TechGnosis: Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information

How does our fascination with technology intersect with the religious imagination? In TechGnosis, Erik Davis argues that while the realms of the digital and the spiritual may seem firmly disengaged, mystical and esoteric impulses have in fact always permeated (and sometimes inspired) technological communication. Davis draws connections between such seemingly disparate things as online roleplaying games and religious and occult practices; virtual reality and ancient gnostic mythology; programming languages and channeled texts. The final chapters address both apocalyptic and utopian dreams of the future of technology, providing historical context as well as new models for how to think and feel our way through an amazing, confusing, and disturbing time. This updated edition features a new afterword reflecting on surveillance; the current tech bubble; the growth of superheroes, horror, and other "uncanny cultures" online; the growing backlash against technology; and the need to revitalize the cosmic imagination.