A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers

Our technology shapes the way we live, interact, work, play, and even worship. Technology and its power are both old and new--as is the wisdom we need to envision, design, build, and use it well. For Christians passionate about developing technology, it's not always clear how their faith and work intersect. How can designing and using technology actually be a way of loving God and our neighbors? Veteran engineers and teachers Ethan Brue, Derek Schuurman, and Steve VanderLeest provide a field guide for fellow explorers working with technology. Using numerous case studies, historical examples, and personal stories, they explore issues such as:

• biblical themes and passages that relate to technology
• the ethics and norms involved in technology design
• how engineering and technology tap into human dreams for a better world

Along the way they acknowledge the challenges arising from technology but also point to the wonderful possibilities it offers us and its ability to contribute to the common good. For Christians studying and working in engineering, computer science, technical design, architecture, and related fields, this book is packed with wisdom and practical guidance. By sharing what they have learned, the authors encourage readers to ask harder questions, aspire to more noble purposes, and live a life consistent with their faith as they engage with technology.

Ethan J. Brue (PhD in mechanical engineering, Iowa State University) is professor of engineering at Dordt University. Previously he worked as an engineering consultant in the energy generation sector and as a research and development engineer in the agricultural science and technology industry.

Steven H. VanderLeest (PhD in computer engineering, University of Illinois) is Principal Engineer for Multicore Solutions at Rapita Systems, Inc., and an app developer at squishLogic LLC (a company he founded). Previously, he was the COO at an engineering services company and a professor of engineering at Calvin University. He was also the first president of the Christian Engineering Society.

Derek C. Schuurman (PhD, McMaster University) is professor of computer science at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He previously taught at Dordt University and Redeemer University and has also worked as an engineer designing embedded systems. He is the author of Shaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture and Computer Technology and coauthor of PSpice Simulation of Power Electronics Circuits (with R.S. Ramshaw).