]

At the core of monasticism lies the ability to refrain from disorganized and diverging mental preoccupations. The trivial, the mundane, has to be unobtrusive and relegated to the periphery of one's attention. This happens, in part, by not using one's own will in these activities (they are performed as part of an obedience whereby the monk surrenders their will to an elder/starets etc.) but also by excluding or limiting things that are unavoidably distracting. Moreover, certain elements of manual labor are used for a spiritual purpose, rather than exclusively for "pragmatic" purposes. Replacing those with automation would be seen as absurd. (Imagine pitching a prayer rope making machine!)

Anyway, the main point about your question is: do you intend to explore becoming a monastic and keep using these skills, or simply apply your skills for the benefit of monasteries while remaining in the world, yourself? There is no imposed limit on what kinds of technology lay people can use to help out. For instance, many monasteries now are equipped with video streaming capabilities. No problem as long as your contribution is not disturbing the overall peace and routine, that's of the essence. Monasteries will vary in their tolerance of new technology, and any such use of technology must support rather than hinder. Monastic establishments range from urban, literally in the middle of a busy city to extremely remote in an unpopulated mountain area, from large with lots of monks/nuns and auxiliary staff, to tiny with half a dozen or fewer people. The same things do not apply the same way to all.

Life in a monastery is about a very specific spiritual discipline that is received from a longstanding uninterrupted tradition that has to be preserved as faithfully as possible for it to "work". It requires very strict limitations of any "defocusing" activities. In fact, many argue that even we, here, in the world, should take great care to avoid this "mental fragmentation" as much as possible, by limiting the use of technologies, especially social media. Many monks I have spoken to would say that if they can't perform certain task while maintaining the Jesus prayer, then it might not be appropriate for them. Computer programming might not be ideal from this standpoint.

On the other hand, I saw a documentary a few months ago about this - at least one - monastery in Romania that is fairly technologically advanced. No, they do not have robots. And yes, the monks - many of which are "STEM" graduates - still practice the same ascetic disciplines and the traditional work (tending animals, crops, baking, making candles, prayer ropes, icons etc.) but they also use computers / IT in the same way and for the same purpose but building web stores, video editing, design. They had the ability to even do the architecture and planning for new guest houses that were built. This is not extremely usual though, and not everyone agrees it's a good idea.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Would Robotics, automation, programming, etc. be a great way to optimize and increase opportunities in an Orthodox perspective? Can we use technology to say, help build and maintain things at a monastery, promote Orthodox ways of life, etc.? Surely these opportunities and talents are all a waste of time from a correct spiritual perspective?

depending on what you are doing, yes.

 

[Lukaris]

I wonder if this book might apply somewhat to this discussion?:

Beyond These Horizons: Quantum Theory and Christian Faith

 

[peregrinus2017]

This reminds me of a sentence that I think was in the sayings of the desert father's, where a monk is mentioned as one who watered his garden with a machine or mechanism of some sort. Wanting to use our talents for the glory of God is a good thing, as long as we are putting His will before our own. It's the difference between fitting Christianity into our life or being conformed to Christ. The whole working out our salvation process. I hope you find your way.