190: Is Your Relationship With Technology Healthy?

·30 min·2 clips

How does a Time Magazine article claim the devil loves cell phones by pulling us out of relationships with God and loved ones?

The episode begins with Dr. Greg Miller referencing a Time Magazine article titled 'The Devil Loves Cell Phones' to frame technology as a potential disruptor of spiritual and personal relationships. Guest Elizabeth Griffin, a clinical consultant, joins to discuss loneliness in the context of technology and social media. She explains that technology use is not inherently bad but can create pseudo-intimacy, satisfying desires like inclusion and safety without the risk required for true vulnerability. The hosts and guest explore how technology serves as an escape from reality, with examples like streaming services and social media. They emphasize the importance of self-reflection, asking if technology pulls individuals out of relationships with family, friends, or God. Practical strategies are suggested, such as setting family guidelines like no phones at dinner and being aware of time distortion online. Elizabeth highlights differences in behavior between online and offline worlds, noting anonymity online leads to detached actions without consequences. The discussion touches on how technology can enhance existing relationships, like texting with teenagers, but cannot create deep connections from scratch. For those living alone, technology use might be higher as a substitute for real community, but it risks creating illusions of connection that hinder authentic relationships. The episode reveals that internet addiction is being added to the ICD-11 diagnostic manual, offering a hopeful perspective for diagnosis and treatment. Suggestions for improvement include finding real-world communities, such as faith groups or hobby classes, and considering a technology fast during seasons like Lent. The hosts end by promoting their website resources and workshops for further support.

As heard by us

A grounded reflection on how technology can answer loneliness while quietly thinning intimacy.

The episode frames technology as a relationship issue: how a phone can pull someone away from God and the people closest to them, and how online life can make it easier to dodge the reactions that real intimacy requires.

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Why you'd press play

You want to know whether your phone is connecting you, or helping you avoid the people beside you.

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