Digital Bible engagement been shaping tech advancement behind the scenes for decades.
For this episode of Belief in the Future podcast, John Dyer, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and the author of People of the Screen, chats with host David Zvi Kalman about entwined history of software and evangelism.
We often think about how technology has influenced religion, but we rarely ask the opposite: how has religion influenced the development of technology? In the case of Christianity, software to share the Bible has been in active development for decades, quietly shaping digital tools and platforms along the way.
While religious communities are sometimes slow to respond to new technologies like AI, they have long been early adopters of information technology. From the codex and printing press to radio, the internet, and mobile Bible apps, the drive to spread religious texts quickly and widely has pushed religious groups, especially evangelicals, to the forefront of technological innovation.
Dyer's People of the Screen traces the rise of Bible software from early desktop programs to pioneering websites and mobile apps, and the role evangelical coders have played in shaping how millions engage with Scripture. In it, Dyer makes the case that their distinctive orientation, which he calls “Hopeful Entrepreneurial Pragmatism,” drives a practical, mission-driven approach to digital innovation. This, in turn, shapes the design and goals of Bible apps in ways that reflect evangelical theology and priorities.
But the shift to digital formats does more than improve access; it transforms how people experience sacred texts.
"Data suggests that Bible readers tend to see a kinder, gentler God when they read about Him on a screen, and yet they report feeling more discouraged and confused by the encounter," Dyer explains. "Conversely, print readers tend to emphasize more of God's holiness and judgment, but report feeling more fulfilled and encouraged by this encounter.”
"I see technology as being a good gift of God. So full stop," says Dyer. "I'm looking at the Genesis account, I'm saying God saying good...and God has asked us to make and create from his creation. So I think that that's important for moving forward in a way that I don't necessarily see progress in a purely technological way, but I still think that part of our human-ification is to make things from this world. So I see [tech] as a positive thing."
"I think we're called to be developed," he shares. "In my tradition's case, it would be to develop to be more like Jesus. I think technology can play a role in that, but can also be deformative. And so I think being aware of that constantly thinking it through and saying, 'this is a good gift from God, but it's also a very powerful one, like fire or something like that.' I want to be careful and have some awe in it, and yet also put it in its place. Some combination of all those things is the direction I'd like to see us go."
Listen in to hear the conversation around how faith and code have shaped one another, and continue to do so.
Tune in to the full episode with the above player to hear more and view show notes here.
Learn about Templeton World Charity Foundation's Science of Religious and Spiritual Exercises.
"Technology and religion sometimes seem like oil and water, but they've been crossing paths for centuries and aren't going to stop," says Belief in the Future podcast host, David Zvi Kalman. Belief in the Future explores the ethical, social, and existential implications of transformative new technologies — like AI — through creative conversations at this crucial intersection. The podcast is produced by Sinai and Synapses, with support from Templeton World Charity Foundation.
