Biblical Text Messages: The Effect of Bible Software on Seminary Students

Abstract

Practitioners of media ecology study the powerful influence media exert on human perception. Research has discovered that digital technologies, such as computers and smart phones, interact with the plasticity of the human brain. The mind itself, as the essential tool of students preparing to be pastors, is so obvious as to be overlooked. This study reveals the dramatic impact on students' minds that results from heavy use of digital technology, especially Bible software. These students are becoming increasingly distracted thinkers. The finding of this study is that their conversation with Biblical texts is being reduced to an exchange of disjointed Biblical observations, "Biblical text messages," so to speak. This thesis explores these cognitive effects of digital technology on seminary students, with a special focus on Logos Bible software.